Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, the VT-MIT program is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

The VT-MIT program is an interdisciplinary program that blends business, computer science, and engineering to offer professionals a comprehensive education. Demonstrating our excellence, VT-MIT has consistently ranked among the top 5 national IT programs for over a decade. But rankings are not everything. We encourage you to select an IT program that best fits your personal, professional, and academic goals.

The VT-MIT degree consists of 33-credit hours at the graduate level. A VT-MIT Graduate Certificate is a non-degree credential that requires completing 9-12 credits (3-4 courses) in a specialized area of information technology. In most cases, credits earned from a VT-MIT graduate certificate can be applied towards the degree. Currently, we offer 10 VT-MIT Graduate Certificates.

Students who are working professionals and take 2 courses each semester can complete the program in 2.5 years. Full-time students can complete the program in 15 to 18 months with careful planning. This accelerated timeline is recommended for students who do not have other professional obligations.  Graduate Certificates can be completed between 1-1.5 years. Students have five years to complete the VT-MIT program.

All courses are on a semester schedule and follow the Virginia Tech academic calendar. Students can take courses during the fall, spring, or summer terms. Each course includes weekly or regularly scheduled assignments, exams, and online meetings that must be adhered. While you can work at your own pace to complete assignments by their deadlines, all coursework must be completed by the designated deadline. 

Successful distance learning requires students to work independently and manage their schedules well. Those who thrive in this environment actively engage in their studies, stay focused on their goals, prioritize their responsibilities, manage their time efficiently, and seek help when needed.

Most Virginia Tech faculty members are full-time, tenured professors in either the Pamplin School of Business or the College of Engineering. All have significant industrial and business experience. Adjunct faculty members typically have full-time industry positions, which adds a unique perspective to the program by blending academic expertise with real-world applications. 

'Master of Information Technology' is listed on the diploma. The diploma does not reference the program's online modality. 

Each student's career path is unique. Some enroll in the program to enhance their skills, advance in their careers, or transition to a new field. While 68% of VT-MIT graduates have earned promotions or salary increases in the past five years, the program's impact on your career growth may differ from that of your peers. Visit our Career Outlook page to see fields with career opportunities and the type of roles our alumni hold. 

You do not need to have IT experience to apply! 

The VT-MIT program was designed to provide a path into the Information Technology field for working professionals without IT backgrounds or specific undergraduate preparation in the fields of computer science or computer engineering. For those with little or no programming experience, we do require proficiency in a modern programming language prior to starting some of the technical classes.

The application for the VT-MIT program is online, as part of the Virginia Tech Graduate School application.  Applicants are encouraged to view our application guidelines page before starting an application to learn more.

Applicants must submit a transcript with their online application, including the institution's name, the applicant's name, completed courses, and grades. Unofficial copies (e.g., web portal printouts or scanned student-issued copies) are acceptable for admission review.

After admission, students must submit official transcripts showing degree conferral through sealed mail or an eTranscript service. Failure to provide the final transcript by the end of the first term will result in a hold on their record, preventing future enrollment until received.

The VT-MIT degree program requires the completion of 33 credit hours (11 courses) from the designated curriculum, regardless of any graduate level courses completed in other degree programs, universities, or certifications. Admitted students may request a transfer credit waiver of up to six (6) graduate credits or nine (9) NDU graduate credits, subject to approval by the program's directors. A waiver means that a course is deemed equivalent to an existing VT-MIT course, allowing the student to bypass it (e.g., if it serves as a prerequisite for another course).

Transfer credits are not eligible for VT-MIT Graduate Certificates.

The GRE and GMAT are not required, but you can upload it for review if you have taken it.

The TOEFL is required for applicants who did not receive their bachelor’s degree from a US, Canadian, or British university and whose first language is not English. The minimum acceptable score for Virginia Tech is 90 (electronic) or 577 (paper). Waivers are available for certain situations. You can read more here: https://vtmit.vt.edu/admissions/international-students.html

You can find a list of accredited agencies on the website of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.

Candidates who meet our admissions criteria but have an undergraduate or graduate GPA below the Graduate School's minimum of 3.0 may be eligible for conditional admission. For more details on the various admission statuses, please visit the ‘Admissions Type’ section on our Application Guidelines webpage.

We prefer applicants to have at least 3 years of work experience before applying for admission. However, we do consider applications from highly qualified undergraduates in their final semester with 1-2 years of experience, including internships, externships, etc. If admitted to the program, the Graduate School requires an official undergraduate transcript before the first day of the semester.

We accept applications throughout the year for three entry terms: fall, spring, and summer. To be considered for review, applications must be fully completed with all required documents submitted. Typically, applicants can expect a decision within 2-3 weeks after their application is complete. However, those who meet the priority deadline will receive a decision within 1-2 weeks. If you have any questions about your application, contact us at vtmitadmissions@vt.edu.

1. A conferred bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
2. At least 3 years of professional experience.
3. Proficiency in a modern programming (such as Java, C, C++, C#, or Python) is expected. If you do not have programming experience, you can fulfill this requirement by completing  ITP120 Java Programming I at Virginia Western Community College. You can also take a similar course at your local community college or through online learning resources. 

Proficiency in a modern programming (such as Java, C, C++, C#, or Python) is expected. If you do not have programming experience, you can fulfill this requirement by completing  ITP120 Java Programming I at Virginia Western Community College. This course is specifically designed for VT-MIT students with no programming background or those needing a refresher. It is fully online and available every semester (Spring, Summer, and Fall), and will help you build the foundational programming skills needed for the program.

Some courses will require an introductory knowledge of statistics, probability mathematics, Boolean algebra, databases, etc. As each course may vary, be sure to consult the course syllabus and the professor to ensure you are well prepared. 

A Plan of Study serves as a roadmap for your degree program. The Graduate School requires students to submit their plan after completing 18-21 credit hours, or approximately 6-7 courses, though early submission is strongly encouraged. Visit our Curriculum webpage and ‘Plan Your Study’ section for guiding documents to help create your Plan.

An approved Plan of Study will be required for the graduation process. 

We provide sample Plans of Study for some careers/specializations on our Curriculum webpage within the ‘Plan Your Study’ section. You can use these Plans to mix and match courses to your needs. 

Courses will be available at the start of each semester on Canvas. To help with course selection, course descriptions and Plan Your Study documents are available on our Curriculum webpage. 

Course materials are at the discretion of the instructor. Some course materials may be fully online, while other courses may require purchase of textbooks, course packets, or software downloads. A listing of all required and recommended materials and how to acquire them will be listed on the course syllabus. Please consult with the course professor for additional information. 

We do not require any specific computer type. Here are some general recommended laptop attributes:

• The computer can be either PC or Mac (RAM: Windows 32GB, MAC 24GB Unified Memory)
• Intel 13th Gen i5/i7 or Core Ultra 5/7 Series 1 or AMD Ryzen 5/7 7030/7040/8000 Series; or higher
• Solid State Hard Drive (500 GB or above)
• Students are encouraged to obtain a Microsoft Office 365 license through the university Student Software Distribution if you do not have a Microsoft license.

Any additional requirements can be determined by consulting with faculty and course syllabi for individual course requirements.