TWO CAPITALS, TWO MASTERS

Virginia Tech Briefing

Virginia Tech Description

Large public university in Virginia Focus on learning, research and discovery215 undergraduate and graduate degrees31,000 students (including international)Research portfolio of $454 millionMain campus in Blacksburg, 125 on-campus buildings, 2,600 acresOff campus educational facilities in six regions, including Alexandria Study-abroad site in Switzerland

Blacksburg, Main Campus

Virginia Tech Alexandria Campus

Located at 1021 Prince Street

Includes – Government and International Affairs– Architecture– Public Administration and Planning– Urban Affairs and Planning– Metropolitan Institute

Two Capitals, Two Degrees Program Description

One academic year at Kent University– Fulfill Master’s degree required courses and

final project.

One academic year at Virginia Tech– Fulfill Master’s degree required courses and

Major Paper.

Graduate with a Master’s degree from Kent University and one from Virginia Tech after two years, in two capitals.

Applying for the Program (1)

Application either to Kent University or VT

Each university has specific application process, each needs to accept students based on their internal requirements, ex. Application deadlines, number of recommendations, expected level of academic achievement.

Applying for the Program (2)

If accepted in Kent U., students start the program in Brussels, with one year of study. Brussels students need an average score of 60 or better to continue the second year in VT.If accepted in VT, students start the program in Alexandria, with one year of study. US students need an average 3.0 GPA or better at the end of the year, to continue second year in Kent U.

One Academic Year at Kent University, Brussels Campus

Required courses

Elective courses

Final project: Master’s thesis

One Academic Year at Virginia Tech, Alexandria or Blacksburg

Campus (1)Required/Core Courses: – 3 courses, 3 credits each. Choose from:

Global Change, Local ImpactsPower and Policy in the USCollaborative Governance and Civil SocietyComparative Social MovementsPolitics of Developing AreasInternational PoliticsDemocratic Governance in the EconomyContemporary American Foreign Policy

One Academic Year at VT (2)

Modes of Inquiry, 1 course, 3 credits. Choose from:– Contemporary Political Theory– Research Methods– Discourse Analysis

Electives, 1 course, 3 credits; choose from:– Quantitative Techniques– Public Admin and Policy Inquiry– Alternative Political Theory– Qualitative Methods in Global Studies– Global Governance– Discourse Analysis

One Academic Year at VT(3)

Final Project – Major Paper, 3 credits – A major paper/journal article sized academic

work on a subject determined by students in consultation with advisor.

Students sign up during the regular academic year, write it and defend it.

Faculty

Prof. Gerard Toal in interview with Voice of Bosnia

Faculty

Prof. Joel Peters in action

Applying to VT (1)

Fill out application form available on website

Graduate School checks credentials and approves application

Application goes next to Government and International Affairs (GIA/SPIA)

Applying to VT (2)

Office of Graduate Student Services requires three documents:– Immigration information form– Passport ID page– Proof of necessary funds

DS 2019 or I-20 forms are mailed; office will give students a SERVIS number to pay the SERVIS I-901 fee.When SERVIS fee is paid, students can make appointment with Consulate to seek a student visa; wait for mailed forms and further instructions on docs to take to the interview.

Cost of Program (1)

Total cost of program around $28,901.25 (exact amount varies). Cost of living in Northern Capital Region

– $ 1,200 apartment rental per month– $ 4,000/year for insurance, books, miscellaneous– Wide range of food costs, depends on whether

students cook for themselves or eat mostly out, between $300-$800/month

Internships in Washington DC

Various think-tanks (Center for Strategic and International Studies, Fund for American Studies, Council on Foreign Relations, Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars).Government agencies (Environmental Protection Agency, Smithsonian Institution)Other

After GraduationAfter Graduation

International students benefit from 18 International students benefit from 18 months of Practical Training, ie. They can months of Practical Training, ie. They can work in the US on the visa they hold at work in the US on the visa they hold at time of graduation, in a field related to their time of graduation, in a field related to their Master’s degree.Master’s degree.

Job fairs available.Job fairs available.

Travel to Washington DC

International flights into Dulles airport, located approximately 10 miles from DCMetro transport from Dulles into DC and other locations in the Greater Washington area expected to be completed in 2018Cab fares from Dulles to the city range between $60 – $80.Public transport available.http://www.nvc.vt.edu/resources/international/travel.html

Housing for International Students

In Washington DC

In Alexandria

In other locations within 5 miles of NCR campus

http://www.nvc.vt.edu/international/

Transportation in the DC area

Alexandria campus close to King metro station (six blocks walk).– Trolley from metro station into Alexandria.

Public transportation: various buses going into DC, and across the area.

Cabs available everywhere.

Shopping malls on bus routes.

Hokie Pride – Hokie Bird"Gobblers" coined in the early 1900s as a description of how student athletes would "gobble" up their food. 1913, Fred Meade, local resident chosen by the student body to serve as the school's mascot had a large turkey pull him in a cart at a football game. Later, he trained the turkey to gobble on command.1936, a costumed Gobbler joined the live gobbler for one game. The use of a live gobbler mascot continued into the 1950s, and the first permanent costumed Gobbler took the field in the fall of 1962.1982, the appearance of the Gobbler mascot costume was changed to one that looked like a maroon cardinal with a snood, and references first appeared to it as "the Hokie mascot," "the Hokie," and "the Hokie bird." The costume worn by today's HokieBird made its first appearance in 1987.

Live hokie bird in the streets of Alexandria

Things to do in Northern capital Region

Alexandria was part of the big metropolis Washington DC area from 1791 to 1846DC attractions:– Tours of Congress and Washington Monument – Arts, crafts, sports, free museums– Free events (Kennedy Center, think-tank meetings)

Alexandria cultural life– Little Theater of Alexandria, Ghost Tours, Arts

festivals, parades, farmers’ market, Torpedo Factory 

Capitol Hill

Lincoln Memorial