Program Overview

Major in Agricultural Business, Food Systems Concentration

The Food Systems concentration focuses on the application of theoretical and analytic tools of applied economics within the context of food systems. The program of study explores the broadest context of food systems, ranging from small-scale localized markets, traditional market-mediated commodity-based products, and highly specialized, vertically coordinated supply chains. Students graduating from this program will be prepared to contribute meaningfully to improving the value provided by our food systems.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this concentration, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate technical competency in applying economic theory to food systems challenges. Formulate analytical problems, gather relevant data, use economic methods, and leverage computational tools to address complex agricultural and food economic questions.
2. Solve real-world food system challenges beyond the pedagogical context. Identify critical issues in food economics, evaluate resources, develop analytical frameworks, and formulate sustainable policy and market-based solutions.
3. Demonstrate proficiency in professionally communicating food systems and agricultural economics concepts. Create research reports, policy briefs, and presentations that translate complex economic analysis into actionable insights for diverse stakeholders.

Program Requirements

• Freshman Year:
  • AREC 192: Orientation to Agricultural and Resource Economics (1 credit)
  • AREC 202: Agricultural and Resource Economics (GT-SS1) (3 credits)
  • CHEM 103: Chemistry in Context (GT-SC2) (3 credits)
  • CO 150: College Composition (GT-CO2) (3 credits)
  • ECON 204: Principles of Macroeconomics (GT-SS1) (3 credits)
  • MATH 117: College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1) (1 credit)
  • MATH 118: College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1) (1 credit)
  • MATH 124: Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1) (1 credit)
  • Select one Food Systems Foundations course from the following:
    • ANEQ 101: Food Animal Science
    • FSHN 125: Food and Nutrition in Health and Disease
    • FTEC 110: Food-From Farm to Table
    • HORT 100: Horticultural Science
    • SOCR 100: Introduction to Crop Science
  • Select one course from the following:
    • AREC 230: Agricultural Data Management and Analysis
    • BUS 150: Business Computing Concepts and Applications
    • CS 110: Personal Computing
• Sophomore Year:
  • ACT 205: Fundamentals of Accounting (3 credits)
  • AREC 222: Economics of Food Systems (GT-SS1) (3 credits)
  • AREC 224: Introduction to Agribusiness Entrepreneurship (1 credit)
  • AREC 311: Agricultural and Resource Product Marketing (3 credits)
  • SOC 105: Social Problems (GT-SS3) (3 credits)
  • SPCM 200: Public Speaking (3 credits)
  • STAT 301: Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods (3 credits)
  • AREC XXX (3 credits)
  • Arts and Humanities (6 credits)
  • Historical Perspectives (3 credits)
• Junior Year:
  • AREC 305: Agricultural and Resource Enterprise Analysis (3 credits)
  • AREC 307: Agricultural and Food Managerial Economics (3 credits)
  • FIN 305: Fundamentals of Finance (3 credits)
  • MGT 301: Supply Chain Management (3 credits)
  • MKT 305: Fundamentals of Marketing (3 credits)
  • Select one course from the following:
    • AREC 330: Data-Driven Ag and Res Econ Decision Making
    • AREC 335/ECON 335: Introduction to Econometrics
  • Select one course from the following:
    • CO 300: Writing Arguments (GT-CO3)
    • JTC 300: Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)
  • Food Systems Electives (15 credits total from the following two groups):
    • Socio-cultural Elements of Food Systems:
      • AGRI 515/HORT 515: Urban Horticulture
      • AGRI 562/SOC 562: Sociology of Food Systems and Agriculture
      • AREC 325: Personnel Management in Agriculture
      • AREC 460: Ag- and Resource-Based Economic Development
      • FSHN 455: Food Systems--Impact on Health/Food Security
      • FTEC 400: Food Safety
      • SOCR 324: Food Justice
      • SOCR 364: Food, Agriculture and Global Society
    • Production and Management Topics in Food Systems:
      • ANEQ 250: Live Animal and Carcass Evaluation
      • ANEQ 300L: Topics in Animal Sciences: Quality Assurance
      • ANEQ 360: Principles of Meat Science
      • ANEQ 450: Processed Meats
      • ANEQ 460: Meat Safety
      • ANEQ 470: Meat Processing Systems
      • FSHN 300: Food Principles and Applications
      • FSHN 350: Human Nutrition
      • FSHN 451: Community Nutrition
      • FTEC 574: Current Issues in Food Safety
      • HORT 310: Greenhouse Management
      • HORT 347: Hydroponics
      • HORT 424/SOCR 424: Topics in Organic Agriculture
      • HORT 451: Vegetable Crop Management
      • HORT 453: Principles of Fruit Crop Management
      • HORT 454: Horticulture Crop Production and Management
      • RRM 315: Foodservice Systems Purchasing and Operations
      • RRM 330: Alcohol Beverage Control and Management
      • RRM 335/FSHN 335: Food, Society and Social Media
      • RRM 345: Food, Beverage, and Labor Cost Control
• Senior Year:
  • AREC 422: Food Supply Chain Management (3 credits)
  • AREC 428: Agricultural Business Management (3 credits)
  • AREC 492: Senior Seminar in Ag and Resource Economics (1 credit)
  • Select one course from the following:
    • AREC 375: Agricultural Law
    • AREC 478: Agricultural Policy
  • Select two courses from the following:
    • AREC 405: Agricultural Production Management
    • AREC 408: Agricultural Finance
    • AREC 412: Agricultural Commodities Marketing
    • AREC 415: International Agricultural Trade
  • Food Systems Electives (see list in Junior year) (9 credits)
  • Electives (3-6 credits)

Program Total Credits: 120

Major Completion Map

The major completion map outlines the recommended course sequence for each semester. It is essential to follow this map to ensure timely completion of the program.

• Semester 1:
  • AREC 192: Orientation to Agricultural and Resource Economics (1 credit)
  • AREC 202: Agricultural and Resource Economics (GT-SS1) (3 credits)
  • MATH 117: College Algebra in Context I (GT-MA1) (1 credit)
  • MATH 118: College Algebra in Context II (GT-MA1) (1 credit)
  • MATH 124: Logarithmic and Exponential Functions (GT-MA1) (1 credit)
  • Select four credits from the following:
    • BZ 110 & BZ 111: Principles of Animal Biology (GT-SC2)
    • BZ 120: Principles of Plant Biology (GT-SC1)
    • LIFE 102: Attributes of Living Systems (GT-SC1)
• Semester 2:
  • CHEM 103: Chemistry in Context (GT-SC2) (3 credits)
  • CO 150: College Composition (GT-CO2) (3 credits)
  • ECON 204: Principles of Macroeconomics (GT-SS1) (3 credits)
  • Select one course from the following:
    • ANEQ 101: Food Animal Science
    • FSHN 125: Food and Nutrition in Health and Disease
    • FTEC 110: Food-From Farm to Table
    • HORT 100: Horticultural Science
    • SOCR 100: Introduction to Crop Science
  • Select one course from the following:
    • AREC 230: Agricultural Data Management and Analysis
    • BUS 150: Business Computing Concepts and Applications
    • CS 110: Personal Computing
• Semester 3:
  • AREC 222: Economics of Food Systems (GT-SS1) (3 credits)
  • AREC 224: Introduction to Agribusiness Entrepreneurship (1 credit)
  • AREC 311: Agricultural and Resource Product Marketing (3 credits)
  • SPCM 200: Public Speaking (3 credits)
  • AREC XXX (3 credits)
  • Arts and Humanities (3 credits)
• Semester 4:
  • ACT 205: Fundamentals of Accounting (3 credits)
  • SOC 105: Social Problems (GT-SS3) (3 credits)
  • STAT 301: Introduction to Applied Statistical Methods (3 credits)
  • Arts and Humanities (3 credits)
  • Historical Perspectives (3 credits)
• Semester 5:
  • AREC 305: Agricultural and Resource Enterprise Analysis (3 credits)
  • MGT 301: Supply Chain Management (3 credits)
  • MKT 305: Fundamentals of Marketing (3 credits)
  • Select one course from the following:
    • AREC 330: Data-Driven Ag and Res Econ Decision Making
    • AREC 335/ECON 335: Introduction to Econometrics
  • Select one course from the following:
    • CO 300: Writing Arguments (GT-CO3)
    • JTC 300: Strategic Writing and Communication (GT-CO3)
• Semester 6:
  • AREC 307: Agricultural and Food Managerial Economics (3 credits)
  • FIN 305: Fundamentals of Finance (3 credits)
  • Food Systems Electives (6 credits)
  • Elective (3 credits)
• Semester 7:
  • AREC 422: Food Supply Chain Management (3 credits)
  • Select two courses from the following:
    • AREC 405: Agricultural Production Management
    • AREC 408: Agricultural Finance
    • AREC 412: Agricultural Commodities Marketing
    • AREC 415: International Agricultural Trade
  • Food Systems Elective (3 credits)
  • Elective (3 credits)
• Semester 8:
  • AREC 428: Agricultural Business Management (3 credits)
  • AREC 492: Senior Seminar in Ag and Resource Economics (1 credit)
  • Select one course from the following:
    • AREC 375: Agricultural Law
    • AREC 478: Agricultural Policy
  • Food Systems Electives (6 credits)
  • Elective (0-3 credits)