Virginia Tech College of Science

Virginia Tech College of Science
Motto Ut Prosim (Latin)
Motto in English
 That I May Serve
Type Public University
Established 2003
Parent institution
 Virginia Tech
Dean Lay Nam Chang
Students 4,355
Undergraduates 3,741
Postgraduates 614
Location Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S.
Colors Chicago maroon and Burnt orange[1]          
Website www.science.vt.edu

The College of Science at Virginia Tech contains academic programs in biology, chemistry, economics, geosciences, mathematics, physics, psychology, and statistics. In 2010-11, the College of Science consisted of 339 faculty members and 4,370 students.[2] The college was established in July 2003 after university restructuring split the College of Arts and Sciences, established in 1963, into two distinct colleges. Lay Nam Chang has been acting dean of the College of Science since its inception in 2003.[3]

Overview

The College of Science at Virginia Tech gives students a comprehensive foundation in the scientific method. Award winning faculty members teach courses and conduct research in biological sciences, chemistry, economics, geosciences, mathematics, physics, psychology, and statistics. The college offers programs in cutting-edge areas including, among others, those in energy and the environment, developmental science across the lifespan, infectious diseases, computational science, nanoscience, and neuroscience. The College of Science is dedicated to fostering a research-intensive environment that promotes scientific inquiry and outreach.[4]

Academics

The College of Science contains eight departments for undergraduate and graduate study. In addition to these eight departments, the college also offers degrees through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences' Department of Biochemistry, which offers undergraduate students a bachelor of science in biochemistry and graduate students a master of science or doctoral degree. The college also houses Virginia Tech’s two largest undergraduate degree-granting programs, biology and psychology.[5]

Rankings

U.S. News & World Report Graduate Science Rankings
Paleontology 28
Earth Science 28
Clinical Psychology 47
Statistics 53
Economics 58
Physics 60
Mathematics 60
Chemistry 60
Biological Science 93

Virginia Tech's Graduate Science Program are highly ranked and is one of a handful of core recruiting schools for some of the world's most selective firms. Listed below are rankings by the U.S. News & World Report for the graduate programs:

Biological Sciences

As of 2010, the Department of Biological Sciences contained the largest undergraduate degree-granting program on campus. Undergraduates in this department can earn a Bachelor of Science and have the option to specialize in Microbiology and Immunology. Graduate students can earn a Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy degrees.[13]

Chemistry

The Department of Chemistry is located in Davidson Hall, Hahn Hall North, and Hahn Hall South. The department consists of approximately 300 undergraduate majors, 30 professors, eight instructors, and 40 staff members. Undergraduates can earn either a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science in chemistry, and graduate students can earn either a master of science or doctoral degree.[14]

Economics

The Department of Economics is based in both the College of Science and the Pamplin College of Business. Undergraduates can earn a bachelor of arts in economics. Graduate students can earn a master of science or doctoral degree.[15]

Geosciences

The Department of Geosciences offers undergraduates a bachelor’s degree in geosciences by way of four options: geology, geochemistry, geophysics, and earth science education. Graduate students can earn a master of science or doctoral degree. The Department of Geosciences’ graduate program has two top-ranking programs: paleontology and earth sciences.[16]

Mathematics

In the Department of Mathematics, undergraduates can earn a bachelor of science in mathematics. Graduate students can earn a master of science or doctoral degree. The Department of Mathematics also offers a mathematics education option, in which students can earn master or doctoral degrees in education.[17]

Physics

The Department of Physics is housed in Robeson Hall and Hahn Hall North. The department also often uses labs in Derring Hall. Undergraduates can earn a bachelor of science or bachelor of arts. in physics. Graduate students can earn a master of science or doctoral degree. Graduate students can also participate in an internship program that leads to a master’s degree in applied and industrial physics.[18]

Psychology

The Department of Psychology is located in Williams Hall. In 2010, the department’s undergraduate program in psychology was the second largest degree-granting undergraduate program on campus. Undergraduate students in this department can earn a bachelor of science in psychology. Graduate students can earn a doctoral degree in three areas: clinical psychology, biological psychology, and industrial/organizational psychology. (Students can earn a master of science en route to a doctoral degree, but the department does not offer a terminal master’s degree). The clinical psychology doctoral program is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association and is a member of the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science Programs.[19]

Statistics

The Department of Statistics is located in Hutcheson Hall. Undergraduates in this department can earn a bachelor’s degree in statistics, and graduate students can earn either a master of science or doctoral degree.[20]

Academy of Integrated Science

The College of Science also houses Virginia Tech's Academy of Integrated Science, which supports interdisciplinary degree-conferring programs. These include:

Research

Burruss Hall

The College of Science received $31.94 million in funding from government agencies and private corporations in 2010. This money was used to fund research opportunities for students and faculty in the college. As of 2010, 57 percent of undergraduates graduating from the College of Science participated in research for credit.[5]

Virginia Tech has numerous interdisciplinary research institutes available for use by the faculty and students of the College of Science, including:

Notable Alumni

References

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