Program Overview

Program Overview

The Agribusiness and Food Innovation Management M.A.F.I.M. program is designed to drive innovation and development of new enterprises in today’s agricultural and food industries. This master's program enables students to strengthen local food systems and global agribusiness while advancing as entrepreneurs or innovators.

Program Details

• Degree Awarded: Master of Agribusiness and Food Innovation Management (M.A.F.I.M.)
• Time Frame: 1.5 - 2 years
• Tuition: $800 per credit
• Credits: 35
• Admission Requirements:
  • Math Entrance Exam scores recommended for applicants who have not taken the required prerequisites within the past 10 years

Curriculum

The program includes required courses and practicum work, all conducted in-person at the CSU Spur campus in Denver. The curriculum covers:

• The scope of the agricultural and food system and how it operates
• Core concepts of innovation and entrepreneurship
• Processes for identifying and evaluating new business ideas
• Strategic and design-thinking principles and tools
• Accounting and finance concepts and tools
• Marketing concepts and tools
• Business economics as a framework to analyze business, including cost and revenue, consumer demand, business organization, and interactions
• Fostering identity as an entrepreneur
• Team formation and interdependence
• Business valuation and sources of capital investment
• Effective business communications, including both oral presentations and written business plans
• Intellectual property management through patents, trademarks, and contractual mechanisms
• Ethical, legal, and regulatory issues, with emphasis on agriculture and food issues

Required Courses

• AREC 511: Opportunities in the Agricultural Value Chain
• AREC 513: Idea Evaluation in Agricultural Value Chains
• AREC 514: Entrepreneurial Accounting and Finance
• AREC 515: Assessing Agricultural and Food Markets
• AREC 516: Business Economics for the Entrepreneur
• AREC 517: Entrepreneurial Identity and Team Formation
• AREC 518: Raising Capital in the Agricultural Sector
• AREC 519A: New Venture Communication: Interpersonal Interactions
• AREC 519B: New Venture Communication: Making the Pitch
• AREC 520: Intellectual Property in Food and Agriculture
• AREC 521: New Food Product Development
• AREC 586A: New Venture Launch Practicum: Explore and Validate Value Proposition
• AREC 586B: New Venture Launch Practicum: Communicate, Design, and Iterate
• AREC 586C: New Venture Launch Practicum: Final Evaluation, Presentation, and Launch
• BUS 620: Leadership and Teams
• BUS 646: Building Value Thru Creativity and Innovation
• BUS 660: Ethical, Legal, and Regulatory Issues

Paths of Study

The program offers both full-time and part-time courses of study, with evening course offerings available.

Learning Experience

The program begins with intensive coursework, followed by the development and refinement of entrepreneurial capabilities through collaborative learning, supported by faculty and industry professionals. Practicum projects provide hands-on experience in exploring and validating the value proposition of a new business idea, communicating, designing, and iterating the business idea, and evaluating and making the case for the business.

Faculty

The program is led by experienced faculty, including:

• Greg Graff
• Laston Charriez

FAQ

• What other types of degrees could be considered comparable to this one?
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees focusing on entrepreneurship
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a focus on agribusiness
  • Master in Agribusiness Management
  • Agribusiness entrepreneurship programs at the undergraduate level
  • Entrepreneurship training within engineering, science, or other technical graduate degree programs
• Is this program offered online or in-person?
  • Courses and practicum work for this program are conducted in-person at the CSU Spur campus in Denver.
• What is the CSU Spur center? What resources are available there for students?
  • CSU Spur is a new set of facilities located in Denver, part of the National Western Center. Students in the program will have access to state-of-the-art office and classroom facilities, as well as opportunities to integrate and collaborate with other ag and food innovation initiatives.
• Will it be possible to continue working while earning this degree?
  • Yes, this program is open to both full-time and part-time students, with evening course offerings available.
• What topics of study are covered in this program?
  • The program covers the scope of the agricultural and food system, core concepts of innovation and entrepreneurship, and processes for identifying and evaluating new business ideas, among other topics.
• What are some potential careers in agribusiness and food innovation?
  • Potential careers include agribusiness or food entrepreneur, founder and/or CEO of an agribusiness or food startup, director of research and development, business manager, account manager, marketing manager, production manager, retail manager, distribution manager, county planning manager, market analyst, investor or fund manager, agricultural extension agent specializing in agribusiness, agribusiness or food industry consultant, business owner, farm or ranch manager.

Health Insurance

International graduate students are subject to CSU’s Health Insurance Policy and will be auto-enrolled in the CSU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) at the beginning of each semester. Domestic graduate students are not subject to CSU’s Health Insurance Policy but may voluntarily enroll in the CSU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP).