Virginia Tech allows for both thesis and non-thesis master's degrees. For each degree type, the student's Plan of Study must meet the semester credit hours requirements shown below. Departments/programs may have additional requirements and an advisory committee may add specific requirements needed for an individual student's academic development. Graded credits must be taken for an A/F grade unless the course is only offered P/F (see Grading System Requirements). See Transfer Credit for policies about the transfer of graduate credits for use on the Plan of Study. See Undergraduates taking Graduate Courses for policies allowing Bachelor/Master's students at Virginia Tech to transfer some courses from the bachelor's degree to the master's degree (also referred to as double counting courses toward both degrees).

Minimum total credits: 30 credit hours

Minimum graded credits: 20 credit hours

• May include a maximum of 6 credits of Virginia Tech 4000-level undergraduate course work
• The 6 credits of Virginia Tech 4000-level course work may include Special Study (4984) courses but may not include Undergraduate Independent Study (4974) or Undergraduate Research (4994) courses.
• All other graded course work must be 5000 level or higher (i.e., graduate course work)
• The 5000-level course work may include a maximum of 6 credits total in 5974, 5984, and 6984 courses and 3 credits of seminar. Some departments have approval from the Commission on Graduate and Professional Studies and Policies to reduce the minimum number of graded course work credits required for a specific degree program. See departmental degree requirements to determine if a department has approval for such changes in requirements.

Minimum research credits: 6 credit hours of Master's Research (5994) taken at Virginia Tech.

Minimum total credits: 30 credit hours

Minimum graded credits: 24 credit hours

• May include a maximum of 6 credits of Virginia Tech 4000-level undergraduate course work
• The 6 credits of Virginia Tech 4000-level course work may include Special Study (4984) courses but may not include Undergraduate Independent Study (4974) or Undergraduate Research (4994) courses.
• All other graded course work must be 5000 level or higher (i.e., graduate course work)
• The 5000-level course work may include a maximum of 9 credits total in 5974, 5984, and 6984 courses and 3 credits of seminar.

Maximum project and report or research credits:

• May include a maximum of 6 credits of Project and Report (5904) credits taken at Virginia Tech