2024-2025 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.
The Agricultural Technology Program offers a concentrated academic experience for individuals pursuing an associate degree in preparation for careers in the agriculture and green industries. Students can specialize in Applied Agricultural Management or Landscape and Turfgrass Management.
The AAM specialty provides students with a balanced education that prepares them for diverse job opportunities.
The animal science curriculum includes courses in genetics, nutrition, reproduction, and management. It focuses on the biological and economic aspects of animal production and management. Soils, forages, mechanics and chemical application courses round out the AAM curriculum.
Business courses provide instruction in financial recordkeeping, professional selling, personnel management, strategic marketing, whole business planning, and information systems, focusing on strategic management and economic issues of the agricultural industry. Laboratories stress the use of modern management methods for problem solving.
The crop science curriculum provides students knowledge and hands-on experiences relative to Virginia's major crop and forage systems. Students learn about cash crop rotations and grazing management as well as precision agriculture, integrated pest management, pesticide application, and pesticide safety. Students gain experience using the latest technologies in precision agriculture through labs held in partnership with leaders from the farm equipment industry.
In the LTM specialty, students prepare for a career in the green industry — including landscape design, landscape contracting, golf course management, horticulture production and nursery management, and sports turf management. They learn about turfgrass and landscape installation, maintenance, and management.
The LTM curriculum focuses on developing well-rounded students who are in high demand by many branches of the green industry. Students learn about various types of plants, turfgrass management, soils and nutrient management, landscape design, and Irrigation and drainage.
Additional courses are offered in horticulture production, hardscaping, landscape contracting, golf and sports turf management, integrated pest management, and chemical application. Special study classes allow students to work on the Virginia Tech golf course and athletic fields and compete in national competitions. A strong core of business courses is also offered. Laboratories for each class focus on hands-on learning and expose students to a range of applied landscape and turf management skills.
All students are required to complete an occupational internship for academic credit to provide practical experience in a work environment. The internship is divided into three semesters: a one-credit preparatory course, a summer 10-week/400-hour component, and a one-credit post internship course. Students, in consultation with faculty members, select their internships that may be located anywhere in the United States or abroad.
All admission offers for this program are made though the Agricultural Technology Program. Foreign language is not a requirement of this program. Recommended high school courses include English, Algebra I, and Geometry (minimum), two lab sciences, and a computer class. Students are encouraged to pursue an Advanced or Standard Diploma from high school. Agricultural Technology students have the same rights and privileges as other students at Virginia Tech, except for membership in the Corps of Cadets and participation in NCAA sports. Selected agricultural technology courses can be transferred to a bachelor's degree program in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech.
Students must achieve and maintain a cumulative 2.00 GPA each semester;
All AT courses will be used in the calculation of the GPA.
Director: Susan Sumner
Senior Instructors1: R. Kohl and T. Martin
Advanced Instructor: W. Gwaltney
Instructor: R. Jeter, J. Dickerson, and M. Holder
Assistant Program Directors: T. Martin and R. Kohl
In addition, selected faculty members from departments within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences teach courses in the program.
Introduction to the operation and maintenance of internal combustion engines, field machinery, tractor and power units, and shop to include the fundamentals of gas and arc welding.
Written and oral communication skills, including business and technical writing, public speaking, and interpersonal communication. Instruction and practice in the application of communication skills for business and agriculture. Emphasis on effective use of word processing and email software.
Study of animal products, production methods, and management systems for beef, sheep, horses, dairy, swine and poultry. Classroom instruction, demonstrations, and hands-on experience with livestock and poultry.
Turfgrass identification, morphology, adaptations, and management systems for parks, lawns, athletic fields, roadsides, and golf courses. Mowing, irrigation, fertilization, soil management, pest management, and other practices that impact turf management. Turfgrass management planning utilizing Integrated Pest Management and Best Management Practices.
Basic botanical and chemical principles and their applications to sound plant production and management practices. Emphasis on practical experiences in laboratory and field settings.
Practical experience in a selected agricultural enterprise, under the direct supervision of owner, manager, or supervisor. Internship will be evaluated by faculty member. Written reports of work experience activities are required. Completion of at least 28 credits with a minimum GPA of 2.00 required.
Examines issues of agricultural financial principles, financing individual and family needs. This course includes: financial institutions, budgeting, banking services, investing, borrowing, credit management, types of insurance, personal taxes, expense management, personal investments, and time value of money.
Principles and practices in recruitment, selection, training, compensation, evaluation, discipline, and dismissal of employees for businesses in the agricultural and green industries. Emphasis is placed on employer/employee relationships. Fundamental understanding of professional selling in the agricultural and green industries. Preparation of sales presentations for agricultural products.
Functions of agribusiness enterprises within the U.S. economic framework. Economic systems, cooperatives, essential elements of business organization, management tools for decision-making, creating financial statements, business planning, development and analysis of budgets, investing in a business, and time value of money.
Principles of marketing through the agribusiness industry including the strategic management of products, distribution, promotion, and pricing to improve business performance. Entrepreneurship is explored as a career alternative including methods for acquiring necessary start-up capital. Solving business problems utilizing finance and marketing tools.
A comprehensive study of the principles and activities involved in successfully promoting and merchandising livestock. A livestock auction will be held at the conclusion of the course to provide experiences in advertising, salesmanship, facility development, sale management, and budgeting. Pre: Second year student.
Principles and practices of reproductive management used to maximize reproductive efficiency in dairy and beef cattle, sheep, swine, and horses. Must be second year student in Agriculture Technology.
Principles and practices of efficient grain crop management with an emphasis on Virginia cropping systems.
Principles and practices of livestock feeding. Anatomy and physiology of ruminant and non-ruminant digestive systems. Emphasis on nutrient requirements and ration formulation. Computerized ration formulation and evaluation.
Learn the principles and techniques of game preparation and routine maintenance on the NCAA football and soccer fields at Virginia Tech. Students laboratory experience will be field work with the Virginia Tech Athletic Department staff. Focusing the football and soccer fields during the NCAA competition season.
Learning the principles and techniques of game preparation and routine maintenance on the NCAA baseball and softball fields at Virginia Tech. Students laboratory experience will be field work with the Virginia Tech Athletic Department Staff. Focusing on the baseball and softball fields during the NCAA competition season.
Principles and techniques of golf course preparation and maintenance required for a high-end golf course. Off-site fieldwork, laboratory experience. Practice maintenance procedures needed to rejuvenate the golf course from the summer season.
Principles applied to solving irrigation and drainage problems. Emphasis placed on hydraulics, irrigation design, irrigation scheduling, and components including heads, valves, controllers, backflow prevention, wire, pipe, and fittings.
Physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils; soils suitability for production of a range of agricultural crops to include turfgrass and landscape plants. Properties of common liming, biosolid, manure, and fertilizer materials with emphasis on their environmental impacts. Soil and plant sampling procedures and the analysis of soil tests. Nutrient management plans.
Basic soil science and fertility principles necessary for crop production. Environmental impacts of phosphorus and nitrogen, environmentally sensitive site considerations, regulations, and how to write a nutrient management plan.
Identification, classification, and life cycles of economically important insects, plant pathogens, and weeds. Pest management methods: cultural practices, chemical control, biological control, host plant resistance, etc.
In-depth study and hands-on experience essential to landscape horticulture graphics in a digital format using industry appropriate software.
Use of cool-season and warm-season forage species currently grown in Virginia in forage-based animal systems.
Introduction to various tools and applications related to precision agriculture. Collection, analysis, and effective interpretation and utilization of precision agriculture data, including soil test data, precision fertilizer, and pesticide data.
Concepts of efficient and profitable management of modern dairy herds. Application of basic principles of business, milking, mastitis control, milk quality, herd replacements, feeding, breeding, reproduction, herd health, housing, and milk marketing management to profitable dairy farming.
Orientation course for first semester AT students providing skills, resources and fundamental knowledge to enhance learning experiences and support success. Introduction to study skills and good testing habits, program requirements, opportunities and careers within options, and skills that are essential to become leaders in the agriculture and green industries.
A survey course designed to acquaint the student with the concerns and critical issues impacting the field of agriculture. Contemporary agricultural issues will be explored.
Principles of whole farm and agricultural business planning including creating business plans, personal financial plans, and farm/business transition plans. Identifying and solving real-world agribusiness problems utilizing proper planning.
Production of vegetable, fruit, flowering, and nursery crops, including propagation of these crops. Focus is on the culture of these commodities as alternative agricultural crops, including environmental and cultural requirements for high quality production.
Proper application of pesticides and other agricultural chemicals used in landscape and turf management and in production agriculture; including application methods, equipment calibration and configuration, occupational health and safety, and pesticide laws and regulations.
Identification, selection, requirements, and uses of herbaceous plant materials commonly found in landscapes; includes annuals, perennials, bulbs, and grasses.
Identification and uses of evergreen and deciduous woody plant materials common in the landscape industry; including trees, shrubs, and ground covers; proper plant selection and location in the landscape site.
Beef cattle/sheep production and management. Emphasis on genetics, nutrition, herd health, reproduction, and marketing to optimize performance and profit. Management and flock decisions based on economic and business principles. Practical experience enhanced through laboratory activities.
Horse production and management. Emphasis on genetics, nutrition, herd health, reproduction, and marketing to optimize performance and profit. Management decisions based on economic and business principles. Practical experience enhanced through laboratory activities.
Principles of golf course design and rules of the game, including: evolution, fairness, progression, hazards, shot value, and safety. The United States Golf Associations rules of golf will be covered.
Management of turfgrass on modified soil. Advanced management techniques and manipulation of nutrition and cultural practices to reduce plant stress or increase plant tolerance. Intensive turfgrass pest identification, life cycles, environmental conditions, and methods of effective control. Integrated pest management and best management practices.
Dialogue-based language skills focused on vocabulary and grammatical structures common to agricultural and green industries. Includes vocabulary and contexts specific to activities in greenhouse, nursery, turf, and landscape environments. Elements of Spanish culture are included throughout the course. Pre: Prior study in Spanish is helpful but not required.
Principles and practices involved in the development and interpretation of landscape designs; proper selection and use of landscape construction materials and methods of construction. Introduction to utilizing computer-aided drafting.
Interpreting a landscape design and properly installing plant materials. Preparing bids for customers using cost accounting principles. Maintaining and renovating landscapes as well as exploring careers and business opportunities in the landscaping industry.
Capstone course for the Landscape Turfgrass Management option of the Agricultural Technology program. Problem based learning course to evaluate selected turfgrass problems for stakeholders such as golf courses, athletic fields and parks and recreation departments facility administrators. Students to look holistically at a problem and use critical thinking, experiences and knowledge from previous class work to create custom solutions. For second-year students only.
Non-plant portions of landscape construction such as rock walls, paver floors, arbors, and water gardens. The course covers the materials, construction. Restricted to students in the Landscape & Turf Management option in the Agricultural Technology Program.
This course provide an introduction to a multitude of skills that are important for success in the landscape industry. Each session is set in a competitive environment emphasizing the development of a selection of hands-on skills, including safe equipment operation, landscape and hardscape installation, management and estimating techniques, and arboculture methods.
Fundamentals of managing risk in agriculture, particularly for production of row crops and livestock, including sources of risk and cost/benefit analysis of various risk mitigation strategies. Commodity futures contracts and options as price risk management tools. Government policies, particularly crop and livestock insurance provisions of the current Farm Bill.
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