We connect your classroom learning to career readiness by requiring every student to complete an experiential learning opportunity before graduation.

Our department offers a variety of engaging options to fulfill this requirement, including internships, study abroad programs, fellowships, undergraduate research, and other international experiences. Below, you’ll find more details to help you explore experiential learning opportunities that align with your interests.

  • Two students standing in front of a research poster

  • People in a green house wearing protective shoes - the background is of tomato plants

  • Two students in the field testing water quality with a blue bucket in a small creek

  • A professor and three students participating in a study on AI

  • Image of a student talking with two locals from Equador with a brick building in the background

  • People standing in front of a banner that reads Agricultural Outlook Forum

  • People standing in front of a building with a sign that reads Farm Stand

Kohl Centre: Agri-Food Finance Fellows and Junior Fellows
Contact Le Wang

Fellows will build practical skills in financial analysis, valuation, and AI/ML applications for agri-food businesses while working on real-world consulting projects alongside faculty and industry partners. They also engage in industry visits, seminars, and special projects that address current business challenges.

Ag Law Fellow
Contact Jennifer Friedel

The Ag Law Fellow will support agricultural law projects by conducting legal research, co-authoring publications, assisting with Extension presentations, and serving as a teaching assistant for the AAEC-3604 Agricultural Law course in Spring 2027.

Virginia’s Land Use-Value Assessment Program (LUVA) Fellow
Contact Jennifer Friedel

The LUVA Fellow supports research and outreach by collecting and analyzing data, helping prepare reports, updating the program website and stakeholder resources, and participating in meetings with statewide and local stakeholders. Fellows also gain hands-on professional experience by contributing to an Extension publication while developing technical, communication, and leadership skills.

AAEC students engage with stakeholders and industry on campus, across the Commonwealth, the nation, and globally.

One of our flagship opportunities with IFAMA, an international organization that brings together all sectors and functions related to food and agribusiness.

In support of this mission, the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics sends student teams to the conference, where they engage with global leaders, exchange ideas, compete in a competition, and gain firsthand experience shaping the future of food and agribusiness. Contact Mario Ortez

Students in our program complete internships across a wide range of agriculture-related fields, including the food supply chain, agricultural lending, policy, international trade, community development, and other industries outside of agriculture.

In addition, the department offers two in-house internships each year. Contact Melissa Vidmar

  • The Marketing and Partnerships Intern supports departmental outreach and engagement by showcasing programs and strengthening connections with alumni and industry partners. 
  • The Videographer Intern helps bring the department’s mission and activities to life through visual storytelling, creating photo and video content for the department’s website and social media platforms. 

COINS is a student-managed organization that invests over $1,300,000 of the university’s endowment in commodity markets. By investing real money, our members combine traditional classroom education with real-world market experience. Contact Olga Massa

The Ag Econ Club is dedicated to providing an environment of fellowship and leadership in which members pursue professional, educational, social, and teamwork development. Contacts: Michael Cary or Normand Adams

Additional Resources

Through Virginia Tech Advantage, the university is expanding financial and support resources for in-state students. Students are able to stay on track toward graduation, while taking part in research, study abroad, and internships — all with fewer financial barriers. Many resources, such as emergency funds and food resources, are available to all students.

Ut Prosim Internship Support Fund is for undergraduate students from any academic major at Virginia Tech, can apply for funds to support unpaid or underpaid internships with companies or organizations within the Commonwealth of Virginia that directly contribute to the public good, regardless of industry. Preference will be given to students working in non-profit organizations, non-governmental agencies, companies/organizations located in rural southwest Virginia.

Students may receive financial assistance for up to $5,000. Students must demonstrate that their ability to participate in the work-based learning experience is highly contingent upon receiving financial support. Funds may be used for: tuition, transportation costs, housing and moving expenses, required equipment or uniforms, etc.

As a student in CALS, you not only have access to top-notch classroom instruction, but an opportunity to experience a rich, hands-on, real-world education through many activities and experiences out in the “field.” The world is our classroom, and every student in CALS has an opportunity to experience it and discover your place in it. Connecting your academics and passions with real-world applications will bridge your time at Virginia Tech with your future- living out Ut Prosim in your community and beyond! Check out CALS resources and tips.

Note: This list highlights many major research and fellowship opportunities at Virginia Tech, but it is not exhaustive. Students are also encouraged to reach out directly to faculty in their field of interest for additional opportunities.