Agribusiness Economics Requirements

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The need to better utilize our natural resources and protect our environment, improve our rural infrastructure, and manage the activities of food/fiber production, processing, and distribution firms in an international setting are creating career opportunities at a quickening pace.

Agribusiness Economics offers a flexible program, which, under the supervision of a faculty advisor, allows the student to pursue either a comprehensive or more specialized course of study in preparation to assume an effective professional role in our dynamic, global, economic, and social environment.

Courses in Agribusiness Economics in the traditional areas of farm management and marketing emphasize accepted techniques to improve efficiency and farm profitability. Course offerings in agribusiness management, finance, sales, marketing, and commodity futures prepare students to assume positions with a broad range of businesses that comprise the agribusiness sector; from input suppliers to farmers through merchandising and processing agricultural commodities to retail sales to consumers. Course offerings in environmental, energy, and natural resource economics, agribusiness management, rural development, food policy, and agricultural law introduce the needed applied economic skills for effective decision making, complement a more specialized course of study, and provide the basis for dealing with contemporary societal problems.

The Agribusiness Economics major involves a set 22 hours of Agribusiness Economics core requirements as well as 15 elective hours in Agribusiness Economics, including at least six hours at the 400-level. Students also have 15 hours of business, economics, and methodology requirements, six hours of communication courses beyond the nine hours required by the University Core Curriculum, and 24 hours of electives. Students working with their faculty advisors will be able to plan an academic program tailored to their particular interests and/or career paths, e.g., Agribusiness Management and Finance; Energy and Environmental Policy; Farm Business Management; Sales and Marketing; Energy; and Pre-Law. Sample programs of study based on these and other areas of interest are available from the department. A few examples are detailed, with additional possibilities available to students.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Agribusiness Economics Degree Requirements

Degree RequirementsCredit Hours
University Core Curriculum Requirements (Must include ABE 204) 39
Requirements for Major in Agribusiness Economics 58
Agribusiness Economics Core - ABE 204; ABE 318; ABE 340, ABE 350, or ABE 360; ABE 351; ABE 361, ABE 362, or ABE 363; ABE 381-1 to 4; ABE 401, ABE 442, ABE 444, ABE 445, ABE 450, ABE 460, or ABE 461 22
Agribusiness Economics Electives (six at 400-level) 15
Communication Requirements - CMST 221, CMST 261, CMST 262, CMST 280, or CMST 281; ENGL 290 or ENGL 291; MGMT 202 6
Business, Economics, and Methodology Requirements - ACCT 220; ACCT 230; CS 200B, ISAT 229, or MGMT 345; ECON 240, ECON 241, ECON 340, or ECON 341 (6 hrs only) 15
General Electives - (at least nine at 300-level, six at 400-level) 23
Total 120

Capstone Option for Transfer Students

In addition to the traditional major, the department participates in the University’s Capstone Option. Through this program, students who graduate with an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) from a community college can earn a Bachelor of Science degree by taking 60 hours of coursework at SIU. Through this option, an individualized study plan is written for each student. While our Capstone Option is based on 70 hours, the vast majority of students transfer in 10 or more credit hours that apply to their Capstone Option, and their individualized program reflects only the 60 hours they must complete under the rules of the University’s Capstone Option.

B.S. Agribusiness Economics - Capstone Option

Degree RequirementsCredit Hours
University Core Curriculum Requirements (Must include ABE 204) 1 30
Requirements for Major in Agribusiness Economics 58
Agribusiness Economics Core - ABE 204; ABE 318; ABE 340, ABE 350, or ABE 360; ABE 351; ABE 361, ABE 362, or ABE 363; ABE 381-1 to 4; ABE 401, ABE 442, ABE 444, ABE 445, ABE 450, ABE 460, or ABE 461 2 22
Agribusiness Economics Electives (six at 400-level) 15
Communication Requirements - CMST 221, CMST 261, CMST 262, CMST 280, or CMST 281; ENGL 290 or ENGL 291; MGMT 202 6
Business, Economics and Methodology Requirements - ACCT 220, AS 118, ECON 240 or ECON 241; ABE 419 or equivalent 15
General Electives - (at least nine at 300-level, six at 400-level) 32
Total 120

1 MATH 108, MATH 139, or MATH 140 recommended for students with appropriate preparation.

2 Students are required to take one of ABE 340 (Fall), ABE 350 (Fall), or ABE 360 (Spring). Students take either ABE 361 (Fall) or ABE 362 (Spring). Students take either ABE 401 (Fall), ABE 444 (Fall), ABE 461 (Spring), or ABE 463 (Spring).

Agribusiness Economics Minor

A minor in agribusiness economics is offered. A minor consists of 15 credit hours, of which three credit hours must be at the 400-level. Twelve (12) hours must be taken at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. An advisor within the department must be consulted before selecting this field as a minor.

Examples of Agribusiness Economics Programs of Study for Different Career Tracks

Sales and Marketing Career

Suggested Agribusiness Economics electives:
ABE 333, ABE 360, ABE 363, ABE 453, ABE 462, ABE 401, ABE 460

Suggested College of Agricultural Sciences electives:
CSEM 200, CSEM 300

Suggested other electives (24 hours – minor in Economics):
MKTG 304, MKTG 336, MKTG 390, MKTG 435

Energy and Environmental Policy

Agribusiness Economics core courses:
ABE 204, ABE 318, ABE 340, ABE 351, ABE 381, ABE 440 and ABE 444

Other Agribusiness courses:
ABE 401, ABE 453, ABE 463

Other suggested courses:
ACCT 230, ECON 240 and ECON 241, ECON 340 or ECON 341, ECON 408
GER 401, GER 420, POLS 325, POLS 444, POLS 445

Farm Business Management

Agribusiness Economics core courses:
ABE 204, ABE 318, ABE 350, ABE 351, ABE 361 or ABE 362, ABE 381, ABE 450

Other Agribusiness Economics courses:
ABE 333, ABE 340, ABE 361 or ABE 362, ABE 363, ABE 401, ABE 453, ABE 460

Other Agriculture courses:
AS 121, AS 122, AS 315, AS 430, AS 465, AS 485, AGRS 472, CSEM 200, CSEM 300, CSEM 419, CSEM 468, HORT 220, HORT 333, HORT 423, HORT 432

Other Suggested Courses:
ACCT 230

Agribusiness Management & Finance

Agribusiness Economics core courses:
ABE 204, ABE 318, ABE 351, ABE 360, ABE 361 or ABE 362, ABE 461, ABE 381

Other Agribusiness Economics courses:
ABE 333, ABE 340, ABE 363, ABE 401, ABE 453, ABE 460, ABE 463

Other Suggested Courses:
ACCT 230, ECON 240 and ECON 241, MKTG 304, MKTG 336

Agricultural and Rural Real Estate Appraisal

Agribusiness Economics core courses:
ABE 204, ABE 318, ABE 350, ABE 351, ABE 361 or ABE 362, ABE 381, ABE 450

Other Agribusiness Economics courses:
ABE 333, ABE 340, ABE 361 or ABE 362, ABE 401, ABE 451, ABE 453

Other Suggested Courses:
FIN 320, FIN 321, FIN 322, FIN 323, FIN 330, CSEM 240

Technology Fee

The School of Agricultural Sciences assesses School of Agricultural Sciences undergraduate majors a technology fee of $4.58 per credit hour up to twelve credit hours. The fee is charged Fall and Spring semesters.