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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.
Minimum Degree Credits to Graduate: 128

General Education Requirements for Baccalaureate Degree

  • A list of approved general education courses is available here .
  • General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable. Students should carefully review the major, minor, and program emphases requirements for minimum grade restrictions, should they apply.
Communication (C)12
College Composition I
College Composition II
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Upper Division Writing
Quantitative Reasoning (R) 3
Science and Technology (S) 10
Humanities and Fine Arts (A) 6
Social and Behavioral Sciences (B) 6
Wellness (W) 2
Cultural Diversity (D) *†
Global Perspectives (G) *†
Total Credits39
*

 May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category.

 May be satisfied with courses required in the major. Review major requirements to determine if a specific upper division writing course is required.

Major Requirements

Core Courses for Agribusiness:
AGEC 242Introduction to Agricultural Management3
AGEC 244Agricultural Marketing3
AGEC 246Introduction to Agricultural Finance3
AGEC 339Quantitative Methods & Decision Making3
AGEC 344Agricultural Price Analysis3
AGEC 346Applied Risk Analysis3
AGEC 397Fe/Coop Ed/Internship1-3
AGEC 445Agribusiness Industrial Strategy (capstone)3
ECON 201Principles of Microeconomics (May satisfy general education category B)3
ECON 202Principles of Macroeconomics (May satisfy general education category B)3
ECON 341Intermediate Microeconomics3
ECON 343Intermediate Macroeconomics3
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
AGRI 150Agriculture Orientation1
AGRI 189Skills for Academic Success 11
MIS 116Business Use of Computers (May satisfy general education category S)3
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 330Introductory Statistics (May satisfy general education category R)3
STAT 331Regression Analysis2 or 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).
Total Credits89-98
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
1

AGRI189 is only required for first-time, first-year students--A first-time, first-year student is defined as a student who has not yet completed a college course as a college student.  Students that are not first-time, first-year students that either transfer into the university or change their major are not required to take AGRI 189. 

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: 18

Required Courses
ECON 201Principles of Microeconomics3
Select two of the following:6
Introduction to Agricultural Management
Agricultural Marketing
Introduction to Agricultural Finance
Elective Courses: A minimum of 9 credits from the following:9
Intermediate Microeconomics
AGEC
Any AGEC prefix courses numbered 242 or higher (excluding AGEC 397 and AGEC 496)
Total Credits18
  • A minimum of 8 credits must be taken at NDSU.
  • Students must earn a minimum 2.00 GPA for the minor requirements.
  • Minor requirements are to be met with didactic courses only.

Plan of Study

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)4Humanities & Fine Arts Gen Ed3
Wellness Gen Ed2Ag Science Elective3
Science & Tech Gen Ed w/ Lab4 
 15 16
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGEC 2423AGEC 2443
ECON 2023AGEC 2463
COMM 1103ECON 3413
ACCT 2003ACCT 2013
MIS 1163Humanities & Fine Arts Gen Ed3
 15 15
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGEC 3393AGEC 3443
ECON 3433AGEC 3463
STAT 3303STAT 3312
Upper Division English for Gen Ed3Science & Tech Elective2
Elective for Minor3Ag Science Elective3
 Elective for Minor3
 15 16
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGEC 444, 446, or MGMT 320*3AGEC 4453
One additional course from the area of specialization*3Electives for Minor12
Ag Science Elective3AGEC 3973
300 Level English Elective3 
Electives for Minor6 
 18 18
Total Credits: 128
*

 Area of specialization requires one core course plus one other course from the specialization.