Academic Programs Catalog

The agribusiness management major is designed for students who are interested in careers with agricultural input supply, agricultural production, commodity assembly and processing, and agricultural marketing organizations.  The program, which focuses on the managerial functions performed by organizations throughout the agribusiness sector, provides a system–wide perspective of managerial problems confronting such organizations.  Faculty who are associated with the program maintain close relationships with agribusiness companies. Those relationships benefit students who seek information about careers, scholarships, and employment in the field.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Agribusiness Management

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness Management.
   
   The University's Tier II Writing Requirement for the Agribusiness Management major is met by completing one of the following courses: Agricultural Food and Resource Economics 445 or 465. Those courses are referenced in item 3. below.
2. The requirements of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources for the Bachelor of Science degree.
   
   Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
   
   Students must achieve a grade of at least 2.0 or higher in each AFRE course referenced in items 3. a. and in all courses taken to fulfill requirements 3. b., 3. c. and 3.d.
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.	All of the following courses (38 credits):
   	AFRE	100	Decision-making in the Agri-Food System						3
   	AFRE	130	Farm Management I						3
   	AFRE	203	Data Analysis for the Agri-Food System						3
   	AFRE	206	World Food, Population and Poverty						3
   	AFRE	210	Professional Seminar in Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics						1
   	AFRE	222	Agribusiness and Food Industry Sales (W)						3
   	AFRE	232	Commodity Marketing I						3
   	AFRE	240	Food Product Marketing						3
   	AFRE	265	Ecological Economics						3
   	AFRE	410	Advanced Professional Seminar in Agricultural Food and Resource Economics						1
   	AFRE	435	Financial Management in the Agri-Food System						3
   	EC	201	Introduction to Microeconomics						3
   	EC	202	Introduction to Macroeconomics						3
   	SCM	304	Survey of Supply Chain Management						3
   b.	Three of the following courses (9 credits):
   	AFRE	224	Information and Market Intelligence in the Agri-Food Industry						3
   	AFRE	300	Public Policy Issues in the Agri-Food System						3
   	AFRE	315	Labor and Personnel Management in the Agri-Food System						3
   	AFRE	322	Organization of the Agri-Food Systems						3
   	AFRE	327	Global Agri-Food Industries and Markets						3
   	AFRE	330	Farm Management II						3
   	AFRE	432	Commodity Marketing II						3
   	AFRE	445	Strategic Management for Food and Agribusiness Firms (W)						3
   	AFRE	465	Corporate Environmental Management (W)						3
   	AFRE	490	Independent Study in Agricultural Food and Resource Economics						3
   	AFRE	493	Professional Internship in Agricultural Food and Resource Economics						3
   	A study abroad or independent study experience may also fulfill part of this requirement through enrollment in AFRE 490 with approval by the department.
   	Agricultural Food and Resource Economics 300, 330 or 432 may be used to fulfill requirement 3.b. if not used to fulfill requirement 3.d.
   c.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   	AFRE	445	Strategic Management for Food and Agribusiness Firms (W)						3
   	AFRE	465	Corporate Environmental Management (W)						3
   d.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   	AFRE	300	Public Policy Issues in Agri-Food System						3
   	AFRE	330	Farm Management II						3
   	AFRE	432	Commodity Marketing II						3
   e.	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   	AFRE	303	Managerial Economics						3
   	EC	301	Intermediate Microeconomics						3
   f.	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   	STT	200	Statistical Methods						3
   	STT	201	Statistical Methods						4
   	STT	315	Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Business						3
   g.	Complete 6 credits in sciences related to agricultural production and processing, as approved by the department. It is recommended that these credits be from the same discipline.

Environmental Economics and Management prepares students for careers that require consideration of environmental sustainability and economic performance goals for the public sector and businesses. The business component has a particular focus on resource, agricultural, and food industries, as these have strong environmental linkages. The major develops skills in environmental economics and policy analysis as well as core business disciplines such as accounting, marketing, and supply chain management. Business skills and knowledge are developed to help manage or create environmentally and socially responsive business organizations that also deliver shareholder value. The major prepares students for sustainability related employment opportunities with state and federal government agencies, non-profit organizations, the agricultural and food industry, and consulting firms. The major also offers students the opportunity to prepare for graduate study in environmental economics and policy or business programs.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Economics and Management

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Economics and Management.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Environmental Economics and Management major is met by completing Agricultural Food and Resource Economics 465. That course is referenced in item 3. a. below.
    
2. The requirements of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources for the Bachelor of Science degree.
   
   Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
   
   Students must achieve a grade of at least 2.0 or higher in each AFRE course referenced in items 3. a. and in courses taken to fulfill requirements 3. b. and 3. c.
   
   The following requirements for the major:

   a.	All of the following courses (38 credits):
   	AFRE	100	Decision-making in the Agri-Food System						3
   	AFRE	203	Data Analysis for the Agri-Food System						3
   	AFRE	206	World Food, Population and Poverty						3
   	AFRE	210	Professional Seminar in Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics						1
   	AFRE	222	Agribusiness and Food Industry Sales (W)						3
   	AFRE	240	Food Product Marketing						3
   	AFRE	265	Ecological Economics						3
   	AFRE	360	Environmental Economics						3
   	AFRE	410	Advanced Professional Seminar in Agricultural Food and Resource Economics						1
   	AFRE	460	Natural Resource Economics						3
   	AFRE	465	Corporate Environmental Management (W)						3
   	EC	201	Introduction to Microeconomics						3
   	EC	202	Introduction to Macroeconomics						3
   	SCM	304	Survey of Supply Chain Management						3
   b.	Three of the following courses (9 or 10 credits):
   	AFRE	224	Information and Market Intelligence in the Agri-Food Industry						3
   	AFRE	300	Public Policy Issues in the Agri-Food System						3
   	AFRE	315	Labor and Personnel Management in the Agri-Food System						3
   	AFRE	322	Organization of the Agri-Food Systems						3
   	AFRE	327	Global Agri-Food Industries and Markets						3
   	AFRE	435	Financial Management in the Agri-Food System						3
   	AFRE	445	Strategic Management for Food and Agribusiness Firms (W)						3
   	AFRE	490	Independent Study in Agricultural Food and Resource Economics						3
   	AFRE	493	Professional Internship in Agricultural Food and Resource Economics						3
   	CSUS	354	Water Resources Management						3
   	CSUS	465	Environmental and Natural Resource Law						3
   	EC	450	Economics of Environmental Policy (W)						3
   	FOR	419	Applications of Geographic Information Systems to Natural Resource Management						4
   	A study abroad or independent study experience may also fulfill part of this requirement through enrollment in AFRE 490 with approval by the department.
   	Agricultural Food and Resource Economics 435 or 445 may be used to fulfill requirement 3.b. if not used to fulfill requirement 3.c.
   c.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   	AFRE	435	Financial Management in the Agri-Food System						3
   	AFRE	445	Strategic Management for Food and Agribusiness Firms (W)						3
   d.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   	ACC	201	Principles of Financial Accounting						3
   	ACC	230	Survey of Accounting Concepts						3
   	AFRE	130	Farm Management I						3
   	FI	320	Introduction to Finance						3
   e.	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   	STT	200	Statistical Methods						3
   	STT	201	Statistical Methods						4
   	STT	315	Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Business						3
   f.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   	AFRE	303	Managerial Economics						3
   	EC	301	Intermediate Microeconomics						3
   g.	Complete 6 credits in sciences related to sustainability and the environment, as approved by the department. It is recommended that these credits be from the same discipline.

The food industry management major is designed for students who are interested in careers in the food industry. Graduates of this major enter managerial positions with food wholesalers-distributors and retailers as well as sales, account management, and production supervision positions with food manufacturers. The program provides a system-wide perspective of managerial problems confronting firms in the food industry, recognizes the increasing interdependence among such firms and focuses on creating consumer value. Faculty who are associated with the program maintain close relationships with food companies and trade associations, bring practical applications and examples to the classroom and provide current information about career and scholarship opportunities.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Food Industry Management

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Food Industry Management.
   
   The University's Tier II Writing Requirement for the Food Industry Management major is met by completing Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics 445.  This course is referenced in item 3. below.
    
2. The requirements of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources for the Bachelor of Science degree.
   
   Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
   
   Students must achieve a grade of at least 2.0 or higher in each AFRE course referenced in items 3. a. and in courses taken to fulfill requirements 3. b. and 3. c.
    
3. The following requirements for the major:

   a.	All of the following courses (38 credits):
   	AFRE	100	Decision-making in the Agri-Food System						3
   	AFRE	203	Data Analysis for the Agri-Food System						3
   	AFRE	206	World Food, Population and Poverty						3
   	AFRE	210	Professional Seminar in Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics						1
   	AFRE	222	Agribusiness and Food Industry Sales						3
   	AFRE	240	Food Product Marketing						3
   	AFRE	265	Ecological Economics						3
   	AFRE	340	Food Marketing Research and Analytics						3
   	AFRE	410	Advanced Professional Seminar in Agricultural Food and Resource Economics						1
   	AFRE	440	Food Marketing Management						3
   	AFRE	445	Strategic Management for Food and Agribusiness Firms (W)						3
   	EC	201	Introduction to Microeconomics						3
   	EC	202	Introduction to Macroeconomics						3
   	SCM	304	Survey of Supply Chain Management						3
   b.	Three of the following courses (9 credits):
   	AFRE	224	Information and Market Intelligence in the Agri-Food Industry						3
   	AFRE	232	Commodity Marketing I						3
   	AFRE	300	Public Policy Issues in the Agri-Food System						3
   	AFRE	315	Labor and Personnel Management in the Agri-Food System						3
   	AFRE	322	Organization of the Agri-Food Systems						3
   	AFRE	327	Global Agri-Food Industries and Markets						3
   	AFRE	435	Financial Management in the Agri-Food System						3
   	AFRE	465	Corporate Environmental Management (W)						3
   	AFRE	490	Independent Study in Agricultural Food and Resource Economics						3
   	AFRE	493	Professional Internship in Agricultural Food and Resource Economics						3
   	A study abroad or independent study experience may also fulfill part of this requirement through enrollment in AFRE 490 with approval by the department.
   	Agricultural Food and Resource Economics 435 or 465 may be used to fulfill requirement 3.b. if not used to fulfill requirement 3.c.
   c.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   	AFRE	435	Financial Management in the Agri-Food System						3
   	AFRE	465	Corporate Environmental Management (W)						3
   d.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   	ACC	201	Principles of Financial Accounting						3
   	ACC	230	Survey of Accounting Concepts						3
   	AFRE	130	Farm Management I						3
   	FI	320	Introduction to Finance						3
   e.	One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
   	STT	200	Statistical Methods						3
   	STT	201	Statistical Methods						4
   	STT	315	Introduction to Probability and Statistics for Business						3
   f.	One of the following courses (3 credits):
   	AFRE	303	Managerial Economics						3
   	EC	301	Intermediate Microeconomics						3
   g.	Complete 6 credits in sciences related to food production and processing, as approved by the department. It is recommended that these credits be from the same discipline.

The Minor in Agribusiness Management is designed to serve students with majors in other fields who are interested in careers in agribusiness.  The primary educational objective of the minor is to provide students with a fundamental knowledge of business management in relation to agribusiness firms.

The minor is available as an elective to all students who are enrolled in bachelor's degree programs at Michigan State University other than the Bachelor of Science degree program with a major in agribusiness management.  The minor is administered by the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.

At least 9 credits counted towards the requirements for this minor must be unique. Unique credits must not be used to fulfill another university, college, or major requirement in the student's program.

Requirements for the Minor in Agribusiness Management

The student must complete 15 credits from the following:

The Minor in Environmental Economics is designed to serve students who are interested in the application of economics to environmental issues.  The educational objectives of the minor are to:

1. Introduce students to the concepts and principles of environmental economics.
2. Help students to develop the skills necessary to analyze environmental and natural resource issues.
3. Help students to understand the economic dimensions of the many environmental issues facing society.

The minor is available as an elective to all students who are enrolled in bachelor's degree programs at Michigan State University other than the Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Economics and Management.  The minor is administered by the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.

At least 9 credits counted towards the requirements for this minor must be unique. Unique credits must not be used to fulfill another university, college, or major requirement in the student's program.

Requirements for the Minor in Environmental Economics

The student must complete a minimum of 15 credits:

The Minor in Food Industry management is designed to serve students with majors in other fields who are interested in careers in the food industry.  The primary educational objective of the minor is to provide students with a fundamental knowledge of business management in relation to the food industry.

The minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor's degree programs at Michigan State University other than the Bachelor of Science degree program with a major in food industry management.  The minor is administered by the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.

At least 9 credits counted towards the requirements for this minor must be unique. Unique credits must not be used to fulfill another university, college, or major requirement in the student's program.

Requirements for the Minor in Food Industry Management

The student must complete 15 credits from the following: