AGEC Teaching Programs

	Monday, November 22, 2004

Agricultural Business Degree Program

The general objective of the agricultural business program is to provide an educational base for the student to pursue a wide variety of careers in businesses that either directly or indirectly support the supply of agricultural products at the retail level. This objective requires the student to gain a broad knowledge base sufficient to function at all levels of firm operations included in the production operations of agricultural farm firms, the manufacture and the distribution of farm production inputs, and the storage, processing, and distribution of agricultural products. The broad knowledge base is developed through a core of courses designed to simultaneously enhance career and personal growth opportunities.

Additional information on the Undergraduate Program can be found in the Handbook of Undergraduate Studies.

Agricultural Business Degree Objectives:

To enhance the student's expertise in business analysis subject matter areas with emphasis on the application of these concepts for effective agricultural business operations.
To provide the student with a sound understanding of the agricultural business sector and how it functions within the broader national and international economies.
To enhance the student's ability to assimilate information and to develop inductive and deductive reasoning processes.
To provide the student with a knowledge base in general agriculture (outside agricultural business) necessary for supporting sound business decisions within agricultural business firms.
To strengthen student communication skills (oral and written) and interpersonal characteristics for effective business operations and personal growth opportunities.
To provide the student with a general educational background that facilitates the analysis and interpretation of technical information and an educational experience that allows the student to effectively interact with others outside the discipline.

These specific objectives of the agricultural business program require courses and training in four subject matter areas: general education, general agriculture, business and economics, and agricultural business and economics (major courses).

Free Electives

Flexibility through free electives in the agricultural business program provides students with the opportunity to pursue specific career interests as well as personal education goals. A student should select 12 hours consistent with the overall objectives of the program. Students are allowed the flexibility of obtaining additional expertise in the areas of general education, such as political science or journalism; agricultural sciences, such as animal and plant sciences, food sciences or nutrition; agricultural economics and agribusiness; economics; business, such as finance, management, or marketing; or some combination of these areas. For example, a student interested in pursuing a career in upper-level management within an agribusiness firm may wish to choose a concentration of courses in management or pursue a minor in business administration. A student interested in a career in the horticultural industry may wish to pursue a minor in horticulture.

Subject Matter Areas: Agricultural Business

General Education	40 hours
General Agriculture	9 hours
Business and Economics	21 hours
Agricultural Business	39 hours
Free Electives	12 hours
Total Program Hours	121 hours

Additional Information

For more information on the department's undergraduate programs in Agricultural Business, you can e-mail your request to the department's Undergraduate Coordinator Dr. Jeff Gillespie.