Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is a place where you can study biotechnology, the environment, food production and product development, business, animal or human health, or community development, just to mention a few of the options. As an undergraduate, your classroom could be a biotechnology laboratory or a commercial farm in South Africa. You can obtain solid undergraduate training for a complex industry or prepare yourself for medical, dental, pharmacy, veterinary, law, or graduate school. More than 2,400 students are pursuing degrees in more than 40 options offered in the college’s 12 departments and its associate’s degree program. Read on to find out about our programs, majors, degrees, and admissions details, so we can help you achieve your goals.

High School Preparation & Admission to the College

A challenging college preparatory curriculum is your foundation for success in Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Specifically, you must present a minimum of 18 units, including four units of English, three of math (including algebra II and geometry), and two of social sciences. Three units of laboratory science, including chemistry and physics, are strongly recommended for students entering the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Three additional college preparatory units are required, and the balance of the required credits are your choice.

In addition to your transcript, SAT or ACT (plus writing) scores are required of freshman applicants.

Curriculum & Opportunities

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences provides an education in the science and business of life. Twelve departments support more than 40 different options for bachelor of science degrees. The college also offers an associate of agriculture degree through a two-year Agricultural Technology Program.

Basic life sciences and animal, plant, and food sciences—not to mention biotechnology, environmental sciences, human health and nutrition, and rural development—are just some of the choices available to you as an undergraduate major.

If your ultimate goal is to apply to veterinary school, you’ll want to explore the excellent pre-vet preparation offered in many of the college’s majors.

Whatever your educational and career goals may be, you’ll find top faculty and academic advisors who are eager to work with you. You will also find more than 30 student organizations and nationally competitive teams in the college.

Faculty & Facilities

As part of a land-grant university, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is committed to learning, discovery, and engagement. To fulfill its mission, the college maintains research and teaching laboratories, animals, equipment, land, and special facilities for both student and faculty use.

The college’s resources consist of more than 230 faculty members, 200 on-campus teaching and research laboratories, and more than 3,000 acres of land.

Off-campus research and extension centers focus on a wide range of areas: forages, pesticides, plants/crops, insects, air quality, animals, wildlife, genetics, soil, water, nutrition, orchards, ornamentals, and greenhouses.

The college offers the educational environment and global learning experiences students need in order to develop skills for addressing the challenges facing society and the world today. You may work beside scientists in their laboratories or participate in internships with business or industry.

Freshman Curriculum

Courses of study will vary; however, as a freshman, you can expect to take two or three courses toward the university’s Curriculum for Liberal Education requirements in English, math, science, and humanities, plus one or two courses in your major. A typical first-year schedule looks like this: