Study in the U.S.A. - Southeast (in English) - ISEP Exchange

Fields of Study

• Agriculture: Recommended!

  Agricultural Business Operations,  Agricultural Economics,  Agricultural Mechanization,  Agronomy and Crop Science,  Animal Husbandry,  Animal Sciences,  Horticulture Operations,  International Agriculture,  Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management,  Soil Sciences,  Viticulture and Enology

• Architecture:

  Environmental Design/Architecture,  Landscape Architecture,  Urban Planning

• Area Studies:

  African Studies,  African-American Studies,  Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies, Other,  European Studies,  French Studies,  Gay/Lesbian Studies,  German Studies,  Japanese Studies,  Latin American Studies,  Multicultural and Diversity Studies,  Native American Studies,  Regional Studies (U.S., Canada, Foreign),  Russian, Central European, East European, and Eurasian Studies,  Western European Studies,  Women’s Studies

• Biology:

  Anatomy,  Animal Physiology,  Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,  Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology,  Biometry/Biometrics,  Botany/Plant Biology,  Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,  Entomology,  Genetics,  Microbiology and Immunology,  Neuroscience,  Parasitology,  Wildlife Biology

• Communication:

  Advertising,  Digital Communication and Media,  Journalism,  Mass Communication/Media Studies,  Public Relations,  Radio and Television,  Speech Communication and Rhetoric

• Construction Trades:

  Building Construction Technology,  Construction Site Management

• Education:

  Curriculum and Instruction,  Early Childhood Education ,  Educational Leadership and Administration,  Educational/Instructional Technology,  Elementary Education ,  Secondary Education ,  Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education

• Engineering: Recommended!

  Aeronautical Engineering,  Agricultural Engineering,  Automotive Engineering Technology,  Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering,  Ceramic Sciences and Engineering,  Chemical Engineering,  Civil Engineering,  Computer Engineering,  Computer Software Engineering,  Electrical and Electronics Engineering,  Environmental Engineering,  Geological/Geophysical Engineering,  Hydraulics and Fluid Power Technology,  Industrial Engineering,  Manufacturing Engineering,  Mining and Mineral Engineering,  Nuclear Engineering Technology,  Robotics, and Automation Engineering,  Surveying Engineering,  Systems Engineering,  Transportation Engineering,  Water Resources Engineering

• English Language and Literature:

  American Literature (United States),  English Literature (British and Commonwealth),  General Literature,  Professional/Technical Writing,  Rhetoric and Composition,  Writing

• Foreign Languages and Literatures:

  Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature,  Arabic Language and Literature,  Chinese Language and Literature,  Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics,  Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other,  French Language and Literature,  German Language and Literature,  Italian Language and Literature,  Japanese Language and Literature,  Linguistics,  Russian Language and Literature,  Spanish Language and Literature

• Health Sciences:

  Dietetics,  Gerontology ,  Health and Wellness,  Nutrition Sciences,  Public Health,  Veterinary Sciences

• History:

  American History (United States),  Ancient Studies/Civilizations,  Asian History,  European History,  History, Other ,  Holocaust and Related Studies,  Medieval and Renaissance Studies

• Hospitality and Tourism:

  Event Planning,  Hospitality Management,  Hotel and Restaurant Management,  Tourism Management

• Human Services

  Public Administration

• International/Global Studies:

  International Relations and Affairs,  Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution

• Law/Criminal Justice:

  Business Law,  Criminology,  Fire Science/Fire-fighting,  Juvenile Corrections,  Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysis

• Mathematics

  Statistics

• Military Science

  Naval Science

• Natural Resources/Conservation: Recommended!

  Environmental Science,  Forestry,  Land Use Planning,  Sustainability Studies

• Philosophy and Religious Studies:

  Ethics,  Islamic Studies,  Philosophy,  Religious Studies

• Physical Sciences: Recommended!

  Acoustics,  Astronomy,  Astrophysics,  Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology,  Chemistry,  Geochemistry and Petrology,  Geology/Earth Science,  Hydrology and Water Resources Science,  Optics,  Physics,  Theoretical and Mathematical Physics

• Psychology:

  Behavioral Sciences,  Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics,  Counseling Psychology,  Decision Sciences,  Developmental and Child Psychology,  Educational Psychology,  Industrial and Organizational Psychology

• Social Sciences:

  Cartography/GIS,  Geography,  Human Development and Family Studies,  Political Science and Government,  Sociology,  Urban Studies

• Sports Studies:

  Kinesiology and Exercise Science,  Sport and Fitness Management

• Visual and Performing Arts:

  Acting,  Apparel and Textiles,  Art History,  Art Studies,  Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management,  Ceramics,  Cinematography and Film Production,  Dance,  Design and Visual Communications,  Digital Arts,  Directing and Theatrical Production,  Drama and Theatre Arts,  Drawing,  Fashion/Apparel Design,  Film Studies,  Fine Arts and Art Studies, Other,  Graphic Design,  Industrial and Product Design,  Interior Design,  Music Pedagogy,  Music Performance,  Music Technology,  Music Theory and Composition,  Technical Theatre Design and Technology

Academic Requirements

• U.S. GPA: 2.5 or higher
  
• TOEFL iBT Score: 80
• TOEFL Writing Score: 16
• TOEFL Reading Score: 16
• TOEFL Listening Score: 16
• TOEFL Speaking Score: 16
• Institutional TOEFL Score: 550
• IELTS Score: 6.5
• IELTS Writing Score: 6.5
• IELTS Reading Score: 6.5
• IELTS Listening Score: 6.5
• IELTS Speaking Score: 6.5
• Duolingo Total: 115

Special Application Instructions

Course Prerequisite

For all areas of study, courses may have prerequisites that must be completed before enrollment in a specific course. For questions about specific fields of study, please reach out to your Student Services Officer.

All Virginia Tech students enroll in VT classes using an online course enrollment system known as Hokie Spa.  Student must first be admitted to see their own personalized registration links.  Students will receive a student ID number with their official admission letter. Students should use this number to create a Personal ID (PID) which will be needed to register for courses. 

Language requirements

Willing to accept the Duolingo English test (score of 115) as an alternative to other English assessments such as TOEFL and IELTS. 

 

Internal Application

Students will be expected to submit a supplemental application which is required of the host institution for the purpose of admission and enrollment. Instructions will be sent by the ISEP Host Coordinator by email after placement.  

 

Special Needs Accommodations 

Virginia Tech has certain services available to students with reasonable accommodation needs. In general, mental health, mobility, hearing, visual, speech, and learning accommodations can be arranged. Students should speak with their ISEP Student Services Officer in advance to request if specific accommodations can be arranged. 

Special Needs Support

• Mental Health
• Mobility
• Hearing
• Visual
• Speech
• Learning

Academics

How to search for courses:

Courses and course descriptions at Virginia Tech are found in the university catalog.  

The Catalog of Courses is: Catalog Home | Virginia Tech (vt.edu)

Virginia Tech uses a course numbering system that indicates generally the level of knowledge that is expected in each course. Each course number has four digits (for example, 1004). The first digit typically indicates the class level and level of depth of knowledge expected in the course.  

1000 and 2000 usually mean first-year (introductory) level and cover the breadth of a topic. 

3000 and 4000 are advanced undergraduate levels and indicates the depth of a topic.  Most 3000/4000 level courses will require prerequisite knowledge indicated in the course description in the catalog. 

5000 means Masters level and 6000 indicates Ph.D. level. These courses are only available to students who are admitted for graduate study or occasionally, for senior undergraduates with adviser or instructor permission. 

 

Before students are admitted to VT, they can access the timetable of classes at: 

Virginia Tech Timetable of Classes (vt.edu)

Sometimes, students will need to view past semesters in the Historical Timetables at Virginia Tech HISTORICAL Timetable of Classes (vt.edu) to anticipate what might be offered in future terms. 

Based on your application preferences, your academic adviser will typically begin the registration process on your behalf prior to your arrival.  You will be meeting with your adviser during orientation week in the week prior to the term beginning to edit and finalize your class schedule. 

 

Please keep in mind that 12 credits of in-person (not online) credits, or 9 credits for graduate students, are required in order to be full-time for the J1 visa program. Once the term begins, students may not at any time drop below this full-time limit.  Many students at VT enroll in 15 or 18 credits and then choose to drop a course.  The drop limit is 5 weeks into the term so this can be a good way for students to settle into courses and still be able to change as needed.    

Academic Limitations:

VT has an age maximum of 24 years old for ISEP exchange students. VT is best suited for more traditional-age students due to the housing options available to exchange students on campus.

Courses in mechanical engineering, computer science, and business are not available for ISEP students. 

Additional course and lab fees are charged depending on the course(s) in which you are enrolled. These fees are used to support extraordinary course-specific costs (e.g., field trips, extraordinary laboratory materials or equipment, and course materials retained by the student). These fees are subject to the university's existing refund policies and procedures. Students should review their accounts upon adding or dropping courses. 

Students taking courses within the Pamplin College of Business are charged a fee per credit hour per term.

Pamplin College of Business:
Undergraduate part-time (1-6 credits hours per semester) $637.50
Undergraduate full-time (7 or more credits hours per semester) $1,275.00

*If you are interested in taking business courses with the knowledge of these additional fees, please contact your Student Services Officer at ISEP.

 

IMPORTANT NOTES: 

For ISEP students attending Virginia Tech, enrollment in the CISI Comprehensive Medical & Global Assistance Plan is waived as students will be required to enroll in an alternative medical insurance plan that meets Virginia Tech's insurance requirements. Additional information on how to enroll and suggested plans will be provided by your ISEP Student Services Officer after placement. ISEP students must still enroll in ISEP’s CISI Global Assistance Plan.

ISEP students will need to open a U.S. bank account in order to receive VT funding. Students will receive checks that will need to be deposited into the U.S. banking accounting.

Students are responsible for staying until the end of the semester and may not leave before the final date of their semester exams. Neither ISEP nor VT can guarantee an early departure; leaving early may result in a failing exam grade and/or forfeit of credit.  

 

PASSPORT: All students must have a valid passport to participate in this program. If you do not have a valid passport, we suggest you start the application process as soon as possible.

VISA: All non-U.S. citizens will be required to obtain a visa. For more information on the process and estimated cost, please review the ISEP Country Handbook here.