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Department of Agricultural Economics

The College of
Agricultural Sciences and Technology

JAMES E. CASEY, Chair
CHRISTINA H. FITZ GIBBON, Administrative Support Coordinator
Leon S. Peters Building, Room 302
(559) 278-2949
FAX: (559) 278-6536

http://cast.csufresno.edu/agecon

Faculty

Faculty

James E. Casey, Chair

Patrick T. Berends
Ellen I. Burnes
James H. Cothern
Herbert O. Mason
Dwight D. Minami
Dennis L. Nef
Carl L. Pherson
John Shields
David K. Smith
Dennis Wichelns
R. Lynn Williams

Faculty members are broadly trained with advanced degrees from top ranked universities across the nation, and are highly experienced as teachers, consultants, and researchers. They bring practical insight to the classroom by being professionally active in service to California farms and agribusinesses, industry organizations, government agencies, and professional associations. Forming a strong advisee-adviser relationship with any one of the faculty can help you match your career goals with appropriate coursework.

Agricultural Economics

Join the leader in science, technology, and management. The award-winning Agricultural Business Program at California State University, Fresno is a pacesetter - having been recognized in 1985 as a national model for other colleges and universities by the Agribusiness Education Project, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and comprised of agricultural industry leaders and higher education scholars from around the country.

The agricultural business curriculum is a comprehensive and integrative program of economic principles and business application with a problem-solving orientation and a practical experience emphasis.

Degree Programs

The Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business combines core undergraduate courses in agricultural economics (AGEC) with basic business management and agricultural science foundation courses. This undergraduate major allows you to emphasize a career specialty, such as agribusiness management, agricultural finance, agricultural marketing, farm management, and food industry management.

Certified Minor Programs. A Minor in Agricultural Business is available for students majoring in agricultural sciences, business, and other fields.

Complementary Fields of Study. Agricultural business students wishing to enhance their major with a technical field should consider a minor in such closely allied disciplines as animal science, family and consumer sciences, food and nutritional sciences, and plant science. A supplementary Minor in General Business is available through the Craig School of Business.

Ag One Grants for academic fees and books are available. Call (559) 278-2061 for scholarship information and application.

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) has an elective area in agricultural business combining graduate courses in agricultural business (AGBS) with core courses from business. This degree program, AACSB accredited, is administered by the Sid Craig School of Business. It is designed for individuals seeking to advance their career by enhancing their business management and economic analysis skills with an emphasis on agricultural sector applications. Contact the graduate business adviser at (559) 278-2107.

Instructional Facilities

Modern Computing Facilities. Labs are used to teach students computerized farm accounting systems, agricultural enterprise spreadsheets, agribusiness simulations, commodity trading, and to expose them to planning and decision-making aids as part of their professional expertise.

Marketing News Center. Students have access to the Marketing News Center and to a computerized database system through the statewide Advanced Technology Information Network (ATI-NET) established by the school's California Agricultural Technology Institute (CATI).

Center for Agricultural Business (CAB)

Organized to promote the economic efficiency, profitability, and competitiveness of California agriculture, CAB uses faculty expertise and student assistance to address problems and opportunities in farm management, agribusiness finance, commodity marketing, agricultural trade, natural resources, and labor management. Seminars are held periodically on topics of concern to farmers and agribusiness managers. An annual Agribusiness Management Conference is co-sponsored with industry to explore current issues and report the economic outlook of the state's agricultural sector.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Agricultural Business Program can choose from more than 150 professional occupations in California's agricultural sector and related industries. Ask your faculty adviser for the agricultural business career opportunities list.

Professional Preparation

Students establish credibility with prospective employers by participating in the following occupationally related activities.

• Agricultural Business Club. Students plan field trips, invite industry speakers to meetings, organize the annual alumni dinner, hold a newcomer picnic, support a campus job fair, and sponsor career preparation workshops.
• Industry internships. Opportunities exist for many career positions through management training programs with agricultural business firms and support institutions. The department awards internships on a competitive basis and grants academic credit in the major for this supervised experience (AGEC 194).
• University Agricultural Laboratory Project. Students gain farming experience through participation in the faculty supervised, student project program and concurrent enrollment in an Enterprise Management course (PLANT, ASCI, ENOL 196).Such a course is highly recommended and can be used in the major.
• Solutions Program Team Project. Students earn academic credit (SC 197) through experiential learning. The team is faculty advised and charged with solving a problem or exploiting an opportunity faced by a real world client. Clients are private businesses or public agencies that have partnered with the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.
• National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) student chapter offers professional contacts with industry leaders, an annual scholarship, and involvement in the annual national marketing competition for academic credit (AGEC 168).
  

Agricultural Economics Courses

Agricultural Economics Degrees

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