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 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.
Recent Submissions
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A Beginning Farmer and Rancher Community Learning Network in the Greater Richmond Area: Program Development and Initial Evaluation
(Virginia Tech, 2017-07-17)The mission of the Virginia Beginning Farmer and Rancher Coalition (VBFRC) Program for Greater Richmond is to develop programming that fits the needs of beginning farmers in the area. This project initially focused on ... -
Strawberry Cultivar Evaluation on Farms Utilizing Conventional Growing Methods in the Coastal Plain of Virginia
(Virginia Tech, 2017-05-01)In North America strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) are one of the major high value crops. According to the national agriculture census data, in 2012 there were 313 farms growing strawberries on 290 acres in Virginia ... -
Evaluating the Beef Quality Assurance Certification Program as Part of the Virginia High School Agriculture Curriculum
(Virginia Tech, 2017-05-03)This study explores the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification program in the Virginia secondary agriculture curriculum. The purpose of the evaluation was to gain insights from teachers about their awareness of the BQA ... -
Using School Compost Programs to Incorporate Workplace Readiness Skills into Agricultural Education Curriculum
(Virginia Tech, 2017-04-18)The purpose of this project was to prepare activities and lesson plans associated with implementing a school composting program and determine how effective they were at teaching and reinforcing workplace readiness skills ... -
Developing an "Attitude of Gratitude": 4-H School Enrichment for Youth in 4th and 5th Grades
(Virginia Tech, 2017-05-19)Youth today are exposed to a great number of stressors. Standardized testing, peer pressure, and even product marketing stress youth and have negative effects on their mental health. Many studies have supported a positive ... -
Teen Leadership Skill Development through the Junior 4-H Camp Counselor Training Program
(Virginia Tech, 2017-05-17)The purpose of this paper is to determine if there is a positive relationship between participation in the Junior 4-H Camp Counselor Training Program and development of leadership skills. Additionally, this study seeks to ... -
Verification of DuPont BAX Real-Time Listeria monocytogenes Detection Kit in Dark Chocolate Ice Cream
(Virginia Tech, 2017-05-03)Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogen of great concern in the dairy industry and throughout the last several years has proven a deadly contaminate in ice cream specifically. In 2015, two major recalls of ice cream have ... -
Shellfish Hatchery Water Sampling Guide
(Virginia Tech, 2017-05-05)The purpose of this peer reviewed extension article was to create a guide that helps hatcheries with proper water sample storage and protocols that are easy to read and understand. Shellfish aquaculture has become a ... -
Efficacy of Organic Fungicides for Control of Powdery Mildew, Downy Mildew, and Plectosporium in Pumpkins
(Virginia Tech, 2017-05-02)Increased agritourism in the state of Virginia has led to an increase in the pumpkin planting acreage for pick-your-own operations across the commonwealth. Virginia pumpkin producers face yield losses from numerous sources, ... -
Food Safety and Globalization: Mexican Produce in the United States
(Virginia Tech, 2017-02-03)This paper analyzes the growth of the US demand for imported fresh produce, in spite of a negative consumer perception regarding food imports; as well as the actions undertaken by the government of Mexico to help the United ... -
Agroforestry Education: The Status and Progress of Agroforestry Courses in the U.S.
(Virginia Tech, 2017-04-24)Many agroforestry leaders today believe that an increase in agroforestry coursework, certifications, and institutional degree programs would help agroforestry professionals gain the proper education and training needed to ... -
Considerations for Creating a Food Business Incubator in Virginia
(Virginia Tech, 2016-04-22)Due to overwhelming current demand for affordable rental commercial kitchen space in Virginia, this report was compiled in order to assess a viable Virginia model for small food business support. The incubator business ... -
Experiential Learning in Agriculture Education
(Virginia Tech, 2016-05-02)Many students find it difficult to comprehend information and retain knowledge from regular classroom instruction alone. In addition, many students cannot remain focused on a certain task for an entire class period. By ... -
An Overview of Renewable Energy and its Effects on Wildlife and the Environment
(Virginia Tech, 2016-05-12)As concern over greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from conventional fossil fuel sources rises, energy developers look toward renewable resources as prime candidates for “cleaner” and “greener” energy production. This paper ... -
Integrating STEM into Extension Education: A Case Study
(Virginia Tech, 2016-05)Extension education has played a valuable role in our society’s development over the years, especially regarding the well-being of our youth. Youth development programs everywhere are increasing in economic importance as ... -
Effects of Bioretention Cell Media Composition on the Removal of Nitrogen and Phosphorus
(Virginia Tech, 2016-12-19)Bioretention cells are engineered systems used in urban areas as stormwater treatment to remove unwanted nutrients from runoff. The objectives of the paper are to examine existing studies to determine effects of media ... -
Development of the United States Marine Corps International Affairs Personnel Education and Training Program
(Virginia Tech, 2016-05-22)The United States Marine Corps (USMC) International Programs Office is a unique organization, in the way of mission and responsibilities compared to other Department of Defense agencies and offices that work in International ... -
Using the Understanding of Agricultural Crop Geography in the United States as an Assessment for Agricultural Literacy
(Virginia Tech, 2016-12-06)The primary aim and purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge level and understanding of where important agricultural crops are historically and statistically produced in the United States in a sample population ... -
Growth of Bath County 4-H Programming through Adult Volunteer Training
(Virginia Tech, 2016-12-15)Adult volunteer involvement in 4-H programming is essential for the growth and stability of a community-based 4-H program. Adult volunteer’s needs must be met and quality training must be provided for both their comfort ... -
Program Effectiveness of Community Gardens in Nashville, Tennessee for Homeless and Low Income Populations
(Virginia Tech, 2016-12)Community gardens can provide many benefits including increased produce consumption, improved mental health, and increased exercise. However, few studies have been done on how participation in community gardens can impact ...
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