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Radford University, Virginia Tech partnership accelerates pathway to agricultural and applied economics master's degree

Radford, VA (07/17/2024) — A new partnership between Radford University and Virginia Tech offers students a unique opportunity to fast-track their education. The 4+1 undergraduate/graduate program in Virginia Tech's Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences allows Radford University students pursuing a bachelor's degree to earn a master's degree in just one additional year.

The program blends academic excellence with real-world relevance, integrating industry and government issues into coursework focused on applied economic analytics, commodity markets, pricing and contemporary challenges in food systems. Graduates will be prepared for diverse roles in the food and agricultural sectors and various data analytics positions across industries. This partnership opens doors to promising career paths, offering students a competitive edge in today's job market with skill sets in economic modeling, data analysis, econometrics, forecasting and micro- and macroeconomics.

Career paths may include:

  • Agriculture economist - Analyze economic data related to farming, food production and agriculture policies for government agencies, research institutions or private companies.
  • Policy analyst - Evaluate agriculture policies and their impact on farmers, consumers and the environment for government agencies, think tanks or advocacy organizations.
  • Market analyst - Study supply and demand dynamics, pricing trends and market competition in agriculture commodities for agriculture businesses, commodity trading firms or market research companies.

The master's degree program is 100% online and open to all Radford University students with a 3.3 GPA, regardless of major, who have completed certain required courses. As part of the accelerated 4+1 agreement, students will not have to pay application fees or submit GRE scores to Virginia Tech.

"We are excited to see this new partnership with Virginia Tech come to fruition," said Bethany Usher, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at Radford University. It exemplifies our commitment to fostering regional collaboration and providing innovative educational pathways that prepare students for the dynamic challenges of the modern workforce. By streamlining the journey from undergraduate to graduate education, we are enabling students to advance their careers more efficiently and with greater flexibility."

"We are delighted to form this partnership," said Seife Dendir, department chair and professor in Radford University's Department of Economics. "Radford University students who are interested in pursuing a graduate economics degree now have a great opportunity to do so in a reputable, career-focused program. The 4+1 arrangement, which allows students to start the program in their senior year at Radford and finish within a year of receiving their undergraduate degree, also provides a big incentive."

"The program enables students to enter the workforce on schedule while continuing to work on their master's degree, offering a valuable head start in their careers," said Matthew T. Holt, department head and professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at Virginia Tech.

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