Agricultural Business and Management
Overview
Agricultural business and management programs teach people to run businesses that make animal and plant products.Agricultural business and management programs include topics such as:
- Agriculture
- Agricultural specializations
- Business management, including accounting, finance, and human resources management
- Agricultural economics
- Purchasing and marketing
- Agricultural operations
Concentrations
In agricultural business and management programs, students may be able to specialize in:
- Farm supplies, retail and wholesaling
- Agribusiness/agricultural business operations
Schools
Community colleges and other two-year schools offer certificate and associate degree programs in agricultural business and management. A certificate program usually takes a year of full-time study. An associate degree usually takes two years to complete. After earning an associate degree students can transfer to a college or university for further study.
Many colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in agricultural business and management. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.
A few universities offer graduate degrees in agricultural business and management. A master's degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master's degree.
See schools that offer this program.
Related Educational Programs
- Agricultural Economics
- Agricultural Production Operations
- Agriculture, General
- Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture
- Aquaculture
- Business Management and Administration
- Dairy Science
- Farm and Ranch Management
- Finance
- Horticulture Operations
- Pest Management
- Poultry Science
- Soil Science
Related Careers
Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study
- Animal Breeders
- Farm and Home Management Advisors
- Farmers and Farm Managers
- Sales Representatives
- University and College Teachers
Other Careers Related to this Program of Study
- Agricultural Products Graders and Sorters
- Agricultural Worker Supervisors
- Animal Caretakers
- Business Executives
- Buyers and Purchasing Agents
- General and Operations Managers
- Marketing Managers
- Purchasing Managers
- Storage and Transportation Managers
- Wine Makers
Program Admission
You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.
Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:
- Agricultural Management
- Agriculture Science
- Algebra
- Animal Science
- Biology
- Business Computer Applications
- Business Management
- Chemistry
- Economics
- Environmental Science
Graduate Admissions
Admission to graduate programs is competitive. You need a bachelor's degree, good grades, good test scores, and experience working on a farm or ranch.
Additional requirements at some schools may include:
- Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Biochemistry, Biology, or Chemistry
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
Typical Course Work
Program Courses
This program typically includes courses in some of the following subjects:
- Accounting
- Agronomy and Crop Science
- Aquaculture
- Business Management
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Environmental Science
- Horticulture
- Life Sciences
- Mathematics
- Pesticides, Herbicides, and Fertilizers
- Physical Sciences
- Plant and Animal Breeding, Growth, and Development
- Plant and Animal Anatomy and Physiology
- Purchasing
- Research and Development
- Sales and Marketing
- Soil Chemistry
- Supervision
Graduate Program Courses
Graduate study in agricultural business and management typically includes:
- Required courses
- Thesis (master’s degree)
- Preliminary exams (doctoral degree only)
- Dissertation and dissertation defense (doctoral degree)
Things to Know
Many people with this degree work in the financial sector. You can work in banks that specialize in lending to farms and related businesses. You can work for government agencies such as the US Department of Agriculture or the Food and Drug Administration.
Many programs require you to go on field trips to places such as grain elevators, grocery warehouses, and animal processing plants.
For information about farm occupations, opportunities, and 4-H activities, contact your local county extension service office.
Schools
East Side Area
Big Bend Community College
- Agricultural Technology & Management--Agricultural Business
Central Washington University
- Craft Brewing
Walla Walla Community College
- Agri-Business
- Wine Business
Washington State University - Pullman
- Agricultural and Food Systems--Agricultural Technology and Production Management
Wenatchee Valley College
- AgriBusiness
Spokane Area
Spokane Community College
- Agricultural Business
Statewide and Distance Learning
Washington State University - Global Campus
- Agriculture--Food Science & Management
Tacoma Area
University of Washington - Tacoma
- Craft Beer Certificate Programs
Tri-Cities Area
Columbia Basin College
- Agriculture--AgriBusiness
- Applied Management---Agriculture
West Side Area
Evergreen State College, The
- Agriculture and Food Science
Yakima Area
Yakima Valley College
- Agriculture--Agribusiness