The College of Business Administration and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources offer a dual program leading to the conferral of both the Master of Business Administration and the Master of Science with a concentration in agribusiness in the agricultural and resource economics major. The dual program can be accomplished with approximately 20 fewer hours of course work than would be required to earn both degrees separately.
The establishment of the dual program addresses the critical need for agribusiness personnel trained in business fundamentals, with the analytical, technical, management, and economic decision-making skills to operate within the modern economic environment. The objective of the dual degree program is to prepare graduates to take leading management roles within agribusiness firms in a rapidly changing agricultural sector in an increasingly competitive global market. The program is directed toward management of agribusiness firms within the agricultural-consulting, bioenergy, food-processing, input-supply, marketing, and transportation industries, among others.
Applicants for the dual MS-MBA program must make separate applications to and be accepted by Graduate Admissions for the Master of Business Administration and the Master of Science with a major in agricultural and resource economics. Students should indicate on both applications the intent to pursue the dual MS-MBA program. Students accepted for both the MBA and MS degree programs will be assigned to an advisor from the MBA program and another from the agricultural and resource economics MS program. These advisors will be responsible for course approval and supervision of the students’ progress through the dual program.
After the MBA application deadline of February 1, applications by United States citizens and permanent residents will still be considered as space allows. Additional information is required and different application dates are established by Graduate Admissions for international students.
The dual MS-MBA curriculum consists of 60 hours of coursework, 30 hours for the Master of Business Administration and 30 hours for the Master of Science. A minimum of 30 hours must be from the College of Business Administration. Of the 30 hours required for the Master of Science, a minimum of 21 hours must be at the 500 level, excluding 500 and 502, a minimum of 21 hours must be from the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, and nine hours of electives may be from the College of Business Administration, the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, and/or other courses approved by the student’s Master’s Committee. A written comprehensive exam on the material covered in agricultural and resource economics courses is required during the spring semester of the second year. An oral exam is also required for students who receive a marginal pass on the written exam.
The dual degree candidate must satisfy the curriculum and graduation requirements of the agricultural and resource economics major and the College of Business Administration. Students withdrawing from the dual degree program before completing both degrees will not receive credit toward graduation in either degree program for courses taken in the other degree program, except as such courses qualify for credit without regard to the dual degree program. The MS and the MBA degrees will be awarded upon successful completion of the requirements of the dual program.
1Registration for AREC 595 can occur during Summer or Fall-Second Year. The internship report and oral presentation must be completed before the end of the semester of registration.
2A student completing the series of two MBA concentration courses in finance, operations management or marketing can substitute another agricultural and resource economics course for Agricultural and Resource Economics 512, 542 or 550, respectively.
3Electives must sum to nine or more hours.
