Agribusiness (AGBU)

Designed for project option students and requires completion of research project. Prerequisite: departmental approval. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 semester hours.

Designed for thesis option students. The course requires completion of thesis research. Prerequisite: departmental approval. May be repeated for maximum of 6 semester hours.

​This course introduces quantitative approaches for evidence-based decision-making in agribusiness management. Topics include data analysis, model formulation, and forecasting techniques applied to production, marketing, and financial decisions. Students will develop analytical and interpretive skills to translate quantitative findings into actionable managerial strategies.​

​The course provides basic understanding of economics, management, and planning related to the ranching industry, range livestock and natural resources management issues. Additionally, policy and management considerations are considered and discussed from both private land and public land perspectives, and analyses of benefits and trade-offs are made from single- and multi-species contexts. The course includes some theoretical bases to understand the economic principles underpinning effective natural resource management.​

Survey of contemporary theories of leadership organizational change with specific focus and application to business structures common in agribusiness industries (e.g., sole proprietors, limited partnerships, cooperatives). Students will be exposed to emergent leadership challenges, paired with an industry mentor, to build skills through experiential/service-learning opportunities with agribusiness industry leaders.

This course explores the fundamentals of commodity and food market research with application for agribusiness planning and marketing. Students learn to define research problems, collect and analyze data, and interpret findings to solve marketing challenges related to commodity and food systems. Emphasis is placed on both practical application and understanding the research process.

Advanced financial management principles applied to agribusiness firms. Emphasis is placed on capital budgeting under risk and uncertainty, financial analysis, and the use of production and financial risk management tools. The course integrates quantitative analysis with practical consulting projects in collaboration with agribusiness firms to strengthen decision-making and risk management skills.

​This course applies economic models and strategic decision-making tools to inform business decisions, develop competitive strategies, and evaluate resource allocation problems related to real-world challenges in the agribusiness sector. Emphasis is placed on agribusiness case studies to integrate economic, strategic, and systems thinking to support effective decision-making in agricultural and food industries.​

Material offered is determined by the needs of the students. Laboratory and lecture vary according to the subject needs. May be repeated once under a different topic.

Independent work which may include a laboratory or field problem. Variable credit dependent upon the problem; may be repeated for a total of 3 semester hours for thesis option students or 6 semester hours for project option and course-only option students. Prerequisite: approval of a faculty member who will supervise the problem.