You are in the official 1996-97 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Agriculture - Agricultural Economics
School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology
Department of Agricultural Economics
David K. Smith, Chair
Leon S. Peters Building, Room 302
(559) 278-2949 FAX: (559) 278-6536
Department of Agricultural Economics
David K. Smith, Chair
Leon S. Peters Building, Room 302
(559) 278-2949 FAX: (559) 278-6536
Minor in Agricultural Business
Join the leader in science, technology, and management. The award-winning
Agricultural Business Program at California State University, Fresno is
setting the pace -- having been recognized in 1985 as a national model 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 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 (Ag Ec) 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.
Ag One Grants for academic fees and books are available. Call (559) 278-2061 for information.
Under the Master of Business Administration, an elective area in agricultural business combines core graduate courses in agricultural business (Ag Bs) with core courses from business. This program 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 grad-
uate business adviser at (559) 278-2107.
Instructional Facilities
Modern agricultural computing facilities are used to teach students computerized
farm accounting systems, agricultural enterprise management, agribusiness
simulations, commodity trading programs, and to expose them to planning
and decision-making aids as part of their professional expertise. 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
120 professional occupations in California's agricultural industry. 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:
- Career planning and preparation in the Agribusiness Career Seminar (Ag Ec 195);
- National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) student chapter, which serves as the Agricultural Business Club offering professional contacts with industry leaders, an annual scholarship, and involvement in the annual national marketing competition for academic credit (Ag Ec 168);
- Industry internship opportunities for many career positions through management training programs with agricultural business firms and support institutions. Internships are awarded on a competitive basis and grants academic credit in the major for this supervised experience (Ag Ec 194);
- Farm laboratory experience under faculty supervision through participation in the student project program and concurrent enrollment in an Enterprise Management course (Plant, A Sci, Enol 196). This is highly recommended and can be used in the major.
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