Program Format, Admissions, Tuition & Financial Aid
XMNR PROGRAM FORMAT AT A GLANCE
- Accelerated 12-month, 3-semester format, January to December each calendar year
- Executive-style, hybrid, cohort-based program (accepting ~30 students in each cohort)
- Synchronous learning during monthly class weekends: 5 on campus in the Washington, D.C. area and 6 held online
- Asynchronous individual and team coursework is completed online between class weekends
- 10-day global study and field experience
- 1:1 faculty advising on independent study projects
- Service learning, consulting projects, and internship opportunities that lead to real world experience
- Professional career coaching provided for up to two years after graduation
- Access to the expertise of core faculty team and extensive guest faculty network
- Networking with sustainability professionals from around the world
CURRICULUM HIGHLIGHTS
Climate, energy, water, food and agriculture, biodiversity and ecosystems, green economy and sustainable business, urbanization and infrastructure, development and equity, and related social and environmental systems.
Collective impact, boundary spanning leadership, stakeholder analysis and engagement, partnerships, collaborative social innovation, and more.
Students collaborate on applied projects with sustainability professionals leading innovative approaches to systems change.
Emphasis on professional development and career goals of individual students via peer-to-peer mentoring, small group learning, and one-on-one coaching.
UNIQUE CURRICULUM FORMAT
- Practical and readily applicable experiential learning: We teach in class today what you can use at work tomorrow.
- Integrated and cumulative: The curriculum is integrated (i.e., across courses and with the workplace) and cumulative (i.e., content increases in complexity and scale each month). Class projects and learning modules build over time, cutting across courses and spanning multiple months.
- Personalized focus area: Self-directed independent study project with a faculty advisor allows for maximum flexibility and customization to meet students’ individual interests and career goals.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
Click on the file below to view a three semester curriculum overview including courses and major topics.
ADMISSIONS AND APPLICATION
XMNR applications are reviewed by the admissions committee in batches throughout the year. Complete applications submitted by the deadlines below should receive a decision by the graduate school within two weeks. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as annual cohorts have only a limited number of students and may fill quickly.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
*May 1 - Decision by May 15
*Aug 1 - Decision by Aug 15
Nov 1 - Decision by Nov 15
**Dec 1 - Decision by Dec 15, pending availability of space
*Prospective students who submit their applications by August 1, receive an invitation to join an all-inclusive event for prospective and recently accepted students during the September 12-14 XMNR class weekend at Virginia Tech’s Innovation Campus in Alexandria, VA.
**Admissions deadline not guaranteed if the cohort fills to capacity before this date.
Apply early to receive early admissions benefits:
1:1 career coaching and workshops to jumpstart your career goals through Virginia Tech Career and Professional Development
Access to the XMNR network of current students and alumni in addition to events, discussions, job postings, and professional development opportunities available exclusively to the XMNR community through a private XMNR LinkedIn Group and CLiGS Career and Professional Development Canvas site.
Access to VT Graduate School benefits and resources including OneCampus university services, LinkedIn Learning, Rosetta Stone, University Libraries, new graduate student events, and more.
Available upon acceptance by the graduate school.
ADMISSIONS
Requirements for admission include:
- Undergraduate degree (minimum GPA of 3.0*)
- Virginia Tech Online Application for admission
- $75 non-refundable application fee
- Current resume/CV
- Two professional recommendations
- Copies of official relevant academic transcripts
- 1-2 page goals statement
No GRE required; English proficiency assessment is required for international students per Graduate School rules.
*Speak with an advisor if your undergraduate GPA is below 3.0.
TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID
All tuition and fee rates for all Virginia Tech programs are administered by VT’s Office of the Bursar.
Students may qualify for financial aid, usually in the form of student loans. For more information on financial aid options, please contact Amy Hubbard.
Most students opt for the Federal Stafford Loans to finance the cost of the program. Veteran and military benefits cover tuition and fees, housing allowance, and more. VT employees can have 100% of the tuition covered. Contact XMNR Program Coordinator Amy Hubbard to discuss further.
We encourage our applicants to involve their employer’s management and human resources decision-makers early on in the application process. This allows employers to understand an applicant’s motivation for pursuing the XMNR degree and appreciate the benefits of having their employees participate in the program.