Courses
OMALS Courses & Curriculum
Virginia Tech’s Online Master of Science in Agricultural and Life Sciences (OMALS) requires 30 credits of coursework with the option of a final project based on student preference. The curriculum includes 15 credits of core coursework and 15 credits within the student’s chosen concentration.
Students complete five core courses and select five courses from their concentration area. Explore the course offerings below by core curriculum and concentration.
Core Courses (in order of completion)
| Course ID | Title | Term Offered |
|---|---|---|
| ALS 5174 | Professional Practice in Agriculture and Life Sciences | Fall, Spring, and Summer |
| ALS 5134 | Evidence-based Research Approaches in Agriculture and Life Sciences | Fall, Spring and Summer |
| ALS 5234 | Community Food Systems: Critical Inquiry in Agriculture and Life Sciences | Fall, Spring, and Summer |
| ALS 5184 | Complex Challenges in Agriculture and Life Sciences | Fall, Spring, and Summer |
| ALS 5194 | Agriculture and Life Sciences: Practices and Applications | Fall, Spring, and Summer |
Agribusiness Concentration
| Course ID | Title | Term Offered |
|---|---|---|
| AAEC 5014 | Applied Economic Analytics | Fall |
| AAEC 5025 | Applied Microeconomics | Fall |
| AAEC 5034 | Agribusiness Marketing Policy and Business Strategies | Summer (extended) |
| AAEC 5044 | Applied Macroeconomics | Spring |
| AAEC 5054 | Strategic Agribusiness Management | Fall |
| AAEC 5074 | Agricultural and Food Policy | Spring |
| AAEC 5084 | Contemporary Food Systems | Fall |
| AAEC 5134 | Agricultural Markets and Prices | Spring |
| AAEC 5174 | International Agricultural Development and Trade | Spring (even years) |
| AAEC 5424 | Agribusiness Finance and Risk Management | Summer (extended) |
| AAEC 5974 | Independent Study | Fall, Spring, and Summer |
Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare Concentration
| Course ID | Title | Term Offered |
|---|---|---|
| APSC 5034 | Fundamentals of Animal Learning and Training | Summer |
| APSC 5134 | Applied Behavior Analysis for Animal Behaviorists (required for AABW students) | Fall |
| APSC 5154 | Behavioral Biology of Domesticated Animals | Spring |
| APSC 5164 | Ethology and Applied Ethology of Domesticated Animals | Fall |
| APSC 5184 (rm)* | Research Methods for Animal Behaviorists (taken after APSC 5134) | Spring |
| APSC 5224 | Animal Welfare Assessment | Fall |
| APSC 5234 | Applications of Applied Animal Behavior | Fall |
| APSC 5244 | Applied Equine Behavior | Spring (even years) |
| APSC 5254 | Managed Animal Ethology and Welfare | Spring |
| APSC 5264 | Animal Cognition | Summer I |
| APSC 5334 | Adjunctive Approaches to Behavior Change in Animals | Spring (even years) |
| APSC 5374 | Animal Behavior Consulting | Summer (extended) |
Applied Nutrition and Physical Activity Concentration
| Course ID | Title | Term Offered |
|---|---|---|
| HNFE 5174G | Advanced Nutrition and Physical Performance | Fall |
| HNFE 5184 | Advanced Macronutrient Metabolism | Fall |
| HNFE 5214 | Physical Activity and Health | Spring and Summer (odd years; extended) |
| HNFE 5254 | Program Development in Health Education | Summer (extended) |
| HNFE 5414 | Body Image and Disordered Eating | Spring and Summer (even years; extended) |
| HNFE 5454 | Nutrition and Disease Prevention through the Life Cycle | Spring |
| HNFE 5644G | Advanced Health Counseling | Summer (extended) |
| HNFE 5694 | Public Health Administration | Spring and Summer I |
| PHS 5034 | Health Education and Health Behavior | Summer (extended) |
Education Concentration
| Course ID | Title | Term Offered |
|---|---|---|
| ALCE 4884 | Youth Program Management | Fall |
| ALCE 5014 | Principles and Methods of Non-formal Teaching and Learning | Summer II |
| ALCE 5044 | Program and Curriculum Design in ALCE | Summer II |
| ALCE 5054 | STEM Integration in Agricultural Education | Spring (even years) |
| ALCE 5074 | Foundations of ALCE | Fall |
| ALCE 5104 | Research Applications in ALCE | Fall; Spring (even years) |
| ALCE 5114 | Serving International Agriculture and Education | Spring (odd years) |
| ALCE 5154 | Community Partnerships and Volunteerism | Spring |
| ALCE 5204 | Evaluation of Extension and Outreach Programs | Fall (even years) |
| ALCE 5564 | International Agriculture and Diplomacy | Fall (odd years) |
Environmental Science Concentration
| Course ID | Title | Term Offered |
|---|---|---|
| BSE 5404 | Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution | Fall (even years) |
| CSES 5114 | Soils for Professionals | Spring and Summer (extended) |
| CSES 5314 | Water Quality for Professionals | Fall (even years) |
| CSES 5324 | Blending Business and Environmental Principles | Spring |
| CSES 5444 | Agronomic Topics for the Mid-Atlantic | Spring |
| CSES 5604 | Environmental Science Concepts for Professionals | Fall |
| CSES 5864 | Advanced Wetland Soils and Mitigation | Summer (extended); odd years |
| CSES 5874 | Reclamation of Disturbed Lands | Spring |
Food Safety and Biosecurity Concentration
| Course ID | Title | Term Offered |
|---|---|---|
| ENT 5624 | Animal and Plant Biosafety and Biosecurity | Spring |
| FST 5034 | Good Agricultural and Manufacturing Practices | Spring (even years) |
| FST 5044 | Global Food Laws and Regulations | Fall (even years) |
| FST 5614 | Food Safety and Security | Spring (odd years) |
| FST 5624 | Applied Food Microbiology and Sanitation | Fall (odd years) |
| FST 5634 | Advanced Epidemiology of Food and Waterborne Diseases | Fall (even years) |
Leadership Studies Concentration
| Course ID | Title | Term Offered |
|---|---|---|
| ALCE 4884 | Youth Program Management | Fall |
| ALCE 5154 | Community Partnerships and Volunteerism | Summer (extended) |
| ALCE 5224 | Team Science, Cooperation, and Interdisciplinary Work | Spring |
| LDRS 4514 | Essential Skills for Nonprofit Leaders | Spring |
| LDRS 5004 | Ethics in Leader/Follower Relationships | Spring |
| LDRS 5454 | Leadership Foundations for Diverse Contexts | Fall |
| LDRS 5464 | Leadership in a Global Society | Spring |
| LDRS 5534 | Leading with Cognitive Diversity | Fall |
| LDRS 5544 | Leading Teams Through Change | Fall |
| LDRS 5554 | Leading Social Change | Spring |
Plant Science and Pest Management Concentration
| Course ID | Title | Term Offered |
|---|---|---|
| ENT 5024 | Understanding Urban and Structural Entomology | Fall (even years) |
| ENT 5234 | Managing Arthropod Pests | Spring (even years) Summer (odd years) (extended) |
| ENT 5624 | Animal and Plant Biosafety and Biosecurity | Spring |
| HORT 4334 | Greenhouse and Controlled Environment Agriculture Management | Summer (extended) |
| HORT 4654 | Viticulture | Fall |
| HORT 5764G | Advanced Vegetable Crops | Spring (even years) |
| HORT 5784G | Advanced Vegetable Seeds | Spring (even years) |
| PPWS 5204 | Principles of Plant Disease Management | Spring |
| PPWS 5214 | Diseases of Crop Plants | Fall |
| PPWS 5704 | Weed Science and Management | Fall (odd years) |
Additional Elective Options
| Course ID | Title | Term Offered |
|---|---|---|
| APSC 5404 | Reproductive Technologies in Cattle | Spring |
*choose one course based on type of research (qualitative or quantitative)