College of Agriculture

BS in Agricultural Business

Overview

The BS in Agricultural Business provides students with an excellent and comprehensive background in business theory combined with a working knowledge of production agriculture. The Agricultural Teaching and Research Center, microcomputer lab, and off-campus internships are available to provide valuable practical experience. The emphasis of this degree program is to prepare students for entry-level management positions. Specialized subject areas include agricultural marketing, agricultural finance and appraisal, and agricultural business management.

Mission

The BS in Agricultural Business at California State University, Chico serves the region and state by providing a high-quality learning environment which strives to: train students to be versatile problem-solving/decision-making analysts and managers, provide a practical understanding of the economic structure of the food/fiber sector, and foster creative, interpersonal, and interpretive abilities which are essential to functioning effectively in the community.

Goals & Objectives

  • Technically competent in agricultural business and able to make sound judgments.
  • Capable of communicating clearly and concisely.
  • Aware of the complex interrelationships of the production and movement of agricultural products from the farm gate through the marketplace.
  • Aware of current issues confronting the food and fiber sector.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Technically competent in agricultural business and able to make sound judgments
    1. Demonstrate core management principles and apply them to different working scenarios
    2. Prepare and utilize financial statements needed in the business decision making process
    3. Apply core marketing principles to the unique structure of the agricultural sector
  2. Aware of current issues confronting the food and fiber sector
    1. Identify and analyze issues in the marketplace; make appropriate recommendations
  3. Capable of communicating clearly and concisely:
    1. Demonstrate effective verbal communication in an agricultural business environment, i.e., use terminology associated with industry trends, situation, and outlook
    2. Demonstrate effective written communication in an agricultural business environment, i.e., use terminology associated with industry trends, situation, and outlook
  4. Aware of the complex interrelationships of the production and movement of agricultural products from the farm gate through the marketplace:
    1. Recognize consumer responsiveness to changing market conditions
    2. Recognize producer responsiveness to changing market conditions
  5. Aware of the complex interrelationships of natural and agricultural systems
    1. Describe the integral nature of agricultural sustainability, comprising economic, social, and environmental components