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 general field of study. The second part is a number denoting the particular subject. The first digit indicates the year in which the course is usually taken and, therefore, the level of instruction.

Credit. The unit of academic credit used at the Virginia Military Institute is the semester hour. In general 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.

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 4000 words, and typically a major course project.

FRENCH

Department of Modern Languages and Cultures
Department Head: Colonel Sunnen

All cadets who enter with two or more entrance units in a modern foreign language are given placement tests and are placed in appropriate courses on the basis of the test results combined with their previous high school language coursework, and after consultation with the department head of modern languages.

A single year of a foreign language shall count toward meeting graduation requirements only when the cadet is studying a second language or is taking a language as an elective.

Cadets must demonstrate proficiency in ML 101 in order to be admitted into ML 102. They must, similarly, demonstrate proficiency in ML 102 before enrolling in ML 201, and in ML 201 before enrolling in ML 202/204. Proficiency in ML 202/204 is a prerequisite for admission to 300-level courses. Completion of two 300-level courses or their equivalent is expected before enrollment in any 400 -level course. Once a cadet has completed work at the 202/204 level, he/she may not return to the elementary level course for credit.

Cadets who present four years of a high school language or demonstrate native or near-native language abilities may not enroll at the elementary level of that language. Such students will have the choice of enrolling either in the first semester intermediate level of that language or in the first semester elementary course of a different language.

GEOLOGY

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Department Head: Captain Riester

Requirements for a major in civil engineering are specified in Civil and Environmental Engineering .

GERMAN

Department of Modern Languages and Cultures
Department Head: Colonel Sunnen

All cadets who enter with two or more entrance units in a modern foreign language are given placement tests and are placed in appropriate courses on the basis of the test results combined with their previous high school language coursework, and after consultation with the department head of modern languages.

A single year of a foreign language shall count toward meeting graduation requirements only when the cadet is studying a second language or is taking a language as an elective.

Cadets must demonstrate proficiency in ML 101 in order to be admitted into ML 102. They must, similarly, demonstrate proficiency in ML 102 before enrolling in ML 201, and in ML 201 before enrolling in ML 202/204. Proficiency in ML 202/204 is a prerequisite for admission to 300-level courses. Completion of two 300-level courses or their equivalent is expected before enrollment in any 400 -level course. Once a cadet has completed work at the 202/204 level, he/she may not return to the elementary level course for credit.

Cadets who present four years of a high school language or demonstrate native or near-native language abilities may not enroll at the elementary level of that language. Such students will have the choice of enrolling either in the first semester intermediate level of that language or in the first semester elementary course of a different language.

HISTORY

Department of History
Department Head: Colonel Wilkinson

Requirements for a major in history are specified in History .