Department of Religion and Culture

Graduate Certificate in Liberal Arts - LRTC

 

LRTC is a 9-credit, on-line certificate program aimed at graduate and aspiring undergraduate students in one of the following categories:

  • Degree-seeking students already enrolled in a graduate program at Virginia Tech and interested in knowing more about the humanities, with emphasis on issues such as justice, authority, the individual, diversity, and globalization;
  • Commonwealth Campus or Non-Degree-seeking students who want to know more about the liberal arts; and
  • Primary- and secondary-school teachers seeking additional credentials in history, literature, "social studies," and the fine arts;
  • Commonwealth Campus or Non-Degree-seeking students who want to know more about the liberal arts; or
  • Undergraduates who want to begin graduate work before graduation, and who plan to complete the Certificate soon after receiving their BA or BS degrees.
LRTC

Requirements:

  • Admission
    • EITHER an undergraduate degree and admission to graduate status
    • OR acceptance by Virginia Tech's Graduate School as a "BS/MS" undergraduate student who plans to go on to graduate study.
  • Completion of the following two courses:
    • IDST 5014: "The Liberal Arts in a Global Context: Justice, Power, and Authority"
    • IDST 5024: "The Liberal Arts in a Global Context: The Individual, Diversity, and Society"
  • Completion of one additional 5000-level course, to be selected by the student and approved by the program director, or to be drawn from:
    • EDCI 5104: "Schooling in American Society"
    • EDCT 5684: "Education for Diverse Populations"
    • EDCT 5714: "Education and Work in a Changing Society"
    • GEOG 5214: "Health and the Global Environment"
    • GEOG 5424: "Topics in Political Geography"
    • HIST 5914: "Race and Slavery"
    • HUM 4404: "Appalachian Folk Cultures"
    • WS 5914: "Feminist Theory"
In a very few cases, 4000-level courses carry graduate credit. Check with the appropriate department or with Prof. Michael Saffle, LRTC coordinator, before enrolling.
 

Admission:

  • For students enrolled in regular degree programs, fill out the on-line Graduate Certificate Application. Additional application information, including information about fees and how to pay them, is available at

    https://www.applyweb.com/apply/vtechg/index.html

  • For students not already admitted to graduate study at Virginia Tech – this includes all “Commonwealth Campus Students” – apply on-line for admission at

    https://www.applyweb.com/apply/vtechg/index.html

    Create an account, then complete the application at

    https://www.applyweb.com/cgi-bin/app?vtechg

    You cannot access the application form until you have created an account. All applications cost $65 as of 15 August 2009. Remember: only twelve (12) semester credit hours of work can be completed for credit as a Commonwealth Campus student. (Fortunately, only nine hours are required for the LRTC!)
  • For undergraduate students who wish to begin graduate work before completing their B.A. or B.S. degrees, download, complete, and submit the on-line Concurrent Undergraduate and Graduate Status form. Be sure to submit this form before beginning any LRTC course work. Remember: permission to begin graduate work while still an undergraduate means meeting the requirements for "BS/MS" or "Dual Undergraduate/Graduate" status. One of the requirements is declaring in advance which courses, taken as an undergraduate, are intended to carry graduate credit; these courses must be listed on the appropriate form.

Graduation

  • To graduate after completing most or all course work, download and fill out the on-line Application for Degree or Certificate form . Submit the completed form to the Graduate School shortly before completing class work. The form notifies the Graduate School that all LRC course work is about to be completed.

Tuition benefits and lowered costs

  • Students taking only on line classes may be eligible for a reduction in tuition.  E-mail Ms. Carol Sue Slusser for additional information.


The Graduate School provides answers to FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions) at

http://www.grads.vt.edu/admissions/faq.html


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If you have additional questions or comments, email or call Prof. Michael Saffle at (540) 231-6080, or the department chair, Dr. Peter Schmitthenner at (540) 231-6551