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. You have a choice of many different course options available to complete the program, 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: 15 of these credits are included in the requirements for the major)
- 6–9 elective credits (Number of credits in elective courses dependent on the amount needed to reach 120 credits)
Use the Course List to find course information, including course descriptions and prerequisites.
Use the Course Schedule to see courses listed with start and end periods, registration deadlines, and semesters offered, as well as a link to sample lessons and syllabus when available, by clicking on the six-digit schedule number.
Course List - Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Management
Requirements for the Major (81–84 credits) A student enrolled in this major must receive a grade of C or better in all courses required for the major.
| 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 |
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 |
| Introduction to Statistics for Business | SCM 200 | Topics include descriptive statistics, probability distributions, statistical inference, regression and correlation, and forecasting. STAT 200 may be substituted for this course Prerequisite: MATH 021 or higher or satisfactory score on the mathematics placement examination |
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 |
| 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 Rural Sociology or Introductory Sociology |
R SOC 011 or SOC 001 |
Basic sociological concepts applied to rural societal institutions and rural communities; causes and consequences of rural social change. or The nature and characteristics of human societies and social life. |
3 credits |
| Agribusiness Markets and Prices or Food Product Innovation Management or Managing the Food System |
AG BM 420 or AG BM 440 or AG BM 460 |
Understand and forecast price level and volatility for commodities, differentiated products, services. Why markets work and why they may not. Prerequisite: 6 credits in Agribusiness Management Business Administration, Agricultural Economics and/or Economics or A problem-based course designed to enhance decision-making skills in the context of industry's approach to developing new food products. Prerequisite: AG BM 302 or Firm management in the food system; coordination with suppliers and customers, including supply chain management, strategic thinking, risk management. Prerequisites: AG BM 302, AG BM 338 |
3 credits each Choose two courses for a total of 6 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 |
| 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
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.