Online Master of Agricultural and Life Sciences
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The Online Master of Agricultural and Life Sciences (OMALS), http://www.cals.vt.edu/online/, is uniquely positioned to meet the evolving and dynamic needs of today’s agricultural professionals. The program offers concentrations in the areas of agribusiness, applied animal behavior and welfare, applied nutrition and physical activity, education, environmental science, food safety and biosecurity, and leadership studies, as well as plant science and pest management. In addition to engaging classes, students benefit from the opportunity to work on-on-one with well-respected faculty in Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to complete a rigorous final project, using what they've learned and developing real-world research and communication skills. This collection showcases final projects completed by current and former OMALS students.
Directions for final project and report submissionRecent Submissions
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Inclusive Language for Farmers’ Markets
(Virginia Tech, 2022-05-02)As of 2021, 38.3 million people lived in food-insecure households in the United States (USDA, 2021c). Nutrition-related health inequities may be exacerbated by limited consumer access to nutrient-dense foods (Ver Ploeg, ... -
The implications of switching from total coliform to Enterobacteriaceae as an indicator organism in a food manufacturing facility: a literature review
(Virginia Tech, 2021-12-08)Coliform is the traditional indicator organism of choice for testing of the environment and finished food products in the United States, as current reflected in some federal rules, such as the Pasteurized Milk Ordinances. ... -
Effect of Year, Location, Cropping System, Maturity Group, and Variety on Protein and Oil Content of Virginia Soybean 2019-2020
(Virginia Tech, 2021-12-13)Soybean is a crop valued highly for its protein and oil content. Although soybean varieties have been regularly tested in Virginia for yield and other performance parameters, protein and oil measurements have not been ... -
Mitigating Pollution from Runoff of Roadway Deicing Salts in Virginia: A Review of Candidate Halophytes, Halophilic Microbes, and Soil Amendments for Future Remediation Efforts
(Virginia Tech, 2021-12-20)Roadway deicing salt is a major pollutant of Virginia roads, damaging environmental systems, water quality, and human health. Phytoremediation of salt-affected roadside soils using salt accumulating or excreting halophytes ... -
Effects of High-Water Vapor Transmission Rate (HWVTR) package films on the shelf life of Strawberry (Fragaria ananassa)
(Virginia Tech, 2021-12-07)This study investigates the effect of two different types of packing films, OLAF and D1050, with different water vapor transmission rates, MAP with 15% carbon dioxide (CO2) and 85% nitrogen (N), variations in the number ... -
An awareness guideline on consumer food safety in Suriname
(Virginia Tech, 2021-12-01)The Nationaal Instituut voor Voedselveiligheid Suriname (NIVS) which is established in the context of general food safety and protecting consumers from dangers associated with all foods sold in Suriname, gives the opportunity ... -
Virginia Tech Student-Athletes’ Involvement with Student-Athlete Development and Their Future Success after College
(Virginia Tech, 2021-12-08)This project determines the ways in which the office of Student–Athlete Development (SAD) helped Virginia Tech (VT) football players to be successful in life after college athletics and allows for a better understanding ... -
The Roadblocks Women in Virginia Face in Sports Media
(Virginia Tech, 2021-11-08)Roadblocks for women in Virginia sports media were explored. The study helps provide guidance to improve opportunities for women in Virginia sports media and allow the the same opportunities as their male counterparts. The ... -
Accuracy of Intermittent Fasting Guidance in Blogs Used by Personal Trainers from a Gym in South Africa
(Virginia Tech, 2021-10-11)This project examined the accuracy of blog sources personal trainers in Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa use to educate themselves on the topic of intermittent fasting. Through literature review, different types of intermittent ... -
The Needs of Virginia Tech Student Athletes During the Transfer Process
(Virginia Tech, 2021-09-22)This project described the needs of student-athletes during the transfer process to Virginia Tech and helped provide recommendations for improvement in the University’s process of accepting student athlete transfers. Through ... -
Perceived Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Across the US Agriculture Industry: From the Lived Experiences of Gay Men
(Virginia Tech, 2021-09-12)According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, approximately 22 million people work in the agriculture industry and in 2018, this figure represented roughly 11% of the total American workforce. Of these 22 million people, ... -
Motivation of Youth Program Volunteers
(Virginia Tech, 2021-08-13)This study is focused on the motivation behind youth program volunteers. Specifically, research centered on what motivated volunteers to get involved with the My Turn organization as well as what motivated them to stay ... -
A Comparison of Social Media Engagement Tactics Utilized by the Washington Nationals Twitter Account
(Virginia Tech, 2021-08-14)The increase in social media usage over the years by people all over has impacted businesses today. Sports teams specifically have a huge platform and do their best to stay engaged with fans in order to increase fanship ... -
Strategies for Academic Improvement at Rutgers University
(Virginia Tech, 2021-08-12)A college athlete has the unique opportunity to both play their sport at a competitive level, while at the same time balancing the work that goes into earning their degree. College athletes that graduate, as compared to ... -
The Transition from High School Girls Basketball to Division One ACC Women’s Basketball at Virginia Tech
(Virginia Tech, 2021-08-11)This research study evaluated the strategies and resources available to support female basketball players as they transition from high school to college at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia ... -
The Recruitment of Student-Athletes: Building Trust Between Coaches and Players
(Virginia Tech, 2021-08-10)This study is focused on the recruitment of college athletes. Specifically, research centered on the aspects of the recruitment process and how they influenced a prospective student-athlete’s decision. The theory, Maslow’s ... -
Evaluating the performance of Orius insidiosus as a predator of thrips in greenhouse-grown geraniums
(Virginia Tech, 2021-07-16)Thrips are among the most common and economically damaging greenhouse pests in the world. Due to the demanding nature of chemical control programs in greenhouses for thrips, biocontrol strategies are growing in popularity ... -
Positive Youth Development in a Sports-Based Youth Program
(Virginia Tech, 2021-06-14)Positive youth development (PYD) is a framework where organizations and systems focus on promoting the health and well-being of youth rather than simply eliminating their problems (Mahoney & Lafferty, 2003). Youth programs, ... -
Evaluation of OmniGen-AF® for Enhancing Reproductive Performance of Gilts
(Virginia Tech, 2021-05-12)Nutritional feed additives are incorporated into rations to improve reproductive and growth performance in livestock. Dietary supplementation with OmniGen-AF® (OMN; Phibro Animal Health Corporation, Teaneck, NJ, USA) has ... -
A Study on the Maturing Sustainable Mentoring Program
(Virginia Tech, 2021-05-26)When a less experienced person needs guidance and encouragement to perform their specific duties, they may turn to a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in a particular field, a role model, instructor, coach, or mentor. The Marine ...