Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Encyclopedia
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is one of eight colleges at Virginia Tech with a three-part mission of learning, discovery, and engagement. It has more than 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students in a dozen academic departments. In 2009, the National Science Foundation
ranked Virginia Tech No. 5 in the country for agricultural research expenditures, much of which originated from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
As part of Virginia Tech’s land-grant mission
, the college administers Virginia Cooperative Extension
in partnership with Virginia State University
.
Founded in 1872 as a land-grant college named Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, Virginia Tech has evolved into a large public university with numerous degree offerings. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences provides the kind of education intended under the Morrill Act of 1862, making it the center of the land-grant tradition at Virginia Tech. Closely associated with the college are the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, established in 1886, and Virginia Cooperative Extension
, established in 1914.
Today, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has more than 17,000 alumni.
The Agricultural Technology Program prepares students for careers in the agricultural and green industries with a concentrated, two-year degree experience that leads to an associate’s degree. Students specialize in either applied agricultural management or landscape and turf management.
The college’s graduate program offers advanced degrees in numerous disciplines:
Together with the College of Natural Resources and Environment and the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
, the college administers the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, which allows faculty to investigate food and fiber systems, their impact on the environment, and natural and human resource issues. Eleven agricultural research and Extension centers, which are dispersed throughout Virginia’s five geographical areas, support this research system.
Virginia Tech’s research expenditures in the agricultural and life sciences have consistently ranked among the top in the nation. In 2009, these expenditures exceeded $91.6 million and accounted for more than 23 percent of Virginia Tech’s research spending.
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
ranked Virginia Tech No. 5 in the country for agricultural research expenditures, much of which originated from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
As part of Virginia Tech’s land-grant mission
Land-grant university
Land-grant universities are institutions of higher education in the United States designated by each state to receive the benefits of the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890....
, the college administers Virginia Cooperative Extension
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Virginia Cooperative Extension provides resources and educational outreach to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s more than seven million residents in the areas of agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, community viability, and 4-H youth development...
in partnership with Virginia State University
Virginia State University
Virginia State University is a historically black and land-grant university located north of the Appomattox River in Chesterfield, in the Richmond area. Founded on , Virginia State was the United States's first fully state-supported four-year institution of higher learning for black Americans...
.
History
| Andrew M. Soule | 1903-1906 |
| W.J. Quick | 1906-1908 |
| Harvey L. Price | 1908-1945 |
| Thomas B. Hutcheson | 1946-1950 |
| Leander B. Dietrick | 1952-1962 |
| Wilson B. Bell | 1962-1968 |
| James E. Martin | 1968-1975 |
| James R. Nichols | 1975-1991 |
| Andy L. Swiger | 1992-2003 |
| Sharron S. Quisenberry | 2003-2009 |
| Alan L. Grant | 2009-present |
Founded in 1872 as a land-grant college named Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, Virginia Tech has evolved into a large public university with numerous degree offerings. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences provides the kind of education intended under the Morrill Act of 1862, making it the center of the land-grant tradition at Virginia Tech. Closely associated with the college are the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, established in 1886, and Virginia Cooperative Extension
Virginia Cooperative Extension
Virginia Cooperative Extension provides resources and educational outreach to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s more than seven million residents in the areas of agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, community viability, and 4-H youth development...
, established in 1914.
Today, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has more than 17,000 alumni.
Departments
The college is home to a dozen academic departments:- Agricultural and Applied Economics
- Agricultural and Extension Education
- Animal and Poultry Sciences
- Biochemistry (with the College of Science)
- Biological Systems Engineering (with the College of Engineering)
- Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences
- Dairy Science
- Entomology
- Food Science and Technology
- Horticulture
- Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise
- Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Science
Academics
The college offers bachelor’s degrees in 13 majors as well as an undecided option:- Agribusiness
- Agricultural sciences
- Animal and poultry sciences
- Applied economic management
- Biochemistry
- Biological systems engineering
- Crop and soil environmental sciences
- Dairy science
- Environmental horticulture
- Environmental science
- Food science and technology
- Human nutrition, foods and exercise
- Landscape contracting
- Life sciences undecided (must transfer into degree program during first two years)
The Agricultural Technology Program prepares students for careers in the agricultural and green industries with a concentrated, two-year degree experience that leads to an associate’s degree. Students specialize in either applied agricultural management or landscape and turf management.
The college’s graduate program offers advanced degrees in numerous disciplines:
- Agricultural and applied economics
- Animal and dairy science (Ph.D. only)
- Animal and poultry sciences
- Biochemistry
- Crop and soil environmental sciences
- Dairy science (M.S. only)
- Economics in agricultural and life sciences (Ph.D. only)
- Entomology
- Food science and technology
- Horticulture
- Human nutrition, foods and exercise
- Plant pathology, physiology, and weed science
Research
The college has identified six program areas as a focus for development and investment:- Agricultural profitability and environmental sustainability
- Food, nutrition, and health
- Biodesign and bioprocessing
- Green industry
- Infectious diseases
- Community viability
Together with the College of Natural Resources and Environment and the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine is a state-supported college of two states, Virginia and Maryland, filling the need for veterinary medicine education in both states. Students from both states are considered "in-state" students for admissions purposes.VMRCVM is one of...
, the college administers the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station, which allows faculty to investigate food and fiber systems, their impact on the environment, and natural and human resource issues. Eleven agricultural research and Extension centers, which are dispersed throughout Virginia’s five geographical areas, support this research system.
Virginia Tech’s research expenditures in the agricultural and life sciences have consistently ranked among the top in the nation. In 2009, these expenditures exceeded $91.6 million and accounted for more than 23 percent of Virginia Tech’s research spending.