USU is the only university in the state that offers a degree in agribusiness. Agribusiness is concerned with the financing, marketing, and management of food production.
Agribusiness is an important field because ag-related industry, from farming and livestock to food production and human nutrition, encompasses a significant portion of careers worldwide. Additionally, the field of agriculture has historically differed from other business sectors in that government intervention in the form of taxes, trade barriers, etc., have always played a role in agricultural businesses. Therefore, students in the program study problems and issues unique to agribusiness industries.
Because students gain a solid foundation in business, they can work in the broad field of business, but their agricultural knowledge and qualifications allow them to specialize in agribusiness careers.
With a relatively small faculty, and a low student-to-teacher ratio, students are guaranteed individualized attention. Most of the faculty members in the College of Agriculture have national and international experience that helps them bring a global perspective to the class. Students have the opportunity to do research in labs and in the field.
Students can also earn a dual degree (meaning students graduate with two separate degrees) in agribusiness and agricultural systems technology. There is also a composite degree offered by the ASTE Department. The difference is that students in the dual major take higher-level math classes and theoretical economics classes.
Emphases:
- Agricultural Finance: Learn the differences between cash and accrual accounting, understand finance, risk and leveraging principles to prepare for a career in banking, ag credit or other financial positions.
- Agricultural Marketing: Become proficient at analyzing prices, forecasting, and managing market risk. Understand market segmentation and the difference between marketing commodities and selling products. Career opportunities with Agribusiness firms, market consulting firms and USDA agencies.
- Farm and Ranch Management: Gain skills in accounting, finance, management, marketing and risk analysis to be able to own or manage an agriculture production enterprise or firm. Supplement the applied economic training with additional College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences courses.
- International Agribusiness: Combine foreign language skills with business and agricultural knowledge in the only program of its kind in the state. Gain the leadership skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the global marketplace as you study the social, political, and cultural dimensions of business.