The Food Systems concentration focuses on the application of theoretical and analytic tools of applied economics within the context of food systems. The program of study explores the broadest context of food systems, ranging from small-scale localized markets, traditional market-mediated commodity-based products, and highly specialized, vertically coordinated supply chains. Students graduating from this program will be prepared to contribute meaningfully to improving the value provided by our food systems.

Effective Fall 2023

Freshman
AUCCCredits
AREC 192Orientation to Agricultural and Resource Econ 1
AREC 202Agricultural and Resource Economics (GT-SS1)3C3
CHEM 103Chemistry in Context (GT-SC2)3A3
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)1A3
ECON 204Principles of Macroeconomics (GT-SS1)3C3
MATH 117College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1)1B1
MATH 118College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1)1B1
MATH 124Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1)1B1
Select one Food Systems Foundations course from the following: 2-4
Food Animal Science  
Food and Nutrition in Health  
Food-From Farm to Table  
Horticultural Science3A 
General Crops  
Select one course from the following:1 3-4
Agricultural Data Management and Analysis  
Business Computing Concepts and Applications  
Personal Computing  
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 
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion1C3
 Total Credits 28-30
Sophomore
 
ACT 205Fundamentals of Accounting 3
AREC 222Economics of Food Systems (GT-SS1)1C3
AREC 224Introduction to Agribusiness Entrepreneurship 1
AREC 311Agricultural and Resource Product Marketing 3
MATH 141Calculus in Management Sciences (GT-MA1)1B3
SOC 105Social Problems (GT-SS3)3C3
SPCM 200Public Speaking 3
STAT 301Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods 3
Arts and Humanities3B6
Historical Perspectives3D3
 Total Credits 31
Junior
 
AREC 305Agricultural and Resource Enterprise Analysis 3
Select one course from the following: 3
Data-Driven Ag and Res Econ Decision Making  
Introduction to Econometrics  
ECON 306Intermediate Microeconomics 3
FIN 305Fundamentals of Finance 3
MGT 301Supply Chain Management 3
MKT 305Fundamentals of Marketing 3
Select one course from the following: 3
Writing Arguments (GT-CO3)2 
Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)2 
Food Systems Electives - 15 credits total from the following two groups: 6
Select a minimum of two Socio-cultural Elements of Food Systems courses:  
Urban Horticulture  
Sociology of Food Systems and Agriculture  
Personnel Management in Agriculture  
Ag- and Resource-Based Economic Development4B 
Food Systems--Impact on Health/Food Security  
Food Safety  
Food Justice  
Food, Agriculture and Global Society  
Production and Management Topics in Food Systems:  
Live Animal and Carcass Evaluation  
Topics in Animal Sciences: Quality Assurance  
Principles of Meat Science  
Processed Meats  
Meat Safety  
Meat Processing Systems  
Food Principles and Applications  
Human Nutrition  
Community Nutrition  
Current Issues in Food Safety  
Greenhouse Management  
Hydroponics  
Topics in Organic Agriculture  
Vegetable Crop Management  
Principles of Fruit Crop Management  
Horticulture Crop Production and Management  
Food Service Systems-Operations  
Food Service Systems-Production and Purchasing  
Alcohol Beverage Control and Management  
Food, Beverage, and Labor Cost Control  
Food and Society  
Electives 3
 Total Credits 30
Senior
 
AREC 422Food Supply Chain Management 3
AREC 428Agricultural Business Management4A,4C3
AREC 492Senior Seminar in Ag and Resource Economics 1
Select one course from the following: 3
Agricultural Law  
Agricultural Policy4A,4B,4C 
Select two courses from the following: 6
Agricultural Production Management  
Agricultural Finance  
Agricultural Commodities Marketing  
International Agricultural Trade  
Food Systems Electives (see list in Junior year) 9
Electives3 4-6
 Total Credits 31
 Program Total Credits: 120
1

AREC 230 is recommended.

2

At least one of AREC 460 or AREC 478 must be completed to fulfill the AUCC 4B requirement.

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 1CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
AREC 192Orientation to Agricultural and Resource Econ   1
AREC 202Agricultural and Resource Economics (GT-SS1) X3C3
MATH 117College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1) X1B1
MATH 118College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1) X1B1
MATH 124Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1) X1B1
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 
Diversity, Equity, and InclusionX 1C3
 Total Credits   14
Semester 2CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
CHEM 103Chemistry in Context (GT-SC2)  3A3
CO 150College Composition (GT-CO2)X 1A3
ECON 204Principles of Macroeconomics (GT-SS1)  3C3
Select one course from the following:   2-4
Food Animal Science    
Food and Nutrition in Health    
Food-From Farm to Table    
Horticultural Science  3A 
General Crops    
Select one course from the following:   3-4
Agricultural Data Management and Analysis    
Business Computing Concepts and Applications    
Personal Computing    
MATH 117, MATH 118, and AREC 202 must be completed by the end of Semester 2.X   
 Total Credits   14-16
Sophomore
Semester 3CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
AREC 222Economics of Food Systems (GT-SS1) X1C3
AREC 224Introduction to Agribusiness Entrepreneurship X 1
AREC 311Agricultural and Resource Product Marketing X 3
MATH 141Calculus in Management Sciences (GT-MA1) X1B3
SPCM 200Public Speaking   3
Arts and Humanities  3B3
 Total Credits   16
Semester 4CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ACT 205Fundamentals of Accounting   3
SOC 105Social Problems (GT-SS3) X3C3
STAT 301Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods X 3
Arts and Humanities  3B3
Historical Perspectives  3D3
 Total Credits   15
Junior
Semester 5CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
AREC 305Agricultural and Resource Enterprise Analysis X 3
MGT 301Supply Chain Management   3
MKT 305Fundamentals of Marketing   3
Select one course from the following:   3
Data-Driven Ag and Res Econ Decision Making    
Introduction to Econometrics    
Select one course from the following:X  3
Writing Arguments (GT-CO3)  2 
Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)  2 
 Total Credits   15
Semester 6CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
ECON 306Intermediate Microeconomics   3
FIN 305Fundamentals of Finance   3
Food Systems Electives (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab)   6
Elective   3
AREC 222, AREC 305, AREC 311, and ECON 306 must be completed by the end of Semester 6.X   
 Total Credits   15
Senior
Semester 7CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
AREC 422Food Supply Chain ManagementX  3
Select two courses from the following: X 6
Agricultural Production Management    
Agricultural Finance    
Agricultural Commodities Marketing    
International Agricultural Trade    
Food Systems Elective (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab)   3
Elective   3
 Total Credits   15
Semester 8CriticalRecommendedAUCCCredits
AREC 428Agricultural Business ManagementX 4A,4C3
AREC 492Senior Seminar in Ag and Resource Economics   1
Select one course from the following:X  3
Agricultural Law    
Agricultural Policy  4A,4B,4C 
Food Systems Electives (See List on Concentration Requirements Tab)X  6
ElectiveX  1-3
The benchmark courses for the 8th semester are the remaining courses in the entire program of study.X   
 Total Credits   16
 Program Total Credits:   120