Small Waterfall, Cascades Trail
Graduate Programs
M.S. and Ph.D in CSES
Graduate programs in the Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences (CSES) lead to both the M.S. (non-thesis and thesis options) and the Ph.D. degrees. The principal objective of graduate education programs is to educate students in advanced concepts and research methods in one or more subdisciplines of CSES and related programs. This is accomplished through courses and research that bridge a number of physical and biological sciences. Individually planned programs of study are developed to provide training and experience in environmental resource management and control, seed physiology, crop physiology, plant genomics and breeding, plant cell and developmental biology, tissue culture, and molecular genetics, and in the biochemistry, mineralogy, fertility, chemistry, classification, genesis, interpretation, microbiology, and physics of soils.
The Department also participates in several interdisciplinary degrees at the M.S. and Ph.D. level.
Interdisciplinary Degree Programs in CSES
Masters of Science
- Environmental Science and Engineeering
- Master of Agriculture and Life Sciences - On-Line (Environmental Option)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D)
- Genomics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology
- Molecular Plant Sciences
- Geospatial and Environmental Analysis
The University
The University was founded as a land-grant college in 1872 under the name of Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College. The name has changed several times; the present name, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, was adopted in 1970. The University is commonly referred to as Virginia Tech. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is one of eight colleges at Virginia Tech. Many of the college's over 260 faculty members are nationally and internationally known for their research. The college participates in several international cooperative research programs. Interdisciplinary and cooperative research efforts with other college, university, federal and private agencies are encouraged. The university has approximately 23,500 students, including 4,000 graduate students. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has approximately 1,130 undergraduate and 300 graduate students. The department currently enrolls about 30 graduate students. International student representation is currently about 35%. About one-half of our graduate student body is working toward the Ph.D.
Location
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is located in Blacksburg, 40 miles west of Roanoke. Washington, D.C. is a 4.5 hour drive to the northeast of Blacksburg. Blacksburg has a population of 30,000 and is situated west of the Blue Ridge Mountains and astride the eastern continental divide, 2,100 feet above sea level. The mean summer temperature is 70 degrees F and the mean winter temperature is 34 degrees F, with an annual precipitation of approximately 42 inches. The area is noted for its natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities.
Cost of Study
The cost per semester for 2007-08 is $4,493 for Virginia residents and $7,675.50 for non-Virginia students. These per semester costs include health and student fees. Students on assistantships paying more than $4,000 per year do not pay the non-resident differential.
Financial Aid
State-supported teaching assistantships and grant-supported research assistantships are available. The current beginning stipend is $1,524 per month for M.S. candidates and $1,616 per month for Ph.D. candidates. Students on assistantships do not pay tuition.
Application Requirements
Students are strongly encouraged to apply online. Applying online streamlines the application process and reduces processing time.
All required documents must be received by the Graduate School by the application deadline in order for your application to be complete. Please ensure that your application contains the following:
- Formal application - Complete and submit your application online (preferable) or complete a paper application.
- Transcripts - Submit two sets of transcripts. The Graduate School Admissions Office must receive official transcripts (with English translations) by the appropriate application deadline date. Submit an additional set of transcripts to the academic department to which you are applying.
- Letters of recommendation - Two letters of recommendation should be sent directly to the academic department to which you are applying. We request that your references complete the attached Reference Form.
- GRE Test scores required. Test scores should be sent to the Graduate School, institution code 5859. There is no department code. Please have the testing authority submit your scores to Virginia Tech directly. If you submit the scores with your application, only official, sealed copies will be accepted.
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores are required of all international students whose first language is not English, except those applicants who have graduated from an accredited university where English is the language of instruction. The university-wide minimum requirement is 213 (550 of paper-based tests); however, some departments require a higher score. TOEFL scores are not required of US permanent residents and US naturalized citizens. Official test scores should be sent to the Virginia Tech Graduate School, institution code 5859. Do not enter a department code.
Application Deadlines
While we may accept applications at any time, we encourage applicants to submit their complete applications, including supplemental materials, early to allow sufficient time for application processing. International applicants must be accepted by the Graduate School no later than May 15 for fall and October 15 for spring to allow sufficient time for immigration processes and travel.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, national origin, religion, or political affiliation. Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Office.
