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Penn State's online Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management is designed to provide you with an understanding of how to apply business principles to real-world issues and opportunities in the agricultural and life sciences industries. This interdisciplinary approach allows you to focus on business basics, such as marketing and finance, with specialties related to the multimillion-dollar food and fiber industry. The program offers a variety of course options, so you can customize the degree to meet your specific career goals.

The Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management is a 120-credit program. To earn this degree, you must successfully complete:

  • 81–84 credits required for the major
    • 47 prescribed core course credits
    • 22–25 additional course credits
    • 12 supporting and related course credits
  • 45 credits General Education courses (Note: 12-15 of these credits are included in the requirements for the major)
  • 3–9 elective credits (Number of credits in elective courses dependent on the amount needed to reach 120 credits)

The number of credits you will have to take will vary according to the courses you transfer into the business degree program. Once you are admitted into the degree program, an academic adviser will help you determine the remaining requirements.

Course List - Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management 

Prescribed Courses (47 credits)
Title Abbreviation Description Credits
Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision Making ACCTG 211 Introduction to the role of accounting numbers in the process of managing a business and in investor decision making.

Prerequisites: MATH 021 or 1.5 units of high school algebra		 4 credits
Economics of the Food System* AG BM 102 Introduction to topics designed to develop an understanding of how the food production, processing, and marketing system works and evolves. 3 credits
Agribusiness Problem Solving* AG BM 106 Development of quantitative problem-solving skills applied to specific examples of agribusiness management problems, using EXCEL spreadsheets.

Prerequisite: AG BM 101		 3 credits
Food Product Marketing* AG BM 302 Analysis of economic and psychological determinants of the demand for food; marketing decisions in an increasingly consumer-driven food system.

Prerequisites: AG BM 101, AG BM 102, AG BM 106		 3 credits
Strategic Decision Making in Agribusiness* AG BM 308W Utilize case studies to investigate strategic decision making among agribusiness firms, highlighting how information and market power shape strategies.

Prerequisites: AG BM 101, AG BM 102, AG BM 106		 3 credits
Markets and Prices: Analysis and Forecasting* AG BM 320 Understand how prices are determined; develop the skill to analyze and forecast how prices change as the underlying conditions change.

Prerequisites: AG BM 101, AG BM 102, and AG BM 106; SCM 200 or STAT 200		 3 credits
Agribusiness in the Global Economy AG BM 338 (IL)

Managing agribusinesses in the global food industry, international food product marketing, key public institution and policies affecting food trade.

Prerequisites: AG BM 101, AG BM 102, AG BM 106

MKTG 445 (IL) may be substituted for this course

 3 credits
Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy ECON 104 National income measurement; aggregate economic models; money and income; policy problems. 3 credits
Effective Writing: Business Writing ENGL 202D Writing reports and other common forms of business communication.

Prerequisites: ENGL 015 or ENGL 030; fourth-semester standing		 3 credits
Corporation Finance FIN 301 Nature of finance function; risk and return concepts; working capital; dividend policies; mergers; security markets; acquisition and management of corporate capital; analysis of operations, forecasting capital requirements; raising capital; and planning profits.

Prerequisites: ENGL 015 or ENGL 030; ACCTG 211; ECON 102 or ECON 104; SCM 200 or STAT 200		 3 credits
Basic Management Concepts MGMT 301 Study of fundamental principles and processes available to the understanding of management.

Prerequisite: ENGL 015 or ENGL 030; ECON 102 or ECON 104; MATH 021 or higher or satisfactory score on the mathematics placement examination		 3 credits
Introduction to Business Information Systems MIS 204 Introduction to the use of information systems in business organizations. 3 credits
Principles of Marketing MKTG 301 Focuses on customer behavior, product, channels of distribution, promotion, and pricing with emphasis on a culturally diverse environment.

Prerequisite: ENGL 015 or ENGL 030; ECON 102 or ECON 104; MATH 021 or higher or satisfactory score on the mathematics placement examination		 3 credits
Elementary Statistics* STAT 200

Descriptive statistics, frequency descriptions, probability, binomial and normal distributions, statistical inference, linear regression, and correlation.

Prerequisite: Placement into MATH 021 or higher.

 4 credits
Supply Chain Management SCM 301 Supply chain management concepts, principles, and methodologies.

Prerequisites: ACCTG 211, ECON 102, SCM 200 or STAT 200		 3 credits
Additional Courses (22–25 credits)
Title Abbreviation Description Credits
Economic Principles of Agribusiness Decision Making*

or

Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy*		 AG BM 101

or

ECON 102		 Introduction to economic principles and their application to real world examples of agribusiness management issues.

or

Methods of economic analysis and their use; price determination; theory of the firm; distribution.		 3 credits
Financial Decision Making for Agribusiness AG BM 408 Develop financial management and business analysis skills, integrating previous course work and finance training; principles of financial management, planning, control.

Prerequisites: AG BM 308W, B A 301		 3 credits
Social, Legal, and Ethical Environment of Business B A 243 Explores the ethical, political, social, legal and regulatory, technological, and demographic diversity environment of business.

Note: A student may not receive credit toward graduation for both B LAW 243 and B A 243.		 4 credits
Techniques of Calculus I

or

Calculus With Analytic Geometry I		 MATH 110

or

MATH 140		 Functions, graphs, derivatives, integrals, techniques of differentiation and integration, exponentials, improper integrals, applications.

Prerequisite: MATH 022 or satisfactory performance on the mathematics placement examination

or

Functions, limits; analytic geometry; derivatives, differentials, applications; integrals, applications.

Prerequisites: MATH 022, MATH 026; or MATH 040 or MATH 041 or satisfactory performance on the mathematics placement examination		 4 credits
Introductory Sociology SOC 001 The nature and characteristics of human societies and social life. 3 credits
Food Product Innovation Management AG BM 440
 		 A problem-based course designed to enhance decision-making skills in the context of industry's approach to developing new food products.

Prerequisite: 6 credits in AG BM and/or ECON		 3 credits
Elective 400 level An additional 400 level AG BM or Business-related elective in consultation with an adviser. 3 credits
Specialization Courses (12 credits)
Description Credits
Select 12 credits in specialty area, in consultation with an adviser. At least 6 credits must be at the 300 or 400 level 12 credits
General Education (45 credits**)
Description Credits
Arts – GA 6 credits
Humanities – GH 6 credits
Health and Wellness – GHW 3 credits
Natural Sciences – GN 9 credits
Social and Behavioral Sciences – GS 6 credits
Writing and Speaking – GWS* 9 credits
Quantification – GQ* 6 credits
Integrative Studies (6 credits)***

*A student enrolled in this course must receive a grade of C or better.

**12 credits are included in the requirements for the major.

***This requirement only applies to students starting in summer 2018 or later. Learn more about the Integrative Studies options and consult your academic adviser when choosing courses to fulfill these requirements. 

Please note: The above course list includes only courses offered by World Campus. An official degree audit or the recommended academic plan for this program may include additional course options and detailed requirements. All students are expected to complete at least 36 credits at Penn State to earn this degree. Please consult an academic adviser for details.

Course Availability

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