2026-2027 Academic Catalog
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Degree Core Requirements | ||
| ALCE 3004 | Educational Programs in Agricultural and Life Sciences + | 3 |
| ALCE 3624 | Communicating Ag and Life Sciences in Writing +* | 3 |
| ALCE 3634 | Communicating Ag and Life Sciences in Speaking +* | 3 |
| ALCE 4014 | Introduction to Cooperative Extension | 3 |
| ALCE 4044 | Agricultural Sciences Seminar +* | 3 |
| ALS 1234 | CALS First Year Seminar | 1 |
| LDRS 1414 | Citizen Leadership + | 3 |
| Subtotal | 19 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| Disciplinary Core Courses | ||
| ALCE 3814 | Life Sciences Communication & Public Engagement | 3 |
| ALCE 3844 | Intercultural Life Sciences Communication | 3 |
| ALCE 3854 | Brand Development for the Life Sciences | 3 |
| ALCE 3900 | Bridge Experience | 0 |
| ALCE 4834 | Life Sciences Communication Capstone | 3 |
| COMM 1014 | Introduction to Communication | 3 |
| COMM 2024 | Media Writing | 3 |
| COMM 2124 | Introduction to Communication Research | 3 |
| COMM 4024 | Communication Law | 3 |
| Subtotal | 24 | |
| Controlled Electives (9 credits) | ||
| ALCE 4814 | Life Sciences Field Photography | 3 |
| ALCE 4824 | Crisis Communication in the Life Sciences | 3 |
| Select 3 content-area elective credits approved by an AGSC advisor. Students must fill out a content area elective form from the Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education (ALCE) undergraduate office. Students must choose a course from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (ALS), Environmental Sciences (ENSC), Fisheries and Wildlife (FIW), Forestry (FREC), or the School of Communication. | 3 | |
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Area of Specialization (18 credits) | 18 | |
| Select 18 AGSC-advisor-approved specialization course credits. The student must file an area of specialization form with the Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education undergraduate office. Students may either choose an approved minor to fulfill this requirement or complete at least 18 hours at the 3000 level or higher in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences or Natural Resources and Environment. | ||
| Subtotal | 18 | |
| Free Electives | 8 | |
| Select a number of Free Electives sufficient to achieve 120 total credit hours. | ||
| Subtotal | 8 | |
| Pathways to General Education | ||
| Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse | 9 | |
| First-Year Writing (3 credits) | ||
| First-Year Writing (3 credits) | ||
| Exploring Human Experience in Ag & Life Sci (3 credits) +* | ||
| Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | 6 | |
| Select 6 credits in Pathway 2 (https://catalog.vt.edu/course-search/?attrs_pathways=attrs_pathways_G02) | ||
| Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences | 6 | |
| Economics of the Food and Fiber System | ||
| Economics of the Food and Fiber System | ||
| Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences | 6 | |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| Principles of Biology | ||
| Principles of Biology | ||
| OR | ||
| Chemistry in Context | ||
| Chemistry in Context | ||
| OR | ||
| Earth Science: Our Past, Present, and Future | ||
| Earth Resources, Society, and Environment | ||
| Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking | 6 | |
| Precalculus with Transcendental Functions | ||
| Introductory Statistics * | ||
| Select 3 credits in Pathway 5a | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts | ||
| Select 3 credits in 6D | 3 | |
| Select 3 credits in 6A | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States (3credits) | ||
| Pathways Concept 7 is currently suspended effective Fall 2025. Please refer to the Pathways Page for more information. | ||
| This requirement is satisfied by the completion of ALCE 2414/AINS 2414 | ||
| Total Credits | 120 | |
In-Major GPA: Indicates in-major courses for purposes of calculating in-major GPA.
Prerequisites: Some courses have prerequisites: please refer to the University Course Catalog or consult your advisor for information about prerequisites.
By the end of the academic year in which the student has attempted 72 hours (including transfer, advanced placement, advanced standing and credit examination), "satisfactory progress" will consist of three criteria.
1) GPA of at least 2.0
2) at least 24 credits that apply to the University Core
3) 9 credits of departmental requirements
Overall and In-Major GPA
Students must have an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher and an in-major GPA of 2.0 or higher to graduate.
120 credits are required to complete the degree.
No substitutions are currently available.
Requires 2 years of high school study in the same language (equivalent to 1105). Courses taken at Virginia Tech to complete the foreign language requirement will not count toward graduation.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| ALS 1234 | CALS First Year Seminar | 1 |
| LDRS 1414 | Citizen Leadership | 3 |
| AAEC 1005 | Economics of the Food and Fiber System | 3 |
| ENGL 1105 | First-Year Writing | 3 |
| Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences | 4 | |
| Subtotal | ||
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| AAEC 1006 | Economics of the Food and Fiber System | 3 |
| ALCE 3004 | Educational Programs in Agricultural and Life Sciences | 3 |
| ENGL 1106 | First-Year Writing | 3 |
| COMM 1014 | Introduction to Communication | 3 |
| Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences | 4 | |
| Subtotal | ||
| Credits | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| COMM 2024 | Media Writing | 3 |
| ALCE/AINS 2414 | Exploring Human Experience in Ag & Life Sci | 3 |
| MATH 1014 | Precalculus with Transcendental Functions | 3 |
| ALCE 3634 | Communicating Ag and Life Sciences in Speaking | 3 |
| Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | 3 | |
| Subtotal | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ALCE 3624 | Communicating Ag and Life Sciences in Writing | 3 |
| ALCE 3844 | Intercultural Life Sciences Communication | 3 |
| COMM 2124 | Introduction to Communication Research | 3 |
| STAT 2004 | Introductory Statistics | 3 |
| Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts | 3 | |
| Subtotal | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ALCE 4014 | Introduction to Cooperative Extension | 3 |
| ALCE 3814 | Life Sciences Communication & Public Engagement | 3 |
| ALCE 3854 | Brand Development for the Life Sciences | 3 |
| Area of Specialization | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | 3 | |
| Subtotal | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ALCE 4814 | Life Sciences Field Photography | 3 |
| COMM 4024 | Communication Law | 3 |
| Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts | 3 | |
| Area of Specialization | 6 | |
| Subtotal | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ALCE 4044 | Agricultural Sciences Seminar | 3 |
| ALCE 4824 | Crisis Communication in the Life Sciences | 3 |
| ALCE 3900 | Bridge Experience | 0 |
| Pathway 5a | 3 | |
| Area of Specialization | 3 | |
| Controlled Elective | 3 | |
| Subtotal | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ALCE 4834 | Life Sciences Communication Capstone | 3 |
| Area of Specialization | 6 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| Subtotal | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
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