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Agricultural Business

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The Department of Economics offers coursework for a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business. The major in Agricultural Business prepares students for advanced studies (e.g., Masters or Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics, Law School, MBA, etc.) and for careers in agricultural finance, management in agricultural supply and marketing industries, commodity merchandising and research, business research and management, farm and ranch operations, commercial farm management and appraisal, agricultural sales and marketing, agricultural reporting and public relations, agricultural extension, international activities, and government service. A minor in Agricultural Business is also possible.

Students majoring in Agricultural Business often choose elective coursework leading to minors in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences or the Ivy College of Business, or that emphasize specific areas within agricultural business such as finance, management, commodity analysis, research, agricultural sales and marketing, environmental economics, farm and ranch operations, international economics, agricultural extension, or government service. A major in Agricultural Business with a minor in Economics is not permitted; however, a double major in Agricultural Business and Economics is permitted.  

Customization of the Agricultural Business major is possible. Students may request to pursue one of three Business Options in Finance, Marketing, or Supply Chain Management. Electing a Business Option does not change the overall requirements of the Agricultural Business major. Eligibility and coursework requirements for Business Options are maintained and approved by the Department of Economics and details are available on the department website.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates from the Department of Economics at Iowa State University are expected to be able to:

1. Understand and apply concept of scarcity, marginal analysis, opportunity cost and comparative advantage. 

2. Critically analyze the efficiency and equity implications of market and non-market processes of allocation.

3. Evaluate policies, regulations, and business strategies using economic models and theories.

4. Use quantitative and qualitative information to evaluate economic question.

5. Understand the determinants of differences in economic performance over time and across space.

Curriculum in Agricultural Business

The major in Agricultural Business requires a minimum of 120 credits and a 2.00 minimum GPA. Only 65 credits from a two-year institution may apply, which may include up to 16 technical credits. In addition, at most 9 P-NP credits of free electives can be applied toward the degree, and a minimum of 18 credits must be earned from courses taught by the Department of Economics at ISU.

International Perspective: 3 cr.

3 cr. from approved list.

U.S. Cultures and communities (Formerly U.S. Diversity): 3 cr.

3 cr. from approved list.

Communication/Library: 13 cr.
ENGL 1500Critical Thinking and Communication3
ENGL 2500Written, Oral, Visual, and Electronic Composition3
One of the following3
Business Communication
Proposal and Report Writing
Technical Communication
One of the following3
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
Presentation and Sales Strategies for Agricultural Audiences
Professional Communication
LIB 1600Introduction to College Level Research1
Communication Proficiency Requirement: A grade of C or better in ENGL 2500, a C or better in either ENGL 1500 or (ENGL 3020 or ENGL 3090 or ENGL 3140), and a C or better in the speech fundamentals course (SPCM 2120 or AGEDS 3110).
Total Credits13
Humanities and Social Sciences: 6 cr.
ECON 1020Principles of Macroeconomics3
Three credits from approved course list.3
Total Credits6
Ethics: 3 cr.

3 cr. from approved list.

Life Sciences: 6 cr.
One of the following:3
Introductory Biology
Principles of Biology I
Three credits from approved course list.3
Total Credits6
Mathematics: 10-11 cr.
One of the following:4
Survey of Calculus
Calculus I
One of the following:3-4
Applied Economic Optimization
Calculus II
STAT 2260Introduction to Business Statistics I3
Physical Sciences: 5 cr.
5 credits from approved course list.5
Total Credits5
Agricultural, Food, or Natural Resources Sciences: 6 cr.

6 cr. from approved list.

General Economics: 9-10 cr.
ECON 1010Principles of Microeconomics3
ECON 3010Intermediate Microeconomics3-4
One of the following:3
Intermediate Macroeconomics
Money, Banking, and Financial Institutions
ECON 4920Graduating Senior Surveyarr †
Total Credits9-10 †
† Arranged with instructor.
Business and Agricultural Business: 32 cr.
ACCT 2840Financial Accounting3
FIN 3010Principles of Finance3
Six credits from ACCT 2850 or any 3000-4890 ACCT, FIN, MKT, MGMT, MIS, or SCM courses.6
ECON 1100Orientation in Agricultural Business1
ECON 2350Introduction to Agricultural Markets3
ECON 29201
Three credits from STAT 3260 or DS 20103
Nine credits of ECON 2300-2390, 3000-3890, 4000-4890 courses.9
Three credits of 4000-4890 level ECON courses.3
Total Credits32
Electives: 22-24 cr.

Agricultural Business majors seeking a double major in Economics must take an additional 9 credits of economics courses beyond those required for the Economics major for a total of 47 credits in economics and must earn a minimum GPA of 2.0 across ECON 1010 Principles of Microeconomics, ECON 1020 Principles of Macroeconomics, ECON 3010 Intermediate Microeconomics, and ECON 3020 Intermediate Macroeconomics, with no grade in these lower than a C‐.

Bachelor of Science, Agricultural Business

Freshman
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ECON 11001ECON 10203
ECON 10103ECON 23503
ECON 1010L1BIOL 1010 or 21103
ENGL 15003ECON 2070 or MATH 16603-4
LIB 16001Ag Science or Humanities3
MATH 1600 or 16504 
Ag Science or Humanities3 
 16 15-16
Sophomore
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ACCT 28403ENGL 25003
ECON 30103-4STAT 3260 or DS 2010b3
ECON 2920A1CHEM 1630 or PHYS 13104
STAT 22603CHEM 1630L or PHYS 1310L1
Ag Science or Humanities3International Perspectives or U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity)3
 Life Sciences 3
 13-14 17
Junior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Business electivea3ECON 2300-2390, 3000-3890, or 4000-48903
ECON 2300-2390, 3000-3890, or 4000-48906FIN 30103
SPCM 2120 or AGEDS 31103International Perspectives or U.S. Cultures and Communities (formerly U.S. Diversity)3
Ethics3ECON 3020 or 35303
 Elective3
 15 15
Senior
FallCreditsSpringCredits
Business electivea3ECON 4000-48903
ENGL 3020, 3090, or 31403ECON 4920R
Electives9Electives12
 15 15

a. Select six credits from ACCT 2850 or any 3000-4890 ACCT, FIN, MKT, MGMT, MIS, or SCM courses.

b. Students majoring in Economics or adding the Finance Business Option must take STAT 3260. Students must take at least 1 STAT course from Iowa State for graduation.  

Agricultural Business Minor

The Department of Economics offers a minor in Agricultural Business. The minor requires at least 15 credits, including 6 credits in courses numbered 3000 or above taken at Iowa State University. The minor must include at least 9 credits that are not used to meet any other Department, College, or University requirement. Courses to be included in the minimum of 15 credits include the following:

ECON 1010Principles of Microeconomics3
ECON 2300Farm Business Management3
ECON 2350Introduction to Agricultural Markets3
ECON 3010Intermediate Microeconomics3-4
Three credits of ECON courses from: 3000-3890, 4000-4890 courses.3

The Department of Economics has concurrent Bachelor of Science /Master of Science (B.S./M.S.) programs designed especially for seniors who wish to pursue advanced studies. Concurrent B.S./M.S. programs are agricultural business (B.S.) with agricultural economics (M.S.) or with economics (M.S.). The concurrent B.S./M.S. program allows seniors to complete an M.S. degree within 12 months of B.S. graduation.

For more information about our concurrent undergraduate and graduate programs in Agricultural Economics, visit:  https://www.econ.iastate.edu/iowa-state-ms-econ-programs.  

See Master of Science or Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics.