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Agriculture: Concentration Agri-Business

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Why Study Agri-Business 

Agriculture is one of the most important areas you could choose because it addresses a basic human need—food and other natural resources. Agricultural and natural resources industries are changing rapidly, and the need for clear communication and leadership in them has never been greater. Agri-business students take classes in agri-business management, marketing, agricultural economics, farm management, animal, plant and soil sciences. Students learn the economics and business management principles related to production, distribution, and consumption of agricultural goods and services. At the completion of this program, students are expected to: Have a strong broad-based understanding of American Agriculture and have a general understanding of how to operate an Agri-business with good potential of success in such an effort. Our program has sufficient flexibility to provide more extensive course work in science for those students desiring to prepare for advanced graduate study.

Our program prepares students for careers in agribusiness management, marketing, finance, supply chain, and related fields. A good number of our graduates currently work with TN USDA-FSA, local Coop., family-owned farms/ranches, etc.

Agriculture courses are delivered in small class settings with individual attention from faculty with experience and expertise in agriculture.  Students have an opportunity for hands-on learning at the 440-acre University Farm and Environmental Education Center to study livestock, crops, forestry, wildlife and natural resources.   

APSU faculty who teach courses in Agri-Business have a wide variety of teaching and research expertise in Agri-Business, agricultural economics, ag finance, ag leadership, ag education and communications, and Natural Resource Management.

What Will I Learn

Because agriculture encompasses so many aspects of our world, including the study of animal, plant, and environmental systems, agriculture majors can enter a variety of careers in business, government, and the nonprofit sectors--or work for themselves. Our graduates work in a wide variety of Agricultural related careers. These include but are not limited to: 

 

Sample Course Plan and General Education Requirements

Agri-Business Sample 4 Year Plan

General Education Core

Donald Sudbrink

Professor, Chair of Department of Agriculture

In addition to leading the APSU Department of Agriculture and teaching classes on grounds at the University's Clarksville campus, Dr. Sudbrink also helps manage the APSU Farm and Environmental Education Center.

This 440-acre property boasts a large demonstration area showing the production of cattle and farm commodities, an observatory and other opportunities for interdisciplinary study.

"We have other departments and programs like Biology, the Center of Excellence for Biology, Astronomy and Physics, Military Science and even some Art students," Sudbrink said. "There are many opportunities at the farm for our students in Agriculture and other Austin Peay students as well."