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Agribusiness

Agribusiness Major

The Agribusiness major allows students to focus their understanding of economics on the agribusiness sector. Students interested in careers in agribusiness have several options. Beginning in their sophomore year, students take courses in management, marketing and finance, all concentrating on the unique aspects of food and bio-systems economics. Specialization in upper division courses permits students to further concentrate based on their particular interest:

  • Management: This option provides students with a broad background, preparing them for general career alternatives in agribusiness.
  • Finance: This option prepares students for careers in agribusiness finance, agricultural lending, financial institution management, accounting, insurance, and investment.
  • Marketing: This option prepares students for careers in agricultural marketing, sales, or food product marketing.

In the Agribusiness program, students are exposed to a range of methods useful in agribusiness decision-making. Agribusiness graduates will master problem-solving skills to face challenges likely to be encountered in their professional careers.

Agribusiness students are required to participate in an internship during their studies. Employers continue to place high importance on work-related experience when they evaluate potential employees. Employers are assured that all NDSU Agribusiness graduates have gained this valuable work experience through the required internship.

Collaboration with the College of Business leads to the concurrent satisfaction of one of the minors offered by the College of Business. Students may select business courses for the minor that complement their agribusiness interests.

Agribusiness Minor

The Agribusiness minor exposes students to applications of fundamental business concepts in an agricultural or food systems setting. A minimum of eight credits must be completed at NDSU.  The Agribusiness minor is open to all NDSU majors.

Major Requirements

Major: Agribusiness

Degree Type: B.S.
Required Degree Credits to Graduate: 128

General Education Requirements

First Year Experience (F):
AGRI 189Skills for Academic Success (Students transferring in 24 or more credits do not need to take AGRI 189.)1
Communication (C):
ENGL 110College Composition I3
ENGL 120College Composition II3
One course in Upper Level Writing. Select course from the following:3
Business and Professional Writing
Writing in the Technical Professions
Writing in the Sciences
Writing in the Humanities and Social Sciences
Researching and Writing Grants and Proposal
COMM 110Fundamentals of Public Speaking3
Quantitative Reasoning (R):
STAT 330Introductory Statistics (C or better required)3
Science & Technology (S):
CSCI 116Business Use of Computers4
A one-credit lab must be taken as a co-requisite with a general education science/technology course unless the course includes an embedded lab experience equivalent to a one-credit course. Select from current general education list.6
Humanities & Fine Arts (A): Select from current general education list6
Social & Behavioral Sciences (B):
ECON 201Principles of Microeconomics3
ECON 202Principles of Macroeconomics3
Wellness (W): Select from current general education list2
Cultural Diversity (D): Select from current general education list
Global Perspectives (G):
ECON 201Principles of Microeconomics3
Total Credits40

Major Requirements

General Education Requirements40
Core Courses for Agribusiness:
AGEC 242Introduction to Agricultural Management3
AGEC 244Agricultural Marketing3
AGEC 246Introduction to Agricultural Finance3
AGEC 339Quantitative Methods & Decision Making3
ECON 341Intermediate Microeconomics3
ECON 343Intermediate Macroeconomics3
AGEC 344Agricultural Price Analysis3
AGEC 346Applied Risk Analysis3
AGEC 397Fe/Coop Ed/Internship1-3
AGEC 445Agribusiness Industrial Strategy (capstone)3
Accounting:
ACCT 200Elements of Accounting I3
ACCT 201Elements of Accounting II3
Agriculture Science & Technology:9
Complete nine (9) credits from two (2) areas in the College of AFSNR other than Agribusiness & Applied Economics. (Includes: ASM, ANSC, ABEN, CFS, ENT, MICR, NRM, PPTH, PLSC, RNG, SOIL & VETS.) EXCEPTION - All 9 credits may be in the same area if a student completes a minor from within the College of AFSNR.
Areas of Specialization: Select one of the Areas of Specialization listed below.6
Additional Requirements for Agribusiness
First Year Experience:
AGRI 150Agriculture Orientation1
Communication Requirement: Select one of the following:3
Interpersonal Communication
Intercultural Communication (Gen Ed B/D)
Business and Professional Speaking
Small Group Communication
Organizational Communication I
Math Requirement:
MATH 144Mathematics for Business (or any higher math)4
STAT 331Regression Analysis2-3
or ECON 410 Econometrics
Minor Requirement19-24
In addition to the requirements for the major in Agribusiness, students must complete a minor in Accounting (19 cr) or Business Administration (24 cr).
Degree Requirements: Potential of a minimum of 10 credits to reach 12810
Total Credits128-136
Areas of Specialization: Select one
Finance - 6 Credits
AGEC 446Agribusiness Finance3
Select one of the following:3
Principles of Real Estate
Cooperatives
Money and Banking
Public Economics
Total Credits6
Management - 6 Credits
MGMT 320Foundations of Management3
Select one of the following:3
Cooperatives
Applied Agricultural Law
Introduction to Transportation & Logistics
Advanced Logistical Analysis
International Trade
Total Credits6
Marketing - 6 Credits
AGEC 444Commodity Trading3
Select one of the following:3
Agrisales
Cooperatives
National AgriMarketing Association (NAMA) I
and National AgriMarketing Association (NAMA) II
International Trade
Total Credits6

Degree Requirements and Notes

  • Students must earn, at least, a 2.00 cumulative GPA that is based on the courses that satisfy major requirements.

Minor Requirements

Agribusiness Minor

Minor Requirements

Required Credits: 16

Required Courses
ECON 201Principles of Microeconomics3
AGEC 242Introduction to Agricultural Management3
AGEC 244Agricultural Marketing3
AGEC 246Introduction to Agricultural Finance3
Elective Courses: At least 4 additional credits from any 300-400 level course in Agribusiness & Applied Economics.4
Total Credits16
  • A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.
  • Students must earn a minimum 2.00 GPA for the minor requirements.
Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGRI 150 (not req if entering with over 24 cr)1ENGL 1203
AGRI 189 (not req if entering with over 24 cr)1ECON 2013
MATH 103 (pre-req for Math 144)3MATH 1444
ENGL 110 (co-req Engl 100 writing lab)3Hum FA Elective3
Wellness2 - 3Ag Sci Elective3
Sci Tech Elective (with co-req lab)4 
 14-15 16
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGEC 2423AGEC 2443
ECON 2023AGEC 2463
COMM 1103ECON 3413
CSCI 1164ACCT 2013
ACCT 2003Hum FA Elective3
 16 15
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGEC 3393AGEC 3443
ECON 3433AGEC 3463
STAT 3303STAT 3312
300 Level English3Sci Tech Elective2
Minor Electives3Ag Sci Elective3
 Minor Electives3
 15 16
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGEC 444, 446, or MGMT 320 (req additional 3 cr from select AGEC/ECON courses)6AGEC 4453
Ag Sci Elective3Minor Electives or Free Electives12
Upper Level Comm3AGEC 3973
Minor Electives6 
 18 18
Total Credits: 128-129