College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
OverviewAcademic programs in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are based upon the sciences (natural and social), mathematics, and the humanities. Graduates are prepared for careers in the production, utilization, and sales of food and fiber products. The majority enter the agribusiness complex of organizations which support production agriculture. Examples are managers, suppliers of agricultural materials, sales and service organizations, processing and marketing firms, and transportation and distribution agencies. Additional career opportunities exist in education, service through cooperative extension, and research both by agriculturally oriented private firms and public agencies and institutions. In the area of human nutrition and exercise, careers relating to human health, health care, physical activity, and food safety are numerous. Undergraduate ProgramsThe undergraduate program in the college is organized into numerous majors designed for students with widely different interests. These majors permit the student to achieve a satisfactory degree of specialization while providing the fundamentals necessary for continuing professional growth after graduation. Undergraduate majors are offered in agricultural and applied economics, agricultural technology, animal and poultry sciences, biochemistry, crop and soil environmental sciences, dairy science, environmental science, food science and technology, horticulture, and human nutrition, foods, and exercise. Some students may be assigned special advisors if their objective is to prepare for graduate study in entomology, plant pathology, plant physiology, weed science, or integrated pest management. Freshman students also may enter the college with the designation AGRI ("non-preference"). Upon completion of the freshman year, a college major must be selected. Students interested in pre-veterinary medicine may satisfy course requirements in several departments within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. See College of Engineering for Biological Systems Engineering. Graduate ProgramsAt the graduate level, the college offers educational programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. Complete information on these programs may be found in the Graduate Catalog. Cooperative EducationThe Cooperative Education Program is available to qualified undergraduates in the college. Information on the program is listed in the chapter, "Academics." Courses of study included in the Cooperative Education Program are: agricultural engineering, animal science, biochemistry and nutrition, dairy science, food science and technology, horticulture, and poultry science. International Study OpportunitiesThe Academic Programs Office in the college, in cooperation with the Office of International Research and Development, offers several avenues for students both in and outside the college to gain international knowledge and experience. These study opportunities allow students and faculty to become aware of and develop basic knowledge of food, fiber, and environmental issues in the world. Specific activities include study abroad programs and courses, international internships, formal student exchange programs, seminars and workshops on campus, and courses in the college which focus on international topics. In addition, the Concentration in International Agriculture is available which involves selecting 18 credit hours of study from a selected list of courses. Students wishing to explore this concentration should contact the Office of Academic Programs in the college. Selected departments in the college offer recognized options in international development. The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics offers the International Trade and Development Option, and the Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences offers the International Development Option. Students wishing to explore either of these options should contact the coordinating advisor in those departments. Honors ProgramDuring the junior and senior years, departments may invite a selected number of majors to candidacy for a degree "in honors." At this time, a student's work focuses on the major interests and part of the work is in independent study. Areas offering work leading to a degree "in honors" are agricultural economics, animal and poultry sciences, biochemistry, crop and soil environmental sciences, dairy science, food science and technology, and horticulture. Core Curriculum RequirementsThe College of Agriculture and Life Sciences requires bachelor's degree students to complete the following minimum core curriculum. It includes the university core curriculum requirements. Semester hour credits required are listed at right.
Students who plan to transfer to Virginia Tech and major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences after two years of community or junior college enrollment are encouraged to complete as many of the core curriculum courses as possible before they transfer. Agricultural Technology ProgramAgricultural Technology is a two-year program which offers an associate degree. Bachelor degree students are not permitted to enroll in AgTech courses. Students will major in agriculture business, animal agriculture, landscape and turf management, or crop production. For information about this program, write: Agricultural Technology Office, Virginia Tech, 1060 Litton Reaves Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0334, or call 540/231-7649.
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