The Agricultural Business major teaches students the operating techniques and business skills used in the modern food and fiber industry. This program builds student knowledge and skills needed to manage small- and medium-sized businesses in agriculture and allied industries. This is true whether the business is directly involved in production, value-adds to raw agricultural products, or provides support services including the distribution, processing, packaging, and marketing of agricultural products.
Two things tend to distinguish the major in Agricultural Business from a typical business degree: first, our focus tends to be on small- and medium-sized businesses where the decision maker must be more attuned to all dimensions of their operating environment, whereas more traditional business degrees often focus on a larger business organization where functions are more specialized. Second, the major emphasizes the importance of understanding the underlying technical processes that drive business decisions through formal course requirements in the agricultural sciences. The interface between technical training in agricultural sciences, economics, and management sets this degree apart.
Completing this program enhances students’ professional development, technical competence, problem-solving skills, and communication skills. The program operates in the nexus of business management, public policy, and agriculture. Strong interdisciplinary coordination in the department allows majors in agricultural business to strengthen their technical training by simultaneously completing a second major in allied fields including animal science, equine science, soil and crop science, agricultural education, technical journalism, and other fields of interest.
Learning Outcomes
Successful students will demonstrate:
- Technical competency including appropriate use of economic theory in formulating analytical problems, identifying and gathering appropriate data, and employing appropriate economic methods to analyze those problems, utilizing appropriate available computer technology
- Ability to solve real-world problems beyond the pedagogical context. Students will be able to identify a problem and its scope, evaluate resources to address the problem, formulate alternative solutions, and select the solution(s) most consistent with a stated objective
- Proficiency in oral and written communication including the ability to communicate critically and analytically at a professional level
Potential Occupations
Although students from farms and ranches choose this major each year, business-oriented students with a wide variety of backgrounds have launched successful careers with this versatile degree. Graduates establish careers in management, marketing, sales, and finance to name a few areas. Participating in internships and experiential opportunities is strongly encouraged to enhance practical training and development. Graduates who seek further specialization are prepared to pursue advanced studies.
Examples of career paths of recent graduates include, but are not limited to: commodity broker, agricultural statistician, loan officer, farm manager, supply chain analyst, farm machinery sales representative, grain merchandiser, operations manager, landscape contractor, human resources specialist, ranch manager, credit analyst, crop insurance agent, precision ag technologist, feedlot manager, agricultural chemical sales representative, real estate appraiser, and elevator manager.
Concentrations
Effective Spring 2018
Freshman | |||
---|---|---|---|
AUCC | Credits | ||
AGRI 192 or 292 | Orientation to Agricultural Systems Transfer Seminar | 1 | |
Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | ||
Food Animal Science | |||
Introduction to Equine Science | |||
Food-From Farm to Table | |||
Horticultural Science | 3A | ||
General Crops | |||
AREC 202 | Agricultural and Resource Economics (GT-SS1) | 3C | 3 |
Select four credits from the following: | 4 | ||
Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||
Principles of Plant Biology (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||
Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||
CHEM 103 | Chemistry in Context (GT-SC2) | 3A | 3 |
CO 150 | College Composition (GT-CO2) | 1A | 3 |
CS 110 | Personal Computing | 4 | |
ECON 204 | Principles of Macroeconomics (GT-SS1) | 3C | 3 |
MATH 117 | College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1) | 1B | 1 |
MATH 118 | College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1) | 1B | 1 |
MATH 124 | Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1) | 1B | 1 |
Arts and Humanities | 3B | 3 | |
Total Credits | 30-31 | ||
Sophomore | |||
ACT 205 | Fundamentals of Accounting | 3 | |
AREC 224 | Introduction to Agribusiness Entrepreneurship | 1 | |
AREC 305 | Agricultural and Resource Enterprise Analysis | 3 | |
MATH 141 | Calculus in Management Sciences (GT-MA1) | 1B | 3 |
SPCM 200 | Public Speaking | 3 | |
Advanced Writing | 2 | 3 | |
Agricultural Science Electives1 | 6 | ||
Foundations and Perspectives2 | 3B, 3D, 3E | 9 | |
Elective | 2 | ||
Total Credits | 33 | ||
Junior | |||
AREC 310 | Agricultural Marketing | 3 | |
Select a minimum of 3 credits from the following: | 3 | ||
Personnel Management in Agriculture | |||
Introduction-Economics of Natural Resources | |||
Water Law, Policy, and Institutions | |||
Economics of Outdoor Recreation | |||
Agricultural Law | |||
International Agricultural Trade | |||
Water Resource Economics | |||
Real Estate Appraisal | |||
AREC 335/ECON 335 | Introduction to Econometrics | 3 | |
ECON 306 | Intermediate Microeconomics | 3 | |
FIN 305 | Fundamentals of Finance | 3 | |
MKT 305 | Fundamentals of Marketing | 3 | |
MKT 362 | Professional Selling | 3 | |
STAT 301 | Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods | 3 | |
Agricultural Science Electives1 | 3 | ||
Electives | 3 | ||
Total Credits | 30-31 | ||
Senior | |||
Select two courses from the following: | 6 | ||
Agricultural Production Management | |||
Agricultural Finance | |||
Agricultural Commodities Marketing | |||
AREC 428 | Agricultural Business Management | 4A,4C | 3 |
Select one of the following: | 3 | ||
Ag- and Resource-Based Economic Development | 4B | ||
Agricultural Policy | 4A,4B,4C | ||
Select a minimum of six credits from the following, not taken elsewhere: | 6 | ||
Personnel Management in Agriculture | |||
Introduction-Economics of Natural Resources | |||
Water Law, Policy, and Institutions | |||
Economics of Outdoor Recreation | |||
Agricultural Law | |||
Agricultural Production Management | |||
Agricultural Finance | |||
Agricultural Commodities Marketing | |||
International Agricultural Trade | |||
Water Resource Economics | |||
Real Estate Appraisal | |||
Ag- and Resource-Based Economic Development | |||
Agricultural Policy | |||
Agricultural Science Electives1 | 3 | ||
Electives3 | 3-6 | ||
Total Credits | 24-27 | ||
Program Total Credits: | 120 |
1 | Select from the courses in AGED, AGRI, ANEQ, AREC, BSPM, FTEC, HORT, LAND, SOCR, FSHN 150, NR 120A-NR 120B, or NR 320. A maximum of 6 AREC credits may be used as Agricultural Science Electives. |
2 | Select three courses to meet the AUCC core requirements in Arts and Humanities (3B), Historical Perspectives (3D), and Diversity and Global Awareness (3E) |
3 | Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level). |
Freshman | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Semester 1 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
Select one course from the following: | 1 | ||||
Orientation to Agricultural Systems | |||||
Transfer Seminar | |||||
AREC 202 | Agricultural and Resource Economics (GT-SS1) | X | 3C | 3 | |
CS 110 | Personal Computing | 4 | |||
Select four credits from the following: | 4 | ||||
Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2) | 3A | ||||
Principles of Plant Biology (GT-SC1) | 3A | ||||
Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1) | X | 3A | |||
MATH 117 | College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1) | X | 1B | 1 | |
MATH 118 | College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1) | X | 1B | 1 | |
MATH 124 | Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1) | 1B | 1 | ||
Total Credits | 15 | ||||
Semester 2 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | ||||
Food Animal Science | |||||
Introduction to Equine Science | |||||
Food-From Farm to Table | |||||
Horticultural Science | 3A | ||||
General Crops | |||||
CHEM 103 | Chemistry in Context (GT-SC2) | 3A | 3 | ||
CO 150 | College Composition (GT-CO2) | X | 1A | 3 | |
ECON 204 | Principles of Macroeconomics (GT-SS1) | 3C | 3 | ||
Arts and Humanities | 3B | 3 | |||
AUCC 1B (Quantitative Reasoning) must be completed by the end of Semester 2. | X | ||||
Total Credits | 15 | ||||
Sophomore | |||||
Semester 3 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
ACT 205 | Fundamentals of Accounting | 3 | |||
AREC 224 | Introduction to Agribusiness Entrepreneurship | 1 | |||
SPCM 200 | Public Speaking | 3 | |||
Historical Perspectives | 3D | 3 | |||
Agricultural Sciences Electives (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab) | 6 | ||||
CS 110 must be completed by the end of Semester 3. | X | ||||
Total Credits | 16 | ||||
Semester 4 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
AREC 305 | Agricultural and Resource Enterprise Analysis | 3 | |||
MATH 141 | Calculus in Management Sciences (GT-MA1) | X | 1B | 3 | |
Advanced Writing | 2 | 3 | |||
Arts and Humanities | 3B | 3 | |||
Diversity and Global Awareness | 3E | 3 | |||
Elective | 2 | ||||
ECON 204, ACT 205, and one of the following: ANEQ 101, ANEQ 102, FTEC 110, HORT 100, or SOCR 100, must be completed by the end of Semester 4. | X | ||||
Total Credits | 17 | ||||
Junior | |||||
Semester 5 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
AREC 310 | Agricultural Marketing | X | 3 | ||
ECON 306 | Intermediate Microeconomics | 3 | |||
MKT 305 | Fundamentals of Marketing | X | 3 | ||
STAT 301 | Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods | X | 3 | ||
AREC Choice Block (300- to 400-level AREC courses not previously taken) (See List on Program Requirements Tab) | 3 | ||||
Total Credits | 15 | ||||
Semester 6 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
AREC 335/ECON 335 | Introduction to Econometrics | X | 3 | ||
FIN 305 | Fundamentals of Finance | 3 | |||
MKT 362 | Professional Selling | 3 | |||
Agricultural Science Elective (See List on Program Requirements Tab) | 3 | ||||
Elective | 3 | ||||
AREC 305 and ECON 306 must be completed by the end of Semester 6. | X | ||||
Total Credits | 15 | ||||
Senior | |||||
Semester 7 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
AREC Choice Block (300- to 400-level AREC courses not previously taken): | 6 | ||||
Select two courses from the following: | 6 | ||||
Agricultural Production Management | |||||
Agricultural Finance | |||||
Agricultural Commodities Marketing | |||||
Elective | 3 | ||||
Total Credits | 15 | ||||
Semester 8 | Critical | Recommended | AUCC | Credits | |
AREC 428 | Agricultural Business Management | X | 4A,4C | 3 | |
Select one course from the following: | X | 3 | |||
Ag- and Resource-Based Economic Development | 4B | ||||
Agricultural Policy | 4A,4B,4C | ||||
Agricultural Sciences Elective (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab) | X | 3 | |||
Elective | X | 3 | |||
The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study. | X | ||||
Total Credits | 12 | ||||
Program Total Credits: | 120 |