The Herbert College of Agriculture and the Haslam College of Business offer a dual program leading to the conferral of both the Master of Science  with a major in Agricultural and Resource Economics and the Master of Business Administration . The dual program can be accomplished with approximately 20 fewer credit 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.

Option Available

Agricultural and Resource Economics — Course Only with Comprehensive Exams

Campus Code

Knoxville Campus

Admissions Standards/Procedures

Applicants for the dual MS-MBA program must make separate applications to and be accepted by Graduate Admissions for the Master of Science with a major in agricultural and resource economics and the Master of Business Administration. Students should indicate on both applications the intent to pursue the dual MS-MBA program. Students accepted for both the MS and MBA degree programs will be assigned to an advisor from the agricultural and resource economics MS program and another from the MBA 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.

Credit Hours Required

60 graduate credit hours

Required Courses

• The dual MS-MBA curriculum consists of 60 credit hours of coursework, 30 credit hours for the Master of Science and 30 credit hours for the Master of Business Administration .
• Haslam College of Business Courses (30 credit hours)
  • ACCT 505 , ACCT 506 ; BULW 505 ; BZAN 505 , BZAN 506 ; ECON 505 , ECON 506 ; FINC 505 , FINC 506 ; MGT 505 , MGT 506 ; MARK 505 , MARK 506 ; SCM 505 , SCM 506 ; STAT 505 ; BUAD 515 , BUAD 516 , BUAD 517 .
  • Of the 30 credit hours required for the Master of Science,
    • a minimum of 21 credit hours must be at the 500 level, excluding 500 and 502,
    • a minimum of 21 credit hours must be from the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (AREC 595 , AREC 505 , AREC 512 , AREC 524 , AREC 525 , AREC 542 , AREC 550 ), and
    • 9 credit hours of electives may be from the Haslam College of Business, the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, and/or other courses approved by the student’s Master’s Committee.

Additional Course Requirements

• 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.
• A student completing the series of two MBA concentration courses in finance, operations management or marketing can substitute another agricultural and resource economics course for AREC 512 , AREC 542  or AREC 550 , respectively.
• Electives must sum to nine or more credit hours.

Non-Course Requirements

• The program includes a 10-week internship experience.
• A written comprehensive examination is required in the form of an approved written internship report integrating relevant coursework material with an approved internship project.
• The dual degree candidate must satisfy the curriculum and graduation requirements of the agricultural and resource economics major and the Haslam College of Business. 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.