Agribusiness Economics Requirements

Main Content

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 19 credit hours of Agribusiness Economics core requirements as well as 15 elective hours in Agribusiness Economics, including at least 6 credit hours at the 400-level. Students also have 15 credit hours of business, economics, and methodology requirements, 6 credit hours of communication courses beyond the hours required by the University Core Curriculum, and 26 credit 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; Agricultural and Rural Real Estate Appraisal; 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 program. 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 55
Agribusiness Economics Core - ABE 204; ABE 318; ABE 340, ABE 350, ABE 360, or ABE 419; ABE 351; ABE 361, ABE 362, or ABE 363; ABE 381 (1-4 CH); ABE 401, ABE 442, ABE 444, ABE 445, ABE 450, or ABE 452 19
Agribusiness Economics Electives (six credit hours at 400-level) 15
Communication Requirements - BSAN 406; CMST 221, CMST 261, CMST 262, CMST 280, CMST 281, CMST 301I, CMST 326, CMST 361, CMST 380, CMST 383, or CMST 485; ENGL 290 or ENGL 291 6
Business, Economics, and Methodology Requirements - ACCT 220; ACCT 230; AGSE 318, CS 200B, or ITEC 229; BSAN 403, BSAN 404, ECON 240, ECON 241, ECON 340, or ECON 341 with at least one ECON course. 15
General Electives - (at least twelve credit hours at 300-level, six credit hours at 400-level) 26
Total 120

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 School of Agricultural Sciences electives:
CSEM 200, CSEM 300

Suggested other electives (24 credit hours – minor in Economics):
MKTG 304, MKTG 336, MKTG 380, 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 Economics courses:
ABE 401, ABE 453, ABE 463

Other suggested courses:
ACCT 230, ECON 240 and ECON 241, ECON 333, ECON 340 or ECON 341, GEOG 401, GEOG 412, GEOG 419, GEOG 422

Farm Business Management

Agribusiness Economics core courses:
ABE 204, ABE 318, ABE 350, ABE 351, ABE 361 or ABE 362, ABE 381, ABE 450, ABE 452

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

Other Agriculture courses:
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, ABE 452

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 322, FIN 330, CSEM 240

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 program must be consulted before selecting this field as a minor.

Capstone Option for Transfer Students

In addition to the traditional major, the program 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 Carbondale. 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 55
Agribusiness Economics Core - ABE 204; ABE 318; ABE 340, ABE 350, ABE 360, or ABE 419; ABE 351; ABE 361, ABE 362, or ABE 363; ABE 381 (1-4 CH); ABE 401, ABE 442, ABE 444, ABE 445, ABE 450, or ABE 452 19
Agribusiness Economics Electives (six credit hours at 400-level) 15
Communication Requirements - BSAN 406; CMST 221, CMST 261, CMST 262, CMST 280, CMST 281, CMST 301I, CMST 326, CMST 361, CMST 380, CMST 383, or CMST 485; ENGL 290 or ENGL 291 6
Business, Economics and Methodology Requirements - ACCT 220, ACCT 230; AGSE 318, CS 200B, or ITEC 229; BSAN 403, BSAN 404; ECON 240 or ECON 241, ECON 340 or ECON 341, with at least one ECON course 15
General Electives - (at least twelve credit hours at 300-level, six credit hours at 400-level) 35
Total 120

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

Technology Fee

The College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences assesses undergraduate majors a technology fee of $4.58 per credit hour up to 12 credit hours. The fee is charged Fall and Spring semesters.