2025-2026 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.
Exploration of topics related to the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences from a multidisciplinary perspective focusing on communication and teamwork, problem-solving, inquiry, and digital literacy.
Major crops in the genus Cannabis (hemp and marijuana). Historical development, botanical aspects, and current research. Medicinal, recreational and industrial products and their use. Legal, cultural, political and socioeconomic issues surrounding cannabis crops.
Professional development skills and planning for undergraduates in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences (SPES). Explore career opportunities and resources available at Virginia Tech. Improve professional communication skills, resume and cover letter writing, and learning plans for experiential learning opportunities.
How to feed the world in 2050, world crops, primary regions of production, factors that determine where they are grown, economic importance, and use in the human diet. Linkage between food and culture, recipe preparation, and their role in defining who we are, where we come from, and what we have experienced along the way. Tracing of food migration and the African, Caribbean, Asian, Latin American, and European influence on the American cuisine. The universality of food and how every single culture and religion uses food as part of the celebration of life, death, and many cultural events.
Application of academic knowledge and skills to in a work-based experience aligned with post-graduation goals using research-based learning processes. Satisfactory completion of work-based experience often in the form of internship, undergraduate research, co-op, or study abroad; self-evaluation; reflection; and showcase of learning. Pre: Departmental approval of 3900 plan.
Professional development and skills gained during School of Plant and Environmental Sciences (SPES) experiential learning program. Linking experiential learning to future career planning and selection. Reflection on SPES curriculum and experiential learning as a path to fulfilling career goals. Explore role of mentoring and leadership in career development.
Experiential learning, hands-on and face-to-face experience with agricultural industries involved in food production, marketing and consumption. Comparative analysis of agriculture production history, practices and constraints in different regions of the US. The course has two components. One; the in-class (onsite) discussion, analysis, and comparison of the diverse agricultural production systems between Virginia and, two; the studying “away” part (Example, California, Arizona, the Mississippi Delta). Pre: Junior standing.
Writing and discussion-based learning synthesizing prior knowledge gained in Plant Science degree program. Practice in science-based expository writing and speaking applied to undergraduate coursework, undergraduate research, or work-related experience in the Plant Sciences. Restricted to students in Plant Science degree program. Pre: Junior or Senior standing.
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