Program Overview

Calhoun Honors Discovery Program

The Calhoun Honors Discovery Program (CHDP) combines a structured disciplinary education with an open-ended, collaborative, and transdisciplinary discovery process. Students collaborate with one another across disciplines, as well as work alongside faculty, industry, and nonprofit partners. After four years of learning the process of discovery, innovation, and problem-solving, students will be prepared to face the real world. Under this new learning platform, students will graduate from Virginia Tech with the skills and knowledge needed to lead collaborative sociotechnical innovation and live out our motto Ut Prosim, “That I May Serve.”

Honors Collaborative Discovery Diploma (HCDD) Information

Calhoun Honors Discovery Program students will complete an Honors Collaborative Discovery Diploma (HCDD). The HCDD is limited to students in 14 participating programs that span engineering, science, business, design arts, humanities, and policy. Only students in the 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 graduating classes may receive the HCDD in this four-year pilot program. The Calhoun Honors Discovery Program is at capacity with 140 students.

Participating Programs of Study for the CHDP Collaborative Discovery Diploma

• Business Information Technology
• Business Management
• Computational Modeling and Data Analytics
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Industrial Design
• Communication
• English
• Environmental Policy & Planning
• Smart and Sustainable Cities
• Creative Technologies
• Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Graphic Design
• Professional & Technical Communication

Program Structure

The CHDP is a four-year pilot program made possible by an exceptional gift from alumnus David Calhoun ’79, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Boeing Company. The program combines a structured disciplinary education with an open-ended, collaborative, and transdisciplinary discovery process. Students will work alongside faculty, industry, and nonprofit partners to develop the skills and knowledge needed to lead collaborative sociotechnical innovation.

Program Details

• The program is designed to prepare students to face the real world after four years of learning the process of discovery, innovation, and problem-solving.
• The program is limited to students in 14 participating programs that span engineering, science, business, design arts, humanities, and policy.
• Only students in the 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 graduating classes may receive the HCDD in this four-year pilot program.
• The Calhoun Honors Discovery Program is at capacity with 140 students.