School Details
With an emphasis on teaching the technical arts and applied sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) boasts hundreds of programs spanning every level of learning—from certificates to doctoral degrees.
This public land-grant university expands learning beyond a single major or discipline. Students gain skills in such areas as:
- Communications
- Critical thinking
- Design thinking
- Teamwork
Providing a lifetime education, Virginia Tech engages students through research, discovery, and outreach resulting in personal growth, social development, and improved quality of life for graduates. Students living far from Blacksburg, VA, can take advantage of the school’s long history of success through VTOnline. Offering online undergraduate courses, graduate programs, and professional studies series, the distance learning platform provides the same quality of education as traditional courses. Students can achieve their professional and personal goals from where they are with VTOnline.
Accreditation & Licensing
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is accredited by:
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
All Programs
Art & Liberal Arts
The online Graduate Certificate in Environmental Politics & Policy program from Virginia Tech helps students develop a foundation in environmental politics and policy. Courses cover topics such as:
- Contemporary Political Theory
- Environmental Politics & Policy
- Industrial Democracies
- Politics of Developing Areas
- Legislative, Executive & Judicial Branch
The online Graduate Certificate in Information Policy & Society is a political science degree from Virginia Tech. This certification in political science is designed for those interested in demonstrating competency in this area without undertaking an entire degree. You will become competent in the study of information, policy, and society through this curriculum. Coursework focuses on developing foundations in the politics and policy of information networks.
Courses in this political science certification are:
- Contemporary Political Theory
- Electronic Governance
- Culture, Politics & Society in Network Environments
- Public Policy Analysis OR
- Advanced Topics in Information Technology and Policy
The online Graduate Certificate in Political Analysis is an online political science degree from Virginia Tech. This program is designed for those seeking competency in the foundations of political analysis without undertaking an entire degree. This certificate recognizes courses that students successfully complete while developing a foundation in pollical analysis in political science. The curriculum in this political science degree focuses on preparing students to conduct high-quality research with a solid understanding of contemporary political theory.
Courses may include:
- Contemporary Political Theory
- Research Methods I
- Research Methods II
- Political Behavior OR
- Discourse Analysis
The online Master of Arts in Foreign Languages, Cultures & Literature is a foreign language degree from Virginia Tech. This program is designed to meet the need of those seeking academic and other professional careers that require both intercultural competency and language skills in Spanish and/or French. With this degree in foreign language you will complete a curriculum that utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to learning. Students will take courses in areas including literature, cultural studies, cinema, visual culture, translation, linguistics, and business.
This program offers three options:
- French and Francophone Studies
- Hispanic Studies
- Multilingual Studies
Business
The online Graduate Certificate in Business Data Analytics program from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University prepares students for careers as business developers with the ability to use both structured and object-oriented systems development approaches. It also prepares students to design and develop business information systems that use a relational database. Courses cover topics in:
- Business Intelligence & Analytics
- Information Systems Design & Database Concepts
- Database Management
The online Graduate Certificate in Local Government Management provides students with the tools needed to advance their careers as local government managers, emphasizing the relationships that they must understand and navigate to be successful. The curriculum exposes students to a full spectrum of local government issues including working with elected officials to build relationships with the public and community, as well as service delivery options, which includes understanding the organizational structure of local governments and how contracting and collaboration effect these. Courses also look at management tools, including the study of the human resource function, finance and budgeting, and performance measurement; and look at developing and managing local government employees.
The online Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit and Nongovernmental Organization Management is ideal for rising professionals navigating the complex fiscal, managerial, and networked environments of nonprofits and NGOs. Courses focus on leadership, complexity management, program evaluation, accountability, and the seamless integration of the domestic and international context of these courses. The curriculum provides a foundation for pursuing careers in the nonprofit world, or for those already involved in the nonprofit sector, provides graduate-level credentials.
Advance your business knowledge and career with the Master of Business Administration online degree. Designed for working professionals, the part-time schedule allows students to study when and where it suits them while also bringing their new knowledge and skills immediately to the workplace. The program is divided with half completed asynchronously and the other half delivered using a synchronous component during periodic class weekends, offering the best of both online learning and on-campus benefits. Coursework encourages active participation in class discussions and study teams while you engage with faculty and develop relationships within your cohort.
The curriculum of this online business administration degree program provides a comprehensive business education in such topics as accounting, marketing, management, and human resources. Choose areas of specialization to enhance your MBA, focusing coursework on topics like:
- Cybersecurity
- Healthcare data and leadership
- Entrepreneurship
- International business
Computer Science & IT
The online Graduate Certificate in Big Data program from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University covers business information systems development, database design and management, and the design and implementation of interactive computer-based information systems that use decision rules, models, and comprehensive databases to support the decision making process. The curriculum also includes:
- In-depth coverage of methods for data access
- Modeling and computation using a visual language
- Graphical display of support material and report generation methodologies
- Object sharing between software components
- The deployment of support systems within a distributed computing environment
With the Graduate Certificate in Information Systems Design, students learn about the different types of computer systems used to organize and manage data. The program covers data structures and programming languages.
Students in this online computer information systems degree program study ways to create computer databases to store information. The curriculum provides an understanding of the theoretical and pragmatic approaches to designing and implementing databases. Graduates will be well prepared to design, test, and employ computer-based solutions.
Course topics in this graduate certificate program include:
- Information Systems Design & Database Concepts
- Advanced Database Management Systems
- Information Systems Development
The online Graduate Certificate in IT Management program from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University prepares students to become information technology leaders and to be able to craft corporate and business strategies where technology provides the basis for an organization's competitive advantage. The curriculum covers:
- An introduction to design methodologies in information systems and databases
- Structured systems analysis and design methodologies
- The use of business intelligence and analytics technologies in rich organizations
- The characteristics, use, and development of decision support systems (DSS) within the context of other business information systems
Students in the Graduate Certificate in Internet and Network Technologies program from Virginia Polytechnic learn about the network and internet protocols necessary for setting up and maintaining computer networks. Courses examine the ways in which computers communicate information across both wired and wireless systems.
Students will discover ways to design and manage locally-connected computer networks located in the same physical area, as well as wide area networks spread out in various geographic locations. Graduates of this network administration degree online will be prepared to design, operate, and maintain computer networks for a wide variety of industries and uses.
Courses cover topics such as:
- Cybersecurity
- The internet of things
- Computer systems fundamentals
- Networks and protocols
The online Graduate Certificate in Software Development program from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University prepares students for successful careers in a variety of industries including computer systems design, electronic product manufacturing, finance, web-based systems, and network security. Graduates are able to:
- Design and implement software systems using an object-oriented language such as Java
- Identify and apply appropriate design patterns and software development processes to develop software systems
- Review and assess software designs and software systems for quality, cist, reliability, complexity, and performance
- Design and implement distributed software systems deployed over a web-based and cloud-based environment
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University’s Master of Information Technology program offers a blend of coursework in seven related IT modules: Health Information Systems, Software Development, Information Security, Business Information Systems, Decision Support Systems, Networking, and Telecommunications. Each module is updated regularly to stay relevant to industry trends.
The Master of Information Technology degree program at Virginia Tech consists of 11 courses offered jointly by the school’s Pamplin College of Business and the College of Engineering. Students have the option to specialize in one of 11 areas, such as Analytics and Business Intelligence.
Students begin their online IT degree by taking core courses in subject areas including information systems design and database concepts, web-based applications and electronic commerce, object-oriented programming with Java, software engineering, computer systems, and strategic leadership. The curriculum then allows students to focus on their area of concentration with electives covering topics such as analytics software and techniques, electronic data interchange, data visualization, and more.
The Master of Information Technology degree program at Virginia Tech consists of 11 courses offered jointly by the school’s Pamplin College of Business and the College of Engineering. Students have the option to specialize in one of 11 areas, such as Big Data.
Students begin their online IT degree by taking core courses in subject areas including information systems design and database concepts, web-based applications and electronic commerce, object-oriented programming with Java, software engineering, computer systems, and strategic leadership. The curriculum of this online data science degree then allows students to focus on their area of concentration with electives covering topics such as machine learning with big data and social media analytics.
The Master of Information Technology degree program at Virginia Tech consists of 11 courses offered jointly by the school’s Pamplin College of Business and the College of Engineering. Students have the option to specialize in Business Information Systems.
The curriculum of this management information systems degree online allows students to focus on their area of concentration with electives covering topics such as advanced database management systems and information systems analysis and design. Students begin their online IT degree by taking core courses in subject areas including information systems design and database concepts, web-based applications and electronic commerce, object-oriented programming with Java, software engineering, computer systems, and strategic leadership.
The Master of Information Technology degree program at Virginia Tech consists of 11 courses offered jointly by the school’s Pamplin College of Business and the College of Engineering. Students have the option to specialize in Cybersecurity.
The curriculum of this online Cybersecurity master’s degree allows students to focus on their area of concentration with electives covering topics such as IT security and trust, and cybersecurity and the internet of things. Students begin their online Information Technology degree by taking core courses in subject areas including information systems design and database concepts, web-based applications and electronic commerce, object-oriented programming with Java, software engineering, computer systems, and strategic leadership.
The Master of Information Technology degree program at Virginia Tech consists of 11 courses offered jointly by the school’s Pamplin College of Business and the College of Engineering. Students have the option to specialize in Cybersecurity Management.
The curriculum of this online Cybersecurity master’s degree allows students to focus on their area of concentration with electives covering topics such as Cybersecurity program design, operations, governance, and risk management. Students begin their online Information Technology degree by taking core courses in subject areas including information systems design and database concepts, web-based applications and electronic commerce, object-oriented programming with Java, software engineering, computer systems, and strategic leadership.
The Master of Information Technology degree program at Virginia Tech consists of 11 courses offered jointly by the school’s Pamplin College of Business and the College of Engineering. Students have the option to specialize in Cybersecurity Policy.
The curriculum of this online Cybersecurity master’s degree allows students to focus on their area of concentration with electives covering topics such as crime and conflict in cyberspace, and cyber law and policy for Information Technology. Students begin their online Information Technology degree by taking core courses in subject areas including information systems design and database concepts, web-based applications and electronic commerce, object-oriented programming with Java, software engineering, computer systems, and strategic leadership.
The Master of Information Technology degree program at Virginia Tech consists of 11 courses offered jointly by the school’s Pamplin College of Business and the College of Engineering. Students have the option to specialize in Decision Support Systems.
The curriculum allows students to focus on their area of concentration with electives covering topics such as computer-based decision support systems and cognitive computing for smart service systems. Students begin their online IT degree by taking core courses in subject areas including information systems design and database concepts, web-based applications and electronic commerce, object-oriented programming with Java, software engineering, computer systems, and strategic leadership.
The Master of Information Technology degree program at Virginia Tech consists of 11 courses offered jointly by the school’s Pamplin College of Business and the College of Engineering. Students have the option to specialize in Health Information Technology.
The curriculum of this online masters in health informatics allows students to focus on their area of concentration with electives covering topics such as healthcare information technology and healthcare data management. Students begin their online IT degree by taking core courses in subject areas including information systems design and database concepts, web-based applications and electronic commerce, object-oriented programming with Java, software engineering, computer systems, and strategic leadership.
The Master of Information Technology degree program at Virginia Tech consists of 11 courses offered jointly by the school’s Pamplin College of Business and the College of Engineering. Students have the option to specialize in Networking.
The curriculum of this network administration degree online allows students to focus on their area of concentration with electives covering topics such as networks and protocols. Students begin their online IT degree by taking core courses in subject areas including information systems design and database concepts, web-based applications and electronic commerce, object-oriented programming with Java, software engineering, computer systems, and strategic leadership.
The Master of Information Technology degree program at Virginia Tech consists of 11 courses offered jointly by the school’s Pamplin College of Business and the College of Engineering. Students have the option to specialize in Software Development.
The curriculum of this online Software Development degree allows students to focus on their area of concentration with electives covering topics such as web application and mobile application development. Students begin their online IT degree by taking core courses in subject areas including information systems design and database concepts, web-based applications and electronic commerce, object-oriented programming with Java, software engineering, computer systems, and strategic leadership.
The Master of Information Technology degree program at Virginia Tech consists of 11 courses offered jointly by the school’s Pamplin College of Business and the College of Engineering. Students have the option to specialize in Software Engineering.
The curriculum of this online master’s in Software Engineering allows students to focus on their area of concentration with electives covering topics such as software engineering, design, and quality. Students begin their online IT degree by taking core courses in subject areas including information systems design and database concepts, web-based applications and electronic commerce, object-oriented programming with Java, software engineering, computer systems, and strategic leadership.
Education
Enroll in this instructional design degree online and advance your professional opportunities. This program is for educators in K-12 settings but also higher education settings and even beyond the education realm. Learn to support learning and improve the performance of your students. Gain instructional technology expertise.
This rigorous graduate program values individual professional experiences. Most of the projects developed throughout the program are based on these experiences.
Engineering
Gain a solid foundation with this nuclear engineering online degree. Prepare to transition from a non-nuclear engineering-related job to a nuclear engineering-related job. This program provides a solid foundation in nuclear reactor physics in a curriculum that provides a “purposeful, cohesive set of technical electives in nuclear engineering.” Courses cover such topics as:
- Nuclear Engineering Fundamentals
- Nuclear Reactor Analysis
- Nuclear Fuel Cycle
- Nuclear Power Plant Operations & Systems
- Radiation Detection & Shielding
Networking is a key component even though you are earning this nuclear engineering degree online.
Advance your career with this professionally oriented online computer engineering degree. This degree provides a strong academic foundation in core computer engineering technological areas. Your educational experience culminates with a project-based learning experience.
If you are thinking of going further with your education, this program is not recommended. There is a Master of Science degree available for you instead.
Climb the career ladder with this online electrical engineering degree. This degree provides a strong academic foundation in core electrical engineering technological areas. Your educational experience culminates with a project-based learning experience.
If you are thinking of going further with your education, this program is not recommended. There is a Master of Science degree available for you instead.
Do you have a degree outside of nuclear science but have a career in the nuclear industry? If so, check out this nuclear engineering online degree. It is designed for working professionals and expands nuclear engineering knowledge. Your courses culminate in a final project and report that focuses on a problem in the industry.
With this online nuclear engineering degree, you will be able to balance your career, education, and other obligations. Advance your career without interrupting it.
Climb the career ladder with this 100% online aerospace engineering degree. This program concentrates on:
- Aerodynamics
- Structures
- Propulsion
- Flight mechanics
Some courses are synchronous, and others are asynchronous, but all of them are online. There is one live internet meeting per week in each class.
Choose between a thesis and a non-thesis option. Both options lead to the same degree but down different paths.
Take your career to the next level with this online computer engineering degree. This degree is flexible. Choose between a thesis and a non-thesis degree. The thesis option allows students to develop their own plans of study with the aid of faculty advisors. The non-thesis option is coursework-based.
These degree options are stepping stones toward a doctorate in computer engineering. For a professionally oriented degree, there is a Master of Engineering degree available.
Advance your career with this online electrical engineering degree. This degree is flexible. Choose between a thesis and a non-thesis degree. The thesis option allows students to develop their own plans of study with the aid of faculty advisors. The non-thesis option is coursework-based.
These degree options lead to a doctorate in electrical engineering. For a professionally oriented degree, there is a Master of Engineering degree available.
Build your own curriculum with this online mechanical engineering degree. This is a course-based degree that is elective-based, allowing you to design your own program. All students complete a final project, but they are not required to publish their work.
While geared toward working professionals, anyone interested in expanding their engineering knowledge can apply. The flexibility of earning this mechanical engineering degree online allows you to study and work simultaneously. Advance your career without interrupting it.
Embark on an exciting career with this online engineering degree. This program examines naval ship design and other related topics.
Some courses are synchronous, and others are asynchronous, but all of them are online. There is one live internet meeting per week in each class.
Choose between a thesis and a non-thesis option. Both options lead to the same degree but down different paths.
Advance your career and degree with this online systems engineering degree. This is an interdisciplinary field that consists of many different engineering specialties. It is designed to ensure an efficient and effective product (system) output. Learn to analyze the operational needs of industrial, business, and government enterprises and to apply scientific and engineering technology to develop the integrated hardware and software that meets those needs.
With this online systems engineering degree, you are able to study when and where it is convenient. Balance your career, education, and other obligations.
Healthcare
The online Graduate Certificate in Health IT program from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University provides students with competence in patient informatics and the use of evidence based medicine, electronic prescribing, and telemedicine as tools to improve patient health and medical systems operations. Courses cover topics in:
- Healthcare Information
- Healthcare Data Management
- Business Intelligence & Analytics
Math & Science
Benefit from graduate-level training without entering a master’s degree program with this online environmental science degree. This program provides credentials in environmental and natural resource management, making it useful for those seeking these credentials or for those simply looking to formalize their knowledge and training in the environmental field. It is also a great way for potential MNR degree students to try out the degree content before committing to an MNR degree.
Courses cover such topics as:
- Global Issues in Natural Resources
- Conservation Ecology
- International Environmental Law & Policy
- Landscape Systems & Strategies
Focus on your interests with this flexible program, choosing courses in such areas as biodiversity and climate change, green infrastructure and urban ecology, or circular economy and environmental policy.
Take your career to the next level with this online agriculture master’s degree. This program covers applied economics and data analysis. You will learn to tackle challenges and opportunities faced by businesses and governments as you move through the program in a cohort. Graduates find high-paying positions as:
- Business strategists
- Data analysts
- Managers
- Consultants
This program is designed to be balanced with other obligations. It is part-time with a flexible schedule.
Become a leader in dynamic agriculture and life science industries with this online agriculture master’s degree. This program develops the competencies needed to effectively and strategically lead. It also provides broad, scientific-based coursework in food, agricultural, environmental, and human sciences.
Get the most out of this flexible program by choosing a concentration from such options as:
- Applied Nutrition and Physical Activity
- Education
- Environmental Science
- Food Safety and Biosecurity
- Leadership Studies
All concentrations allow you to set your terms and schedule. Meet your personal and professional needs.
Become a leader in sustainability with this online environmental science degree. Prepare to meet the constantly evolving challenges in the field. Coursework consists of typical online coursework and participation in a face-to-face Global Study over 10 days. No capstone project is required.
Courses cover topics such as:
- Global Issues in Natural Resources
- Conservation Ecology
- International Environmental Law & Policy
- Landscape Systems & Strategies
As you earn your environmental science degree online you will benefit from faculty who are experts in the field. There is a low student-to-instructor ratio. Best of all, you can balance your work, school, and personal life.