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 opportunities to fulfill this requirement, including internships, fellowships, undergraduate research, and other international experiences.

Below, you’ll find approved pathways for completing your Bridge Experience, which is required for graduation.

  • 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

Internship Spotlight: Create Videos. Tell Stories. Make an Impact.
Digital Media & Video Production Internship with the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. >> Details and apply

Approved Bridge Experience Pathways: The following pathways meet the Bridge Experience requirement:

Experience Type Completion Requirement
Fellowship Complete at least one semester
Internship Complete at least one semester or summer experience
Undergraduate Research Complete at least 50 hours of research
Study Abroad or International Experience Complete at least 3 credits or participate for 6 weeks
Interdisciplinary Project Complete at least 3 credits or participate for 6 weeks
Corps of Cadets Leadership Complete at least one semester

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.

 

IFAMA Global Case Competition Experience

AAEC offers students the opportunity to participate in IFAMA, an international organization that brings together sectors and functions related to food and agribusiness, and a global case competition for students, held annually in June. Contact Mario Ortez

Through this experience, student teams will:

  • Compete in a global case competition focused on real-world challenges in food and agribusiness.
  • Engage with industry and academic leaders from around the world.
  • Exchange ideas and collaborate with students and professionals across the globe.
  • Gain firsthand experience in developing solutions that help shape the future of agriculture and agribusiness.
Student Commitment & Timeline

Fall Semester

  • Approximately 2 hours per week for two weeks
  • Online competition preparation and participation
  • AAEC will organize and support multiple student teams competing in the fall

Spring & Summer Preparation

  • Approximately 4 hours per week
  • Continued team preparation, practice, and case development
Building Global Opportunities

AAEC is committed to expanding opportunities that provide students with international experiences, professional development, and connections. Check back often as more opportunities are posted. You can also explore additional resources and opportunities below.

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 Digital Media and Video Production 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. 

Commodity Investing by Students at Virginia Tech (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 Isengildina Massa

Explore research opportunities with faculty!

Interested in gaining hands-on experience, exploring new ideas, and building skills through research? Students are encouraged to connect with their professors to learn about available research opportunities and find projects that match their interests.

Research can be interdisciplinary, meaning it brings together ideas, methods, and perspectives from different fields to solve problems and explore questions in new ways. For example, a project might combine science and technology, art and design, business and psychology, or multiple areas of study.

Whether you already have a research interest or are curious to discover something new, faculty are excited to work with students and support your academic growth.

For more information, guidance, or help finding opportunities, contact Normand Adams or Mario Ortez.

We are here to help all students achieve a Bridge Experience. While this new program is required for incoming first-year students beginning Fall 2026, we encourage all students to explore opportunities to learn beyond the classroom. Contact Normand Adams for guidance in finding an experience that fits your goals.

Additional Resources

campus intern exp logo
Are you looking for a paid internship? Do you crave the opportunity for career-related experience on campus? If so, you may be interested in Campus internEXP (on-campus internship experience)! Campus internEXP offers undergraduate students the opportunity to participate in paid on-campus internships with a variety of departments and units across campus. Click image for details.

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.