Courses of Instruction

Course Numbering System. Each subject is identified by a symbol made up of two parts. The first part is an abbreviation denoting the field of study. The second part is a number denoting the particular subject. The first digit indicates the year in which the course is taken and, therefore, the level of instruction.

Credit. The unit of academic credit used at the Virginia Military Institute is the semester hour. A semester hour represents one hour of classroom work (lecture or recitation) or one period (two or three hours) of laboratory or supervised research or field work per week during a single semester. Thus a course that meets for three class hours and one laboratory period each week during one semester usually carries credit for four semester hours.

In the following course descriptions the figures on the title lines indicate, in order, the class hours per week, the laboratory or field work hours per week, and the semester hours credit. For example, the figures “3—2—4” mean that the class meets three times a week for one-hour classroom sessions and has two hours of laboratory, supervised research, or field work each week, and that the course carries four semester hours of credit.

ECONOMICS

Department of Economics and Business
Department Head: Colonel Moreschi

Requirements for a major in economics and business are specified in Economics and Business .

Note: For all economics and business majors, the following courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher: MA 125 , MA 126 ; ERH 101 , ERH 102 ; EC 201 , EC 202 , EC 300 , EC 303 , EC 304 , EC 330 ; BU 210 , BU 211 , BU 220 , BU 230 , BU 310 , BU 316 , BU 330 , BU 339 , BU 440 . In addition, a minimum grade point average of at least a C must be earned in all department courses.

EDUCATION

Coordinator:   Lieutenant Colonel Elaine Humphrey.

ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Department Head: Colonel Addington

Requirements for a major in electrical and computer engineering are specified in Electrical and Computer Engineering .

ENGLISH, RHETORIC, AND HUMANISTIC STUDIES

Department of English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies
Department Head: Colonel Miller

Requirements for a major in English are specified in English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies .

Note: A minimum grade of C in ERH 101  , WR 101, or EN 101 is a prerequisite for ERH 102  , and a minimum grade of C in ERH 102  , WR 102, or EN 102 is a prerequisite for all 200- and 300-level English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies courses. All 400-level courses have additional prerequisites, which are listed in the course descriptions or provided in registration materials. These prerequisites may be waived by the department head if there is evidence that the cadet is well prepared for the 400-level course. 

200-level courses:  These courses build on research-informed writing skills developed in ERH 102 - Writing and Rhetoric II . Major writing assignments are typically 1000 words each, totaling at least 2000 words, and emphasizing close reading, synthesis of ideas, and guided use of sources.

300-level courses:  Intermediate courses stressing critical reading of more complex works and research-informed writing. Major writing assignments are typically 1500 words each, totaling at least 3000 words, and emphasizing analysis. Assignments require cadets to demonstrate some originality of thought.

400-level courses:  Advanced courses requiring more independent work, substantial reading assignments, writing totaling 400 words, and typically a major course project.