Agribusiness Management, B.B.A.
Major Code: 2645Agribusiness is the backbone of the global food system, encompassing everything from production and processing to marketing, sustainability, finance, and innovation. Whether managing a family farm, leading multinational food enterprises, or launching entrepreneurial ventures, agribusiness professionals play a crucial role in feeding the world, promoting sustainability, and driving product innovation.
This interdisciplinary program blends strong foundational education in business management with applied agricultural expertise. Students develop the technical and leadership skills needed to navigate complex decisions involving labor, finance, marketing, risk, and management across diverse agricultural enterprises. Coursework emphasizes strategic planning, entrepreneurship, data-informed decision-making, sustainability, and innovation in a rapidly evolving agricultural economy.
Hands-on learning is at the core of the program. Through case studies, internships, industry collaborations, and a capstone project, students gain real-world experience that prepares them for leadership in the agricultural sector.
Career pathways for graduates include:
- Agricultural business management
- Farm and ranch management (dairy, equine, livestock, crops, specialty crops, and more)
- Agricultural finance and lending
- Food and commodity marketing
- Supply chain and logistics
- Food entrepreneurship and value-added ventures (fresh produce, specialty crops, and more)
- Government agencies (e.g., USDA, State Departments of Agriculture)
- Nonprofit and advocacy organizations (e.g., Cornell Cooperative Extension)
- Sustainability and Agritech innovation
Graduates are prepared to enter the workforce immediately or pursue advanced study in agribusiness, agricultural economics, or business administration.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Design and manage an agricultural enterprise by integrating production, finance, marketing, and risk management strategies for long-term viability.
- Evaluate and secure appropriate financing while maintaining productive relationships with financial institutions and strategic partners.
- Analyze market trends and consumer behavior to identify opportunities and implement adaptive strategies that enhance profitability and competitiveness.
- Communicate and collaborate effectively with both agricultural and non-agricultural stakeholders to build partnerships, educate the public, and advance the industry.
- Apply critical thinking and ethical reasoning to investigate, evaluate, and communicate agribusiness solutions using data and industry knowledge.
- Demonstrate leadership and interpersonal effectiveness in diverse business settings, including family-owned and corporate agribusinesses.
- Assess personal and professional competencies, set realistic development goals, and implement strategies for career advancement and personal well-being in a dynamic global industry.
SUNY General Education: All SUNY Morrisville BBA degree programs require completion of at least 30 credits of SUNY GE, a minimum of seven (out of ten) knowledge and skills areas (including the four required knowledge and skills areas as indicated below), and completion of the two core competencies. The specific courses required within each knowledge and skills area/core competency for this degree program are outlined below.
Knowledge and Skills Areas:
| Field Name | Field Value |
|---|---|
| Communication Written & Oral (required) | as advised |
| Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (required) | as advised |
| Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) (required) | AGSC 137 or MATH 123 or MATH 141 |
| Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) (required) | as advised |
| Humanities | as advised |
| Social Sciences | as advised |
| The Arts | as advised |
| US History and Civic Engagement | as advised |
| World History and Global Awareness | as advised |
| World Languages | as advised |
Core Competencies:
| Field Name | Field Value |
|---|---|
| Information Literacy (required) | as advised |
| Critical Thinking and Reasoning (required) | as advised |
Curriculum Requirements
A minimum of 120 credits is required for degree completion. This degree program is approved to be completed 50% online. Please consult with your academic advisor on specific courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| AGBS 100 | Agricultural Economics | 3 |
| or AGBS 225 | Environmental Economics | |
| AGBS 110 | Intro to Food and Agribusiness 1 | 3 |
| AGBS 200 | Marketing Agricultural Prodcts | 3 |
| AGBS 240 | Farm Management and Finance | 4 |
| AGBS 305 | Ag Financial Decision Making | 3 |
| AGBS 350 | Ag Business Development | 3 |
| AGBS 400 | Distribution/Mkt Ag Products | 4 |
| AGBS 405 | Farm & Rural Mngt Capstone | 3 |
| AGBS 450 | Ag Policy & Development | 3 |
| AGBS 480 | Retailing Agriculture Products | 3 |
| AGBS 440 | Ag Business Intern Orientation | 1 |
| AGBS 470 | Internship in Ag Business Dev | 15 |
| ACCT - Accounting as Advised | 3 | |
| Select one of the following Options | 2-3 | |
| Option 1: | ||
| Principles Computer Apps | ||
| Option 2: | ||
| Introduction to Precision Farming | ||
| Option 3: | ||
| Introduction to MS Word | ||
or OFFT 106 | Personal Computer Keyboarding | |
or OFFT 109 | Introduction to MS PowerPoint | |
| 300-400 Upper Level Elective Credits as Advised 2 | 10 | |
| Upper or Lower Level Elective Credits as Advised 2 | 26 | |
| Required SUNY General Education Coursework | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Agricultural Statistics | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
| Statistics | ||
| SUNY General Education Communication Written and Oral as Advised | 3 | |
| SUNY General Education Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice as Advised | 3 | |
| SUNY General Education World Languages as Advised | 3 | |
| SUNY General Education Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) as Advised | 3-4 | |
| Additional SUNY General Education Coursework as Advised | 17 | |
| Total Credits | 121-123 | |
- 1
Students who have completed AGBS 240 Farm Management and Finance are not required to enroll in AGBS 110 Intro to Food and Agribusiness.
- 2
Additional Electives selected from any course with the following subject codes: AGBS/AGEN/AGNR/AGRO/AGSC/ANSC/BIOL/BREW/BSAD/CANA/CHEM/CITA/COMM310/DANS/DTEC/ECON/EDU/ENSC/ERID/ESCI/ESTB/FSAD/HORT/NATR/NURS/NUTR/RENG/RREN/RRMT/SPPR
Sample Course Sequence
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| AGBS 100 | Agricultural Economics | 3 |
| AGBS 110 | Intro to Food and Agribusiness | 3 |
| SUNY General Education Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) as Advised | 3 | |
| SUNY General Education Communication Written and Oral as Advised | 3 | |
| Additional Electives as Advised | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| AGBS 200 | Marketing Agricultural Prodcts | 3 |
| SUNY General Education Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice as Advised | 3 | |
| OFFT 110 | Introduction to MS Excel | 1 |
| OFFT 100 | Introduction to MS Word | 1 |
| Additional Electives as Advised | 3 | |
| SUNY General Education World Languages or Natural Science as Advised | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 14-15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| AGBS 240 | Farm Management and Finance | 4 |
| ACCT - Accounting as Advised | 3 | |
| Additional Electives as Advised | 3 | |
| SUNY General Education World Languages or Natural Science as Advised | 3-4 | |
| Credits | 13-14 | |
| Spring | ||
| AGBS 350 | Ag Business Development | 3 |
| Additional Electives as Advised | 9 | |
| SUNY General Education as Advised | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| AGBS 400 | Distribution/Mkt Ag Products | 4 |
| AGBS 305 | Ag Financial Decision Making | 3 |
| Additional Electives as Advised | 3 | |
| 300-400 Upper Level Elective as Advised | 3 | |
| SUNY General Education as Advised | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| AGBS 450 | Ag Policy & Development | 3 |
| AGBS 480 | Retailing Agriculture Products | 3 |
| Additional Electives as Advised | 2 | |
| 300-400 Upper Level Electives as Advised | 6 | |
| SUNY General Education or Liberal Arts and Sciences as Advised | 3 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| AGBS 405 | Farm & Rural Mngt Capstone | 3 |
| AGBS 440 | Ag Business Intern Orientation | 1 |
| Additional Electives as Advised | 3 | |
| 300-400 Upper Level Elective as Advised | 2 | |
| SUNY General Education or Electives as Advised | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| AGBS 470 | Internship in Ag Business Dev | 15 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120-122 | |