Program Overview
Agribusiness, B.Sc.
The Agribusiness program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the business and economic aspects of the agricultural industry. The program combines coursework in agriculture, business, and economics to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the agribusiness sector.
Overview
Agribusiness students specialize in the people component of agriculture, focusing on the consumer, producer, and all those involved in the food chain. The program emphasizes decision-making within a business environment and provides graduates with insight into the agribusiness environment through mastering concepts in economics, finance, marketing, and management.
Degree Requirements
To graduate with a B.Sc. in Agribusiness, students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours, including:
- B.Sc. Agribusiness Degree Core courses (39 credit hours)
- Restricted Electives (21 credit hours)
- Free Electives (30 credit hours)
- A minimum of 12 credit hours of coursework at the 3000 or 4000 level
Course List
The following courses are required for the B.Sc. Agribusiness Degree Core:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ABIZ 1000 | Introduction to Agribusiness Management | 3 |
| ABIZ/ECON 2390 | Introduction to Environmental Economics | 3 |
| ABIZ 2510 | Introduction to Agricultural and Food Marketing | 3 |
| ABIZ 2620 | Agricultural Human Resource Management | 3 |
| ABIZ 2520 | Introduction to Management Sciences | 3 |
| ABIZ 3080/ECON 3040 | Introduction to Econometrics | 3 |
| ABIZ 3510 | Economics of Food Policy | 3 |
| ABIZ 4500 | Agribusiness Strategies Seminar | 3 |
| ACC 1100 | Introductory Financial Accounting | 3 |
| AGRI 1600 | Introduction to Agrifood Systems | 3 |
| AGRI 2030 | Technical Communications | 3 |
| AGRI 2400 | Experimental Methods in Agricultural and Food Sciences | 3 |
| AGRI 4100 | Current Issues in Agricultural Systems | 3 |
| ANSC 2500 | Animal Production | 3 |
| BIOL 1020 | Biology 1: Principles and Themes 1 | 3 |
| ECON 1010 | Introduction to Microeconomic Principles | 3 |
| ECON 1020 | Introduction to Macroeconomic Principles | 3 |
| ECON 2010 | Microeconomic Theory 1 | 3 |
| HNSC 1200 | Food: Facts and Fallacies | 3 |
| MATH 1210 | Techniques of Classical and Linear Algebra 2 | 3 |
| One of the following: | 3 | |
| MATH 1500 | Introduction to Calculus | |
| MATH 1510 | Applied Calculus 1 | |
| MATH 1524 | Mathematics for Management and Social Sciences | |
| PLNT 2500 | Crop Production | 3 |
Restricted Electives
Students must complete 21 credit hours of Restricted Electives, including:
- 12 credit hours from Group 1 - Agribusiness
- 9 credit hours from Group 2 - Agrology
Group 1 - Agribusiness
The following courses are available as Restricted Electives in Group 1:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ABIZ 3120 | Commodity Futures Markets | 3 |
| ABIZ 3520 | Food Distribution and International Merchandising | 3 |
| ABIZ 3530 | Farm Management | 3 |
| ABIZ 3540 | Financial Risk Management | 3 |
| ABIZ 3550 | Environmental Policy | 3 |
| ABIZ 4120 | Intermediate Econometrics | 3 |
| ABIZ 4260 | Price Analysis | 3 |
Group 2 - Agrology
The following courses are available as Restricted Electives in Group 2:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ABIZ XXXX | Any ABIZ course | |
| AGEC 2370 | Principles of Ecology | 3 |
| AGRI 2300 | Indigenous Issues in Food Systems | 3 |
| AGRI 3100 | Introduction to Digital Agriculture | 3 |
| AGRI 3500 | Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Applications in Agriculture | 3 |
| ANSC XXXX | Any ANSC course | |
| BIOE 3100 | Agricultural Engineering Fundamentals for Agronomists | 3 |
| ENTM XXXX | Any ENTM course (except ENTM 3162, ENTM 4280, ENTM 4500) | |
| FOOD XXXX | Any FOOD course (except FOOD 4100, FOOD 4230) | |
| PLNT XXXX | Any PLNT course (except PLNT 3140, PLNT 4380) | |
| SOIL XXXX | Any SOIL course |
Progression Plan
The following is a suggested progression plan for the Agribusiness program:
Year 1
- ABIZ 1000: Introduction to Agribusiness Management
- AGRI 1600: Introduction to Agrifood Systems
- BIOL 1020: Biology 1: Principles and Themes 1
- BIOL 1030: Biology 2: Biological Diversity, Function and Interactions 1
- ECON 1010: Introduction to Microeconomic Principles
- ECON 1020: Introduction to Macroeconomic Principles
- HNSC 1200: Food: Facts and Fallacies
- MATH 1210: Techniques of Classical and Linear Algebra 2
- One of the following: MATH 1500, MATH 1510, MATH 1524
- Free Elective
Year 2
- ABIZ/ECON 2390: Introduction to Environmental Economics
- ABIZ 2510: Introduction to Agricultural and Food Marketing
- ABIZ 2520: Introduction to Management Sciences
- ACC 1100: Introductory Financial Accounting
- AGRI 2030: Technical Communications
- AGRI 2400: Experimental Methods in Agricultural and Food Sciences
- ANSC 2500: Animal Production
- ECON 2010: Microeconomic Theory 1
- PLNT 2500: Crop Production
- Restricted/Free Electives/Co-op
Year 3
- ABIZ 2620: Agricultural Human Resource Management
- ABIZ 3080/ECON 3040: Introduction to Econometrics
- ABIZ 3510: Economics of Food Policy
- Restricted/Free Electives/Co-op
Year 4
- ABIZ 4500: Agribusiness Strategies Seminar
- AGRI 4100: Current Issues in Agricultural Systems
- Restricted/Free Electives/Co-op
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for admission to the Agribusiness program, students must meet the following requirements:
- Direct Entry: A minimum 70% average over five full credits at the Grade 12 level in courses designated S, G, or U, including English 40S, Applied or Pre-Calculus Math 40S, and two other academic 40S courses.
- Advanced Entry: A minimum of 24 credit hours of university-level coursework with a minimum adjusted GPA of 2.0.
Academic Regulations
The Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences has regulations and requirements that apply specifically to the Agribusiness program. These regulations include:
- Degree GPA (DGPA): A minimum DGPA of 2.0 is required to graduate.
- Scholastic Requirements: A minimum passing grade of "D" in prescribed courses is required.
- Course Load Limits: A normal course load is 30 credit hours during the regular session.
- Course Availability: Not all courses are offered every year.
- Prerequisite and Corequisite Definitions: Prerequisites and corequisites are defined by the Registrar's Office.
Cooperative Education Program
The Cooperative Education Program provides students with practical experience, coaching, workshops, and support, as well as the opportunity for career exploration, development, and exposure to more than one type of work environment in their discipline. Students secure full-time, paid co-op work placements with approved employers and register in co-op courses prior to starting each work term.
Academic Integrity
The University of Manitoba takes academic integrity seriously. Academic integrity refers to the adherence to ethical and professional principles, standards, practices, and values, including honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage, that serve as the foundation for making decisions and taking actions in education, research, and scholarship.
Appeals of Grades
Students may appeal a grade received for term work or a final grade. The appeal must be made in writing to the instructor or the department head within a specified timeframe.
Attendance and Withdrawal
Regular attendance is expected of all students in all courses. Students who are absent without an acceptable reason may be debarred from class, laboratories, and examinations.
Graduation and Convocation
Students are eligible to graduate when they have completed all requirements for their degree program. The University of Manitoba holds convocation ceremonies in May/June and October. Graduating students are encouraged to attend with their families and friends.