International Agribusiness
This is an archived copy of the 2021-22 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.ndsu.edu.
Program Description
The International Agribusiness M.S. program offered by the Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics at North Dakota State University provides both the academic training and the international experience required to excel in an international agribusiness career. The program of study includes course work in applied economics, quantitative methods, and international agribusiness strategy, management, finance, and marketing.
Students are required to have an international experience that may be satisfied by meeting one of three options::
- The student may participate in an international internship. Both paid and unpaid opportunities exist with international agribusiness companies, with government agencies, or with nonprofit organizations. The semester-long or summer internship can be arranged by the student or in cooperation with NDSU’s Office of International Student and Study Abroad Services. Internship programs will be defined by the student and his or her major adviser, and approved by the Graduate Program Committee (GPC) and the student's supervisory committee.
- Students may participate in graduate courses in business or agribusiness at an international university during a semester-long or summer study abroad program. Study abroad programs will be defined by the student and his or her major adviser, and approved by the GPC and the student's supervisory committee.
- Students may select at least six additional credits of coursework offered at NDSU related to international business or agribusiness. Courses must be approved by the student's supervisory committee as part of the student’s program of study prior to enrollment in the courses.
Students complete the program by writing and defending their comprehensive study papers under the supervision of their graduate committee.
In addition to the Graduate School admission requirements, applicants must have earned a grade of B or higher in intermediate microeconomics and statistics including linear regression, and a grade of C or better in calculus.
Applicants must submit their complete application by March 1 for fall enrollment and October 1 for spring enrollment to guarantee admission and funding consideration. Admission will only be considered for candidates who submit a complete application.
It is desirable that students begin their program in the fall semester, although students may begin their program in the spring.
Financial Assistance
The Department offers assistantships on a competitive basis. Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs) provide monthly stipends plus tuition waivers. Students must pay a minimal activity fee each semester. Assistantships do not begin until the first semester of full graduate standing when courses that apply for the Master of Science degree are taken.
Most assistantships are half-time (20 hours per week) or one-quarter-time (10 hours per week). Students on assistantship perform research or teaching duties in the Department in return for their stipend. Assistantships are typically limited to 16 months.
Granting assistantships depends on academic performance, departmental needs, and availability of assistantships.
Students pursuing a Master of Science in International Agribusiness must complete all core courses. Students select elective courses (with approval of their adviser and supervisory committee) to fulfill the remaining Graduate School credit requirements. The core requirements assure breadth and competence in key areas of knowledge and professional activity. Students participate in an international internship, a study aboard program, or select six additional credits of course work at NDSU related to international agribusiness. The following courses, or their equivalent, constitute the core of the Master of Science program:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| AGEC 701 | Research Philosophy | 1 |
| AGEC 711 | Applied Risk Analysis I | 3 |
| AGEC 712 | Applied Risk Analysis II | 3 |
| AGEC 741 | Advanced Microeconomics | 3 |
| AGEC 744 | Agribusiness I: Agricultural Product Marketing and Agribusiness Strategy | 3 |
| AGEC 797 | Master's Paper | 1-10 |
| or AGEC 798 | Master's Thesis | |
| Select a minimum of 6 credits of the following: | 6 | |
| Econometrics | ||
| Advanced Econometrics | ||
| Analytical Methods for Applied Economics | ||
Or other approved quantitative coursework | ||
| Approved Electives | 1 - 9 | |
| Total Credits | 30 (minimum) | |
A minimum of 30 credits is necessary to complete the M.S. in International Agribusiness. Credits beyond those required courses listed above may be met through a combination of internship credits, courses taken during an international study program, or NDSU international courses approved by the student's supervisory committee.
David Bullock, Ph.D.
Iowa State University, 1989
Research Interests: Futures and Options Markets, Over-The-Counter Derivatives, Trading, Risk Management, Agrifinance, Monte Carlo Simulation, and Big Data Applications in Agriculture
James Caton, Ph.D.
George Mason University, 2016
Research Interests: Entrepreneurship Agent-based Computational Economics, Market Process Theory, Monetary Economics
Erik Hanson, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota, 2016
Research Interests: Agricultural Finance, Farm Management, Marketing and Production Economics
Ron Haugen, M.S.
North Dakota State University, 1989
Research Interests: Farm Management
Robert Hearne, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota, 1995
Research Interests: Natural Resource and Environmental Economics
Jeremy Jackson, Ph.D.
Washington University in St. Louis, 2008
Research Interests: Microeconomics, Political Economy, Public Finance
Thomas Krumel, Ph.D.
University of Connecticut, 2020
Research Interests: Rural Development, Labor Demand, and Labor Market Skills Mismatch
Kerianne Lawson, Ph.D.
West Virginia University, 2021
Research Interests: Economic Development, Economic Freedom, Law and Economics, Energy Economics
Siew Hoon Lim, Ph.D.
University of Georgia, 2005
Research Interests: Production Economics, Transportation, Industrial Organization
Raymond March, Ph.D.
Texas Tech University, 2017
Research Interests: Public and Private Provision and Governance of Health Care in the United States
Dragan Miljkovic, Ph.D.
University of Illinois, 1996
Research Interests: Agricultural Prices, International Trade, Agricultural and Food Marketing and Policy
William Nganje, Ph.D.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1999
Research Interests: Agricultural Finance, Food Safety Economics
Frayne Olson, Ph.D.
University of Missouri, 2007
Research Interests: Crop Marketing Strategies, Crop Supply Chain Management, Agricultural Contracting, Agricultural Risk Management
Bryon Parman, Ph.D.
Kansas State University, 2013
Research Interests: Whole Farm and Agribusiness Financial Structure, Risk Management, Land Values and Rents, and Farm Financial Trends
Timothy Petry, M.S.
North Dakota State University, 1973
Research interests: Livestock Marketing
Xudong Rao, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota, 2015
Research Interests: Farm and Agribusiness Management, Risk Analysis, Efficiency and Productivity, Technology Adoption, Food and Agricultural Policy, International Agricultural Development
Veeshan Rayamajhee, Ph.D.
University of New Mexico, 2019
Research Interests: Individual and Collective Responses to Covariate Shocks
David Ripplinger, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University, 2011
Research Interests: Production Economics and Marketing
David Roberts, Ph.D.
Oklahoma State University, 2009
Research Interests: Natural Resource and Environmental Economics, Econometrics, Production Agriculture
Anupa Sharma, Ph.D.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2016
Research Interests: Economics, Agriculture Business and Management
Cheryl J. Wachenheim, Ph.D.
Michigan State University, 1994
Research Interests: Agribusiness
William W. Wilson, Ph.D.
University of Manitoba, 1980
Research Interests: Commodity Marketing, Agribusiness, Industrial Organization