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Agricultural Business

Application Code: 
0511
Degree Received: 
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Academic Department Info: 
Agriculture and Veterinary Technology [1]
Program Coordinator: 
Dr. Dorothea Fitzsimmons
Coordinator Email: 
fitzsidd@alfredstate.edu
Description: 

It is an exciting time to be an agricultural business student. One out of every six jobs in the American economy is related to agriculture and food businesses. The curriculum in agriculture business is designed to provide students with the technical and business skills necessary to be successful in our nation's largest industry. Career opportunities in agribusiness range from managing a farm (dairy, beef, equine, vegetable, fruit, crops) to working in the nurserie, timber, banking, or publishing industries. Ample opportunities are available in the management of farm supply stores or cooperatives, agricultural input sales, insurance, real estate, agricultural processing, and manufacturing industries.

Agricultural business managers also must have enough technical knowledge of crops, growing conditions, and plant diseases to make decisions ensuring the successful operation of their farms. A rudimentary knowledge of veterinary science, as well as animal husbandry, is important for livestock and dairy farmers. The agricultural business curriculum will provide the student with the basic business, crop, and animal skills to make informed business decisions.

Showmanship Day

All students enrolled in agriculture classes truly enjoy participating in the annual showmanship activities each spring. Students can select a species of animal (cattle, horses, swine, alpacas, or sheep) to train, groom, and show in this annual competition. Family, friends, and alumni are invited to enjoy the competition and the awards BBQ following the showmanship contest.

Related Clubs and Activities

Students have the opportunity to participate in the Collegiate Agricultural Leaders (CAL) Club, Collegiate FFA, Equestrian Club, Dairy Judging Team, Agricultural Skills Day, Livestock Club, Spring Fling Consignment Sale, Community-Supported Agriculture projects, local foods projects, showmanship contests, and Sustainability Club.

Scholarships

The department offers various scholarships to students.

Student Learning Outcomes: 
  • Demonstrate essential technical knowledge of animal husbandry methods to make informed agribusiness decisions
  • Demonstrate essential technical knowledge of crops, soils, and growing conditions to make informed agribusiness decisions
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyze information, and compare and contrast agricultural management systems
  • Info Management (computer & research skills appropriate to degree level and type)
  • Written & Oral Communication (appropriate to degree level and type)
  • Critical Thinking (problem solving, reasoning skills appropriate to degree level and type)
Entrance Requirements & Recommendations: 

Recommended: Algebra

Features & Facilities: 
  • Focuses on:
    • Farm business management
    • Agricultural sales
    • Retailing management
    • Agricultural Business transfer
  • Modern, well-equipped labs
  • 750-acre College Farm
Articulation Agreements: 

Students in this program benefit from an articulation agreement with Cornell University. (A formal transfer agreement with Cornell University guarantees admission to Cornell for those who complete certain course work at Alfred State and maintain at least a B average.)

Graduation Requirements: 

Students must:

  • successfully complete the prescribed sequence of courses
  • achieve a minimum index of 2.0 in their core courses
  • achieve a minimum index of 2.0 overall
  • be recommended by the department faculty
Career Opportunities: 
  • Writers of Technical Publications, Radio & TV Scripts, News Items for magazines & newspapers, Education & Public Relations material
  • Warehouse Managers for Farm Chemicals, Feed, Seed, and Fertilizers
  • Agricultural Credit Officers for Banks, Government, Loan Agencies, and Farm Cooperative Loan Agencies
  • Programs that can lead to green careersManagement or Ownership of Commercial Farms
  • Feed, Seed, and Fertilizer Sales Technicians
  • Manager/Assistant Managers of Farm Supply Stores
  • Chain Store and Retail Food Management
  • Agricultural Consulting Services
Direct Entry Into Baccalaureate Degree Program: 

Alfred State agricultural business graduates may enter directly into the technology management BBA degree program.

Transfer Opportunities: 

Many schools, including Cornell University, grant full credit to students wishing to transfer to fouryear programs, usually in agricultural economics or agricultural education.

A formal articulation agreement exists between Alfred State and Cornell University for transfer options.

Typical Semester Layout: 
First Semestercredits
ANSC [2]1204 [3]Intro to Animal Science4
AGRI [4]1002 [5]Intro to Agriculture2
CISY [6]1003 [7]Intro to Microcomputer Applic 
  or 
CISY [6]1103 [8]Info Technology Mgmt3
COMP [9]1503 [10]Freshman Composition3
 XXXXGen Education Elective3-4
   15-16
Second Semestercredits
ANSC [11]3202 [12]Dairy Management Analysis2
AGRI [4]2012 [13]Organic & Sustain Agr Tech2-3
BIOL [14]1304 [15]Botany4
 xxx3Gen Education Elective3
ACCT [16]1124 [17]Financial Accounting4
 xxxxAg Elective OR 
 xxx3Business Elective3-4
   16-18
Third Semestercredits
ACCT [16]2224 [18]Mangerial Accounting4
AGEC [19]3213 [20]Farm & Rural Business3
 xxxxAg. Elective3-4
 xxx3Ag or General Education Elective3
 xxx3Gen Ed or Technical Elective3
   16-17
Fourth Semestercredits
AGEC [21]4303 [22]Rural Business Finance3
 xxxxGen. Education Elective3-4
 xxx3Bus or Marketing Elective3
 xxxxAg Elective2-4
AGRI [4]4002 [23]Senior Seminar/Capstone Project2
   13-16
Agriculture Electives:credits
ANSC [2]2114 [24]Domestic Animal A&P4
ANSC [2]3004 [25]Feeds and Nutrition4
ANSC [2]3103 [26]Livestock Mgmt & Production 3
ANSC [2]3202 [12]Dairy Mgmt Analysis2
ANSC [2]3204 [27] Dairy Cattle Production III 4
ANSC [2] 3222 [28]Dairy Calf Management2
ANSC [11]2102 [29]Dairy Cattle Reprod & A. I. Tech2
AGPS [30]2114 [31]Field and Forage Crops4
AGPS [32]5003 [33]IPM3
HORT [34]2544 [35]Woody Plants4
AGPS [32]5103 [36]Sustainable Vegetable Production3
AGRI [4]3351 [37]Live Animal Evaluation1
Business Electives:credits
BUAD [38]3043 [39]Business Law3
MKTG [40]3153 [41]Web Design & Marketing3
BUAD [38]4203 [42]Intro to Personal Finance3
CISY [6]3023 [43]Advanced Spreadsheets3
BUAD [38] 3153 [44]Fundamentals of Management3
Also Requiredcredits
HPED [45] One Unit of Physical Education1
Employment and Transfer Rate: 
100%
Employment and Transfer Survey Details: 
Survey Details200920102011
Receiving Degrees515
Responding to Survey5 (100%)1 (100%)2 (40%)
Employed3 (60%)0 (0%)1 (50%)
Employed in Field3 (100%)0 (0%)1 (100%) 
Transferred2 (40%)1 (100%)1 (50%)
Unemployed & Seeking Employment------
Unemployed & Not Seeking Employment------
Employment and Transfer Salary Information: 

Prefer not to disclose (1)

    • Source URL (retrieved on 06/19/2013 - 4:59am): http://www.alfredstate.edu/academics/programs/agricultural-business

    Links:
    [1] http://www.alfredstate.edu/academics/departments/agriculture-and-veterinary-technology
    [2] http://www.alfredstate.edu/academics/courses/ANSC+-+Animal+Husbandry+Science
    [3] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/229
    [4] http://www.alfredstate.edu/academics/courses/AGRI+-+Agriculture
    [5] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/8251
    [6] http://www.alfredstate.edu/academics/courses/CISY+-+Computer+Information+Systems
    [7] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/409
    [8] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/6592
    [9] http://www.alfredstate.edu/academics/courses/COMP+-+Composition
    [10] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/325
    [11] http://www.alfredstate.edu/academics/courses/ANSC%20-%20Animal%20Husbandry%20Science
    [12] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/8256
    [13] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/2780
    [14] http://www.alfredstate.edu/academics/courses/BIOL+-+Biology
    [15] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/351
    [16] http://www.alfredstate.edu/academics/courses/ACCT+-+Accounting
    [17] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/174
    [18] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/175
    [19] http://www.alfredstate.edu/academics/courses/AGEC%20-%20Agriculture%20Economics%20Business
    [20] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/8253
    [21] http://www.alfredstate.edu/academics/courses/AGEC+-+Agriculture+Economics+Business
    [22] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/8254
    [23] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/222
    [24] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/1173
    [25] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/8453
    [26] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/8255
    [27] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/239
    [28] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/8257
    [29] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/235
    [30] http://www.alfredstate.edu/academics/courses/AGPS+-+Agronomy+Plant+Science
    [31] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/214
    [32] http://www.alfredstate.edu/academics/courses/AGPS%20-%20Agronomy%20Plant%20Science
    [33] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/8258
    [34] http://www.alfredstate.edu/academics/courses/HORT+-+Horticulture
    [35] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/749
    [36] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/14980
    [37] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/220
    [38] http://www.alfredstate.edu/academics/courses/BUAD+-+Business+Administration
    [39] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/202
    [40] http://www.alfredstate.edu/academics/courses/MKTG+-+Marketing
    [41] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/890
    [42] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/232
    [43] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/475
    [44] http://www.alfredstate.edu/node/206
    [45] http://www.alfredstate.edu/academics/courses/HPED+-+Health+and+Physical+Education