Division of Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics

The Bachelor of Science Degree in Agribusiness

A combination of agriculture and business, agribusiness involves economic and commercial activities of farming-related products and services, such as machinery, seed supply, crops, breeding, ranching, processing, distribution, marketing and retail sales. The agricultural business field includes management of key resources — land, labor, capital, farming, ranching, conservation and sales — and all the required logistics, often using advanced technology.

In the United States, the economic impact of the food and fiber sector totals over $100 billion annually. Texas leads the nation in cattle, cotton, hay, sheep, goats, and mohair, as well as the number of farms and ranches, with nearly 250,000 farms and ranches covering about 130 million acres. One out of seven working Texans is in an agriculture-related job. With a diverse and rapidly changing population, the region continues to rely on agricultural production and marketing, while related recreational land use and industrial development increasingly contribute to the economy.

The Bachelor of Science Degree in Agribusiness

Required Courses
General Education Requirements42
ECON 2301Principles of Macroeconomics3
ACCT 2301Principles of Accounting I-Financial3
ACCT 2302Principles of Accounting II-Managerial3
AGEC 1309Microcomputer Applications in Agriculture3
AGEC 2317 [shared] Introductory Agricultural Economics
or AGRI 2317 Introductory Agricultural Economics
AGEC 3330Agricultural Credit3
AGEC 3312Production Economics3
AGEC 3314The Agricultural Marketing System3
AGEC 3317Agricultural Statistics3
AGEC 3333 [WI] Agriculture Prices3
AGEC 4301Public Agricultural Food Programs3
AGEC 4384Internship 23
Electives6
Total Hours81
Additional Required Courses for Concentrations
Agricultural Economics
MATHEMATICS OPTION: Choose one of the following options3
College Algebra
and Math for Business & Social Sciences I (Finite Mathematics)
Math for Business & Social Sciences I (Finite Mathematics)
and Math for Business & Social Sciences II (Business Calculus)
Select one of the following:3
General Animal Science
Horticulture
Agronomy
AGEC 4302International Trade and Agriculture3
AGEC 4306Commodity Futures Markets3
AGEC 4321 [WI] Regional Economics3
AGEC 4330Agricultural Finance3
ECON 3301Intermediate Macroeconomics3
ECON 3302Intermediate Microeconomics3
AGEC 4325Recreation and Tourism Economics3
AGEC 4333Economics of Agribusiness Management3
Advanced Electives9
Total Hours39
Agribusiness Management
MATHEMATICS OPTION: Choose one of the following options3
College Algebra
and Math for Business & Social Sciences I (Finite Mathematics)
Math for Business & Social Sciences I (Finite Mathematics)
and Math for Business & Social Sciences II (Business Calculus)
Select one of the following:3
General Animal Science
Horticulture
Agronomy
AGEC 4302International Trade and Agriculture3
AGEC 4306Commodity Futures Markets3
AGEC 4330Agricultural Finance3
AGSD 3302 [WI] Agricultural Sales and Services3
AGEC 4321 [WI] Regional Economics3
or AGEC 4325 Recreation and Tourism Economics
AGEC 4333Economics of Agribusiness Management3
Advanced COBA/AGEC Electives 115
Total Hours39
Dairy Business Management
CHEM 1311 [shared] College Chemistry I (Lecture)
CHEM 1111 [shared] College Chemistry I (Laboratory)
CHEM 1312 [shared] College Chemistry II (Lecture)
CHEM 1112 [shared] College Chemistry II (Laboratory)
MATH 1314 [shared] College Algebra
MATH 1324Math for Business & Social Sciences I (Finite Mathematics)3
AGRI 1419General Animal Science4
AGEC 4306Commodity Futures Markets3
AGEC 4330Agricultural Finance3
AGEC 4333Economics of Agribusiness Management3
ECON 3304Environmental Economics3
ANSC 3408Physiology of Reproduction4
ANSC 3409Feeds and Feeding4
ANSC 3315Animal Diseases and Parasites3
AGEC 4321 [WI] Regional Economics3
Total Hours33
Personal and Small Business Financial Planning
MATHEMATICS OPTION: Choose one of the following options3
College Algebra
and Math for Business & Social Sciences I (Finite Mathematics)
Math for Business & Social Sciences I (Finite Mathematics)
and Math for Business & Social Sciences II (Business Calculus)
Select one of the following:3
General Animal Science
Horticulture
Agronomy
AGEC 4306Commodity Futures Markets3
AGEC 4333Economics of Agribusiness Management3
AGSD 3302 [WI] Agricultural Sales and Services3
AGEC 3359Personal & Family Financial Management I3
AGEC 3360Personal & Family Financial Management II3
ACCT 4305Federal Tax Accounting3
BLAW 4333Business Law II3
FINC 3301Principles of Financial Management3
FINC 4308Principles of Insurance and Risk Management 3
Select One of the Following:3
Special Topics (Financial Planning Capstone Course)
Special Topics in Economics (Financial Planning Capstone Course)
Select One of the Following: 3
Special Topics (Estate Planning)
Special Topics in Business Law (Estate Planning)
Total Hours39
1

 Advanced Business Electives can be any 3 or 4 thousand level courses in AGEC, ACCT, ADMS, BCIS, ECON, FINC, BUSI, MGMT, REST, BLAW, and MKTG

2

For the Personal/Business Financial Planning Concentration, students must complete AGEC 4384 as a Financial Planning Internship with an approved host company. 

Academic Advising Guides

Academic Advising Guides area available at the following website:

https://web.tarleton.edu/majorinfo/

Courses

AGEC 1309. Microcomputer Applications in Agriculture. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 2 Hours).

Microcomputer technology applied to management, record keeping, and agribusiness. Emphasis on the application of database, spreadsheet, and other business software in various agricultural environments. Lab fee: $2.

AGEC 2305. Consumer Issues & Decision Making. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

Designed to make the student an intelligent consumer of goods and services and to understand consumer decision‐making in the marketplace. Major influences on consumer problems, fraud, protection, and consumer behavior.

AGEC 2317. Introductory Agricultural Economics. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

An introduction to economics principles and concepts in agriculture today as they relate to the American economic system. Emphasis will be on management problem-solving techniques under various situations, especially those agricultural in nature,including producing, processing, distributing, and consuming farm and ranch products.

AGEC 3312. Production Economics. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

Application of economic production principles in solving resource allocation problems in agriculture and agribusiness. Prerequisites: MATH 1324 or MATH 1325, and either AGRI/AGEC 2317 OR ECON 2302, or permission of instructor.

AGEC 3314. The Agricultural Marketing System. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

An introductory course covering the principles, practices, institutions, functions, and problems involved in the marketing of agricultural commodities. Prerequisite: AGRI 2317/AGEC 2317 or ECON 2302.

AGEC 3317. Agricultural Statistics. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 2 Hours, Lab: 2 Hours).

Statistical principles and methods in analyzing agricultural and economic data to solve problems relating to production, consumption, and cost/profit optimization. Provides a basic background in statistical analysis and related computer applications. Prerequisite: MATH 1314 or higher, or approval of instructor. Lab fee: $2.

AGEC 3330. Agricultural Credit. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

Emphasis will be on building Balance Sheets, Income/Expenses Statements, Collateral Analysis, Credit Action Forms and Financial Analysis. Prerequisites: AGRI 2317/AGEC 2317 and MATH 1314 or higher, or approval of instructor.

AGEC 3333. Agriculture Prices. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours). [WI]

Factors affecting commodity prices, price trends and seasonal variations, parity prices, methods of forecasting demand and prices, and economic tools and techniques for making decisions. Prerequisites: AGRI 2317/AGEC 2317, AGRI 1309/AGEC 1309, and AGEC 3314. Lab fee $15.

AGEC 3359. Personal & Family Financial Management I. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

Planning, managing, and purchasing decisions to achieve individual and family financial goals.

AGEC 3360. Personal & Family Financial Management II. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

Individual and family planning for insurance, risk management, investments, retirement, and estates.

AGEC 4086. Agricultural Economics Problems. 1-4 Credit Hours (Lecture: 0 Hours, Lab: 1-4 Hours).

Individualized study of current topics in student's major concentration of study or supporting discipline. Specific content and credit dependent upon student's interest, needs, and depth of study. Maximum undergraduate credit, four semester hours. Prerequisite: Senior classification and advance approval by instructor of record.

AGEC 4088. Undergraduate Research. 1-3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 1-3 Hours, Lab: 1-3 Hours).

Fundamental research methods will be addressed through a faculty-directed project. Participation in an abbreviated lecture series may be required. Project components may include a literature review, data collection and analysis, testing, planning, project design, and/or computer modeling. The student is required to prepare a final report and produce a presentation. No credit is awarded until the the report and presentation are submitted. Only one undergraduate research experience will be counted toward degree requirements. Prerequisite: Junior Standing, completion of 12 hours in AGEC, and approval of department head.

AGEC 4090. Special Topics. 1-3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 1-3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

Selected topics in agriculture or agribusiness. May be repeated for credit when content varies, to a maximum of six hours.

AGEC 4301. Public Agricultural Food Programs. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

Identification and analysis of alternative governmental programs and policies affecting prices and quantities of agricultural commodities, farmer-rancher incomes, food supplies and consumer prices, and domestic and foreign food distribution and trade. Consideration of relevant political and economic factors, administrative aspects, and the policy participants. Prerequisites: AGRI 2317/AGEC 2317 or two semesters of economics and junior classification.

AGEC 4302. International Trade and Agriculture. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

Role of U.S. agriculture in a dynamic world economy; national and international policies, institutions, exchange rates, tariffs, and non-tariff barriers that impact US agribusiness trade. Prerequisites: AGEC 2317 or 3 hours of economics and junior or senior classification. Prerequisite: AGEC 2317 or 3 hours of economics and junior or senior classification.

AGEC 4306. Commodity Futures Markets. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

Introduction to the organization and functioning of futures markets. Analysis of the economic function performed by markets, and study of fundamental and technical approaches to market forecasting. Examination of various trading strategies applied primarily to agricultural commodities. Prerequisites: AGRI 2317/AGEC 2317 or ECON 2302; AGRI 1309/AGEC 1309 and AGEC 3314.

AGEC 4317. Applied Quantitative Methods. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 2 Hours, Lab: 2 Hours).

Application of quantitative techniques used to support managerial decision-making and resource allocation. Exposure to mathematical and statistical tools (regression analysis, mathematical programming, simulation) used in economic analysis in Agribusiness. Credit for AGEC 4317 or AGEC 5317 not both. Prerequisite: AGEC 3317 or BUSI 3317 or instructor approval.

AGEC 4321. Regional Economics. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours). [WI]

Analysis of regional/community economic problems in the United States. Application of economic principles and theory to regional/community development. Evaluation of current methods and public programs for economic development. Application of analytical methods to development problems. Credit for both AGEC 4321 and ECON 4321 will not be awarded. Prerequisite: AGEC 2317/AGRI 2317 or ECON 2302.

AGEC 4325. Recreation and Tourism Economics. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

Benefit-cost frameworks in public planning for outdoor recreation development, pricing problems, market demand assessment, and impacts of recreational development on regional economies. Prerequisites: ECON 2301, and either AGEC/AGRI 2317 or ECON 2302.

AGEC 4330. Agricultural Finance. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

Analysis of the capital requirements for farming and ranching; principles involved in the use of each type of farm credit. Prerequisites: AGEC 3330 and ACCT 2302.

AGEC 4333. Economics of Agribusiness Management. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

Economic aspects of the agribusiness system. Management techniques related to problem recognition and decision making in organizations involved in the agricultural sector. Prerequisites: AGEC 2317/AGRI 2317 or ECON 2302 and AGEC 3314.

AGEC 4335. Farm Appraisal. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 2 Hours, Lab: 2 Hours).

Techniques for evaluating the market value of agricultural real estate using three common approaches: sales comparison, cost, and income. Analyzing effects of different farm characteristics on farm value. Prerequisite: AGEC 3330 or AGEC 4330.

AGEC 4336. Estate Planning. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

Tools and techniques to plan for the accumulation, conservation, and distribution of wealth. Synthesis of financial, legal, and personal considerations to achieve estate planning and wealth transfer goals. Students are encouraged to have completed ACCT 4305, AGEC 3359, AGEC 3360, BLAW 4333.

AGEC 4341. Financial Planning/Development Capstone. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

Retirement planning, qualified and non-qualified retirement plans, Social Security provisions, government and private sector healthcare plans, and basics of employee benefits. Focus on quantitative (i.e., calculating retirement needs and plan limits) and qualitative (i.e., retirement age decisions, retirement income management) aspects of retirement. Prerequisite: Students must have completed one of the following courses: ACCT 4305, AGEC 3359, AGEC 3360, FINC 3301, FINC 4308.

AGEC 4350. Natural Resource Economics. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

Natural resource availability, use, conservation, and government policy relevant to crop and livestock production. Current and emerging natural resource issues affecting production agriculture and agribusiness firms. Evaluation of the farm economic impacts of natural resource policies at the state and federal levels. Prerequisites: AGEC 2317 or ECON 2302 and Junior or Senior classification.

AGEC 4370. Family and Economic Issues. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

Focus is the intricate relationship between family management, the economic environment, non-economic and social changes and related planning and decisions in the family life cycle. Prerequisite: AGEC 3359 or AGEC 3360.

AGEC 4384. Internship. 3 Credit Hours (Lecture: 3 Hours, Lab: 0 Hours).

An approved, supervised, comprehensive work experience consisting of a minimum of 240 hours(6 weeks) for career preparation in an agribusiness enterprise. Prerequisite: Completion of 24 hours in AGEC and instructor approval.

Dr. J. Chris Haynes, Department
Department of Agricultural Education and Communication
Joe W. Autry Agriculture Building, Room 105
Box T-0040
Stephenville, Texas 76402
(254) 968-9200
chaynes@tarleton.edu
www.tarleton.edu/agservices

Ms. Susan Keith, Administrative Associate
Department of Agricultural Education and Communication
Joe W. Autry Agriculture Building, Room 105
Box T-0040
Stephenville, Texas 76402
(254) 968-9200
skeith@tarleton.edu