Graduate Certificate in Metropolitan Studies
Rationale and need for graduate certificate and its target population
During the next generation, more than $40 trillion will be spent reshaping America's built environment. More half of all structures existing today will be demolished or reconfigured to serve different functions. New development will exceed in volume 75% of everything existing today. The magnitude of this change will challenge economic, social, governance, physical and environmental systems as never before. It is imperative that the broadest number of current and prospective professionals possible appreciate the dynamics underlying this change, and in some way learn how to manage it.
The Graduate Certificate in Metropolitan Studies is designed for those who are interested in acquiring a basic understanding of metropolitan development dynamics and the role of policy in influencing them. The certificate is part of the Urban Affairs and Planning program's overall mission to teach students how to understand, analyze, and influence the forces that shape the metropolitan built environment.
The target population includes current Virginia Tech and other graduate students in all fields, and others with undergraduate degrees who qualify for admission to the certificate program. As the nature and extent of future development will touch everyone, everyone qualified should have the opportunity to become familiar with the challenges and opportunities.
Admission requirements.
Admission to the Certificate Program requires status as a current graduate student in good standing in Virginia Tech. If not currently such a student then application directly to the Certificate Program is necessary. A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 for this category is needed. Exceptions include achieving this minimum based on the last 60 semester hours of coursework or provisional admission if the GPA is above 2.75 but below 3.00. Official transcripts must be submitted. Application requirements are posted on Virginia Tech's Graduate School web site.
Course requirements.
The Certificate requires the completion of a minimum of 12 credit hours of graduate course work. To receive the Certificate, students must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 for the courses taken. Students seeking the Certificate must complete at least six credit hours from among the following courses plus six credit hours in electives.
Core: Six credit hours from among:
UAP 5104: Urban & Regional Development Theory
UAP 5174: Theory & Practice of Urban & Regional Planning
UAP 5194: Urban Growth Management
UAP 5234: Urban Economy & Public Policy
Or other course as approved by the program.
Elective: Six credit hours from among any other UAP courses including those not used for the core noted above.
All core courses and at least eight of all 12 hours used for the Certificate must be graded on an A-F basis. All courses must be taken from Virginia Tech's Urban Affairs and Planning Program. No more than four course credits may be at the 4000 level.
A printer-friendly description of the Certificate is available here.
For additional information please email UAPAlexandria@vt.edu.