ADVISING INFORMATION
There are at least four sources of information you can turn to when you have a question. One is the University Catalog. Every student should have a copy of the catalog. It can be purchased from the Kennel Bookstore on campus. The catalog that applies to y ou is usually the one in effect the semester you enroll at California State University, Fresno. Transfer students may choose the catalog in effect when they first entered an accredited California community college or university. The requirements for gradu ation in that catalog are the ones you are expected to meet. Since graduation requirements change from year to year, it is important that you always refer to the catalog that applies to you.
A second source of information is the Schedule of Coursespublished each semester. This booklet can be purchased in the Kennel Bookstore in April (for the fall semester) and November (for the spring semester). It contains policies, calendars, fees, exam dates, and times and locations of courses being offered that semester.
A third source of information is other students. Networking with your peers can provide valuable information on part-time jobs, internships, and industry contacts as well as opinions on elective course content and instructor teaching styles.
The fourth, and most important source of information is your adviser. Every Agricultural Business major is assigned a faculty adviser. Assignments are posted on the Departmental Bulletin Board in the hall outside the Departmental Office (Peters Business B uilding, Room 302). If your name is not listed, please notify us. Students may request a change in adviser or express a preference if unassigned. Information about each faculty adviser is included in the biographical sketch section.
Faculty advisers serve as a resource. They can offer guidance regarding your college education, job opportunities and advanced degrees. They can also identify other campus and community resources that may be helpful. Faculty offices are located on the thi rd floor (south wing) of the Peters Business Building. Departmental faculty maintain an open door policy -- if the door is open, come in. All faculty post office hours during which students are welcome. If these hours are not convenient, you can make an a ppointment by telephone. Each has an answering machine and will get back to you as soon as they can if they are out when you call. You can also leave messages at the departmental office (278-2949).
It is a good idea to visit with your adviser at least once each semester.
If you are unable to get help you need from your faculty adviser, ask for assistance in the departmental office.
You are required to take a minimum of 128 units of coursework to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Business. Fifty-two of these 128 units are in General Education. Sixty units are in the major. The remaining units are electives. A suggeste d semester by semester program is shown underPrograms of Study
The goal of General Education is to broaden the individual. The State of California requires that a certain number of courses in particular areas be studied. CSUF has divided these areas into Core, Breadth and Capstone. In Core, limited opportunity exists for student choice. You must take specific courses in English, History and Political Science. You may choose from several courses in the Math, Critical Thinking, and Speech categories.
Prior to enrolling in the English and Math courses, you must take and pass the Entry Level Math (ELM) exam and the English Placement Test (EPT). Failure to pass either exam means that you must take remedial Coursework. Since Core Math and English courses should be completed during the first year of your college career, these tests should be taken at the earliest opportunity. Ag Ec 71 can be taken as the Math course in the Core area of General Education.
The Breadth area of General Education is divided into nine areas. You must take one course from each area. Some of the courses in this area are particularly relevant to agricultural business and are "additional requirements" for an agricultural business degree. These include Chemistry 3A in Division 1, Biology (Biology 10, Botany 10 or Zoology 10) in Division 2, and Ag Ec 1 in Division 8. These courses should be completed by the middle of your sophomore year. Additionally, other General Educatio n courses are recommended (Plant Sci 105 or Psych 10 in Division 3, Nutr 53 in Division 4).
Two courses are required in Capstone. The Agriculture and Government Policy cluster (Ag Ec 150 and either Poli Sci 150 or Phil 125) satisfies the Capstone requirement.
If you are a transfer student, nine units of your General Education must be taken at CSUF. Nine upper Division General Education units (courses numbered 100 or higher at CSUF) are required of all students. These courses must be taken after 56 units of cou rsework have been completed. Since six units of upper division credit are earned in Capstone, three additional units of upper division coursework must be taken in either Core, Breadth or Capstone.
General Education courses cannot be counted in the major.
Agricultural Science Foundation
The agricultural science foundation consists of four courses that should be completed early in your college career (before your junior year). These courses come from four different agricultural areas. One course (Ag Ec 2) is an agricultural economics course. The other three may be chosen from the areas of Ag Engineering Technology, Animal Sciences, Enology, Food Science and Nutrition, Plant Science, or Soils/Irrigation, The courses you will take will depend upon your areas of interest as well as previous experience. For example, if you plan to take advanced courses in Soils/Irrigation, then you will want to make certain you have the necessary prerequisites. Therefore, you may wish to take the introductory level course as part of your agricultural science foundation.
Business Management Base
The business management base consists of courses in law, computers, accounting, and mathematics. Courses taken to fill these areas should be taken during the freshman and sophomore years. Introductory Agricultural Law (Ag Ec 28) or Business Law (BA 18) satisfy the law requirement. Ag Ec 76 or IS 50 meet the computer requirement. A full year of accounting (either Ag Ec 31-32 or Acct 4A-4B) is required. The mathematics requirement can be met by either Ag Ec 78 or DS 71.
Agricultural Economics Core
The agricultural economics core consists of seven courses integral to the major. Ag Ec 100 is the theory course that serves as the foundation for many of the other upper division courses. Therefore, it should be taken during the first semester of your junior year. Ag Ec 120, 130, and 160 should also be taken during the junior year. Ag Ec 110 and 170 should be taken during the senior year. The seventh course in the agricultural economics core is an upper division agricultural economics elective that you choose.
Career Specialty
Four courses (12 units) form a career specialty. You decide what particular area you are interested in studying and select either a formal or a flexible concentration. A formal concentration consists of four courses selected from a prearranged group of courses focusing on particular areas. Flexible concentrations can be composed of courses selected by you in consultation with your adviser. The courses must be logically integrated. Six of the twelve units in the career specialty must be upper division Ag Ec courses to ensure cross-disciplinary integration with the major.
If you are considering graduate school, you should take note of the agricultural business master's degree preparation and agricultural economics concentrations.
The Ag Ec courses required in the major are usually offered every semester. Some of the electives are also offered every semester. However, most elective courses are offered only every other semester as follows:
Fall Courses Spring Courses Summer Courses
Ag Ec 114 Ag Ec 124 Ag Ec 185T
Ag Ec 122 Ag Ec 128 Ag Ec 194
Ag Ec 140 Ag Ec 136
Ag Ec 153 Ag Ec 155
Ag Ec 164 Ag Ec 162
Ag Ec 163
Ag Ec 166
Ag Ec 192
Ag Ec 195
An Agricultural Business Tour Class (Ag Ec 192) is offered during Winter Break. There is the possibility of earning internship credit during the summer and occasionally a topics class (Ag Ec 185T) is taught during summer session. However, summer school students usually must take General Education and business school courses since Agricultural Economics courses are not usually taught.
WHAT ELSE MUST BE DONE TO GRADUATE?Schedule of Courses
with a W after the number).
During your second to last semester, you should meet with your adviser and fill out the "Certification of Major Requirements" . During the first three weeks of your last semester, you must file for graduation and pay a fee in the Joyal Administration Building, Room 115.
WHAT ABOUT EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES?
The National Agri-Marketing/Agricultural Business Club is one of many clubs in the School where you can meet fellow students and have fun at the same time as you prepare to meet your career goals. The club sponsors an annual career day where successful alumni return to campus to share their insights. The networking that begins here carries into professional contacts that can prove invaluable.
There are a wide range of other activities in which students are
involved. The university's athletic teams provide year round entertainment.
Cultural arts activities are also abundant. Taken together, the
strong curriculum, excellent faculty, and modern facilities coupled
with CSUF's location in the agribusiness capital of the world
make an unbeatable combination. We think you will find CSUF a
fantastic place to earn your college degree!
RETURN TO AG ECONOMICS HOME PAGE
WHAT IS A MINOR?
Various programs on campus offer "minors." A minor can complement your major and offer additional training in an area of interest to you. Minors usually require 21-24 units of coursework outside the major. Careful sequencing of courses and attention to courses taken in General Education can reduce the time required to earn a minor but it will usually require an extra semester or a heavier course load.
Advising sheets for the various minors are available in the offices of the department offering the minor. Examples of minors that might be of interest to students majoring in Agricultural Business include:
Minor Office Phone
Plant Science Ag 220 278-2861
Animal Sciences Ag 230 278-2971
Food and Nutritional Sciences AH 103 278-2164
Journalism McF 238 278-2087
Computer Integrated Manufacturing IT 212 278-2145
Chicano/Latino Studies SS 211 278-2848
Public Administration SS 129 278-2988
HOW A MINOR WORKS
Each minor is slightly different but an example illustrates how they work. You must complete all of the requirements for the major. Additionally, if you elected to pursue a minor in plant science, you would choose:
Units
1 course from three basic plant science offerings 3
1 course from two soil/water courses 3
2 courses from three plant protection courses 6
(requires botany and chemistry)
3 courses from a focus area 9
Total Units 21
If GE courses in biology and chemistry were taken in the freshmen year, these courses could be taken over four years as follows:
Year Fall Spring
1 Basic Plant Science Soils/Irrigation
2 Plant Protection Plant Protection
3 Focus Area Focus Area
4 Focus Area