for California State University, Fresno.
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
B.S. in Agricultural
Business
Minor in Agricultural Business
Emphasis in Agricultural Business (Graduate MBA Program)
Faculty
Faculty
James E. Casey, Chair
James H. Cothern
Herbert O. Mason
Dwight D. Minami
Dennis L. Nef
Carl L. Pherson
John Shields
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