Agribusiness Management, B.S.

Program Code: AGBM_BS

Entrance to Major

In order to be eligible for entrance to this major, a student must:

  1. attain at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) for all courses taken at the University.
  2. have third or higher semester classification; and
  3. have taken MATH 110, or MATH 140, and have obtained a grade of C or higher

World Campus

Direct Admission to the Major

Incoming first-year students who meet the program admission requirements are admitted directly into the major. Admission restrictions may apply for change-of-major and/or change-of-campus students.

For more information about the admission process for this major, please send a request to the college, campus, or program contact (listed in the Contact tab).

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness Management, a minimum of 120 credits is required:

Requirement Credits
General Education 45
Electives 3-9
Requirements for the Major 81-84

12-15 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 6 credits of GQ courses; 3-6 credits of GS courses; 3 credits of GWS courses.

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol Keystone/General Education Course appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required.)

  • Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
  • Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits

Knowledge Domains

  • Arts (GA): 6 credits
  • Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
  • Humanities (GH): 6 credits
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 6 credits
  • Natural Sciences (GN): 9 credits

Integrative Studies (may also complete a Knowledge Domain requirement)

  • Inter-Domain or Approved Linked Courses: 6 credits

University Degree Requirements

First Year Engagement

All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.

Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.

First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.

Cultures Requirement    

6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements

  • United States Cultures: 3 credits
  • International Cultures: 3 credits

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

Requirements for the Major

To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn a grade of C or better in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.

Prescribed Courses
AGBM 338Agribusiness in the Global Economy3
ACCTG 211Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision Making4
ECON 104Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy Keystone/General Education Course3
FIN 301Corporation Finance3
MGMT 301Basic Management Concepts3
MKTG 301Principles of Marketing3
SCM 301Supply Chain Management3
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
AGBM 102Economics of the Food System3
AGBM 106Agribusiness Problem Solving Keystone/General Education Course3
AGBM 302Food Product Marketing3
AGBM 308WStrategic Decision Making in Agribusiness3
AGBM 320Markets and Prices: Analysis and Forecasting3
ENGL 202DEffective Writing: Business Writing Keystone/General Education Course3
Additional Courses
AGBM 407Farm Planning and Financial Management3
or AGBM 408 Financial Decision Making for Agribusiness
Select one of the following:3
AGBM 170
Investigating the U.S. Food System: How food moves from field to table Keystone/General Education Course
RSOC 11
Introductory Rural Sociology Keystone/General Education Course 1
SOC 1
Introductory Sociology Keystone/General Education Course
Select one of the following:3
IST 110
Information, People and Technology Keystone/General Education Course
MIS 204
Introduction to Management Information Systems
MIS 250
Introduction to Problem Solving with Spreadsheet Analysis and Information Systems Management
SRA 111
Introduction to Security and Risk Analysis Keystone/General Education Course
Select 3-6 credits in Social, Ethical and Legal Environment of Business from the following:3-6
BA 243
Social, Legal, and Ethical Environment of Business
BLAW 243
Legal Environment of Business
BLAW 341
& BA 342
Business Law I: Introduction to Contracts, Liability Issues, and Intellectual Property
and Socially Responsible, Sustainable and Ethical Business Practice
Select 6 credits of 400-level AGBM courses (excluding, unless approved by the AGBM program, AGBM 495A, AGBM 495B, and AGBM 496.)6
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
AGBM 101Economic Principles of Agribusiness Decision Making Keystone/General Education Course 23
or ECON 102 Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy Keystone/General Education Course
MATH 110Techniques of Calculus I Keystone/General Education Course4
or MATH 140 Calculus With Analytic Geometry I Keystone/General Education Course
SCM 200Introduction to Statistics for Business Keystone/General Education Course4
or STAT 200 Elementary Statistics Keystone/General Education Course
Supporting Courses and Related Areas12
Select 12 credits in a specialty area, in consultation with an adviser (at least 6 of these credits must be at the 300 or 400 level)12

Program Learning Objectives

  1. Marketing: Students will have the capacity to apply agricultural and business marketing principles to both domestic and international issues.
  2. Finance: Students will have the capacity to apply agricultural and business finance principles to both domestic and international issues.
  3. Interactions: Students will have the capacity to describe key concepts in agricultural and business management, and explain how business management concepts can be applied to manage interactions with other parts of the food system and achieve a competitive advantage in the agricultural business world.

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university’s academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee’s unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

Jaclyn Gibboney
Academic Adviser
Armsby Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-0467
jag545@psu.edu

World Campus

Undergraduate Academic Advising
301 Outreach Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-3283
advising@outreach.psu.edu

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2020-21 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition (Note: the archive only contain suggested academic plans beginning with the 2018-19 edition of the Undergraduate Bulletin).

Agribusiness Management, B.S. at University Park Campus

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGBM 170, RSOC 11, or SOC 1†3ENGL 15, 30H, or ESL 15‡†3
MATH 110 or 140‡#†4AGBM 106*3
AGBM 101 or ECON 102*3ACCTG 2114
AGBM 102*3General Education Course3
AGSC 1001 
 14 13
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SCM 200 or STAT 200‡†4ECON 104†3
CAS 100, 100A, 100B, or 100C‡†3AGBM 3383
General Education Course3General Education Course3
Supporting Course13Elective 4
Elective3Supporting Course13
 16 16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGBM 320*3AGBM 302*3
MKTG 3013FIN 3013
IST 110, MIS 204, MIS 250, or SRA 111 (Information Systems)3MGMT 3013
ENGL 202D‡†3General Education Course3
General Education Course3Supporting Course (300 - 400 level)13
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGBM 400-level (excluding AGBM 495A, AGBM 495B, AGBM 496)3AGBM 400-level (excluding AGBM 495A, AGBM 495B, AGBM 496)3
General Education Course3AGBM 407 or 4083
BA 243, BLAW 243, or BA 342 and BLAW 3413-6General Education Course 3
AGBM 308W*3General Education Course (GHW)1.5
SCM 3013Supporting Course (300-400 level)13
General Education Course (GHW)1.5 
 16.5-19.5 13.5
Total Credits 119-122

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy University Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

GWS, GQ, GHW, GN, GA, GH, and GS are abbreviations used to identify General Education program courses. General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ) and Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS, and Integrative Studies). Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of ‘C’ or better.

Integrative Studies courses are required for the General Education program. N is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate an Inter-Domain course and Z is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate a Linked course.

All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and replace both ENGL 30H and CAS 100. Each course is 3 credits.

Advising Notes:

  • To schedule most courses is the Smeal College of Business, you must be a declared AGBM major. Please see your academic adviser for more information.
  • The Business Law Category consists of BLAW 243 or BA 243 or BLAW 341 and BA 342.

  • Only 15 credits of General Education requirements may be applied toward major requirements.

Agribusiness Management, B.S. at Altoona Campus

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MATH 110 or 140‡#†4MGMT 3013
AGBM 170, RSOC 11, or SOC 1†3ENGL 15‡†3
AG 150 (elective)2ACCTG 2114
ECON 102*3General Education Course (GN or GA)3
General Education Course3General Education Course (AG 160 recommended)3
 15 16
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SCM 200 or STAT 200 (GQ)‡†4ECON 104 (GS)†3
IST 110, MIS 204, MIS 250, or SRA 111 (Information Systems)3FIN 3013
CAS 100 (GWS)‡†3SCM 3013
MKTG 3013AGBM 106*3
AGBM 102*3General Education Course (GN, GA, or GH)3
 16 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGBM 320*3AGBM 302*3
AGBM 338 (IL)3Supporting Course13
ENGL 202D (GWS)‡3General Education Course (GHW)3
Supporting Course13General Education Course (GN, GA, GH)3
Supporting Course13Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGBM 400-level (excluding AGBM 495A, AGBM 495B, AGBM 496)3AGBM 400-level (excluding AGBM 495A, AGBM 495B, AGBM 496)3
General Education Course (GN, GA, GH)3AGBM 407 or 4083
AGBM 308W*3Supporting Course (300-400 level)13
BA 243, 342, BLAW 243, or BLAW 3413-4General Education Course (GN, GA, GH)3
Elective3Elective 1-2
 15-16 13-14
Total Credits 120-122

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy University Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

GWS, GQ, GHW, GN, GA, GH, and GS are abbreviations used to identify General Education program courses. General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ) and Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS, and Integrative Studies). Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of ‘C’ or better.

Integrative Studies courses are required for the General Education program. N is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate an Inter-Domain course and Z is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate a Linked course.

All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and replace both ENGL 30H and CAS 100. Each course is 3 credits.

Advising Notes:

  • To schedule most courses is the Smeal College of Business, you must be a declared AGBM major. Please see your academic adviser for more information.
  • Students should take AGBM 102 and AGBM 106 as early in their acadmeic plan as possible.
  • The Business Law Category consists of BLAW 243 or BA 243 or BLAW 341 and BA 342.

  • Only 15 credits of General Education requirements may be applied toward major requirements.

Agribusiness Management, B.S. at Commonwealth Campuses (except Altoona)

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MATH 110 or 140‡#†4ACCTG 2114
ENGL 15, 30H, or ESL 15‡†3AGBM 101 or ECON 102*3
First Year Seminar1-3CAS 100‡†3
General Education Course3General Education Course (GHW)1.5
General Education Course (GHW)1.5General Education Course3
 12.5-14.5 14.5
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
SCM 200 or STAT 200‡†4MGMT 3013
ECON 104†3FIN 3013
MGMT 3013BLAW 243 or BA 241 and BA 3423-4
Elective4General Education Course3
General Education Course3Elective 4
 17 16-17
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGBM 102*3AGBM 302*3
AGBM 106*3IST 110, MIS 204, MIS 250, or SRA 111 (Information Systems)3
AGBM 170, RSOC 11, or SOC 1†3AGBM 3383
SCM 3013Supporting Course13
Supporting Course13General Education Course3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGBM 400-level (excluding AGBM 495A, AGBM 495B, AGBM 496)3AGBM 400-level (excluding AGBM 495A, AGBM 495B, AGBM 496)3
ENGL 202D‡†3AGBM 407 or 4083
AGBM 320*3AGBM 308W*3
Supporting Course (300-400 level)13Supporting Course (300-400 level)13
General Education Course3General Education Course 3
 15 15
Total Credits 120-123

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy University Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

GWS, GQ, GHW, GN, GA, GH, and GS are abbreviations used to identify General Education program courses. General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ) and Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS, and Integrative Studies). Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of ‘C’ or better.

Integrative Studies courses are required for the General Education program. N is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate an Inter-Domain course and Z is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate a Linked course.

Advising Notes:

  • To schedule most courses is the Smeal College of Business, you must be a declared AGBM major. Please see your academic adviser for more information.
  • The Business Law Category consists of BLAW 243 or BA 243 or BLAW 341 and BA 342.

  • Only 15 credits of General Education requirements may be applied toward major requirements.

Agribusiness Management, B.S. at World Campus

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MATH 110‡#†4AGBM 106*3
AGBM 101 or ECON 102*3ACCTG 2114
AGBM 102*3ENGL 15‡†3
AGBM 170, RSOC 11, or SOC 1†3Elective 2
 General Education Course3
 13 15
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
STAT 200‡†4ECON 104†3
CAS 100‡†3AGBM 3383
Specialty Area Course13Specialty Area Course13
Elective3Elective3
General Education Course3General Education Course3
 16 15
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
AGBM 320*3AGBM 302*3
MKTG 301W3FIN 3013
IST 110, MIS 204, MIS 250, or SRA 111 (Information Systems)3MGMT 3013
BA 2434Specialty Area Course13
General Education Course3General Education Course3
 16 15
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
ENGL 202D‡†3AGBM 4083
SCM 3013AGBM 400-level (excluding AGBM 495A, AGBM 495B, AGBM 496)3
AGBM 308W*3Specialty Area Course13
AGBM 400-level (excluding AGBM 495A, AGBM 495B, AGBM 496)3General Education Course3
General Education Course3General Education Course3
 15 15
Total Credits 120

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy University Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

GWS, GQ, GHW, GN, GA, GH, and GS are abbreviations used to identify General Education program courses. General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ) and Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS, and Integrative Studies). Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of ‘C’ or better.

Integrative Studies courses are required for the General Education program. N is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate an Inter-Domain course and Z is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate a Linked course.

Career Paths

Agribusiness Management graduates have the skills and knowledge necessary to choose from a variety of fulfilling career paths in applied business management. Your career depends on the experience you make for yourself as a student. Faculty and professional academic advisers in the Agribusiness Management program support and serve students in career development and preparation, including career decision-making; tailoring the Agribusiness Management major to fit career goals; internship and job search strategies; interview preparation; and preparing for employment or graduate school.

Careers

With an Agribusiness Management degree, you can be prepared for a career in applied business management, including finance, management, sales/marketing, and commodity trading. Many graduates choose careers in the food and agricultural industries. Many others are employed outside of food and agriculture, in fields such as banking, investment, human resources, and marketing, while others have gone on to graduate or law school.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES OF THE AGRIBUSINESS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

Opportunities for Graduate Study

A baccalaureate degree in Agribusiness Management can lead to advanced degrees in business, agribusiness, agricultural and applied economics, and agricultural sciences.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDY

Professional Resources

Contact

University Park

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, SOCIOLOGY, AND EDUCATION
Armsby Building
814-865-0467
agribusiness@psu.edu

http://aese.psu.edu/majors/agribusiness

World Campus

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, SOCIOLOGY, AND EDUCATION
210A Armsby Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-863-5949
jwt4@psu.edu

https://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/degrees-and-certificates/agribusiness-management-bachelors/overview