Welcome to the Housing Program at Virginia Tech! A home has important personal and economic value to the people who live there. It is a basic human need. To shelter our society, all types of residential spaces must be designed, built, selected, acquired, and managed. That process requires many professionals knowledgeable about people and the housing industry. For decades, Virginia Tech has had a reputation for educating many of those leading professionals.
The Housing Program offers two undergraduate options: Residential Property Management (RPM) and Housing. THe RPM option gives students the opportunity to learn about managing multifamily housing and prepares them for entry-level positions in this field. In the Housing option, students learn about the interface between people and their living environment and focus on the design of residential spaces and selection and use of products for the home. Both options are supported by active advisory boards. An industry internship is part of the 120 credits required for graduation.
At Virginia Tech, the housing program focuses on several areas of the residential environment. These areas include:
• Management of multifamily housing
• Design of kitchens and baths
• Consumer's acceptance of alternative housing
• Universal design in home environments
• Housing options for older adults
• Impact of indoor environments on health and safety
• Management of residential energy usage for safety and efficiency
• Residential technologies for daily activities
The Housing program has:
- A graduate program offering masters and doctoral degrees.
- Special facilities including The Center for Real Life Kitchen Design.
- Outreach programs, such as the “Explore Your Dream Kitchen” workshop.
- Nationally recognized research programs impacting both consumers and the housing industry.