Agricultural and Consumer Economics

Agricultural and Consumer Economics

Students pursuing degrees in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics may choose one of 10 concentrations. The concentrations are:

• Agri-Accounting
• Agribusiness Markets and Management
• Agri-Finance
• Consumer Economics and Finance
• Environmental Economics and Policy
• Farm Management
• Financial Planning
• Individually Planned Curriculum
• Policy, International Trade and Development
• Public Policy and Law
  

Prescribed Courses Including Campus General Education

Hours	Composition I and Speech
4	RHET 105–Principles of Composition or equivalent (see college Composition I requirement)*
3	SPCM 101–Public Speaking**

Hours	Advanced Composition ***
3	One of:
	BTW 250–Principles of Bus Comm
	BTW 261–Principles of Technical Comm
	BTW 263–Writing in the Disciplines
	RHET 243–Inter Expository Writing
	RHET 233–Principles of Composition
	SPCM 220–Communicating Public Policy

	Foreign Language
	Coursework at or above the third level is required for graduation.

Hours	Quantitative Reasoning I**
3	MATH 124–Finite Mathematics or MATH 125–Linear Algebra or MATH 231–Calculus II
4-5	MATH 234–Calculus for Business I or MATH 220–Calculus I or MATH 221–Calculus I

Hours	Quantitative Reasoning II***
4-6	ACE 261–Applied Statistical Methods or ECON 202–Economics Statistics I and ECON 203–Economics Statistics II

Hours	Humanities and the Arts
6	Selected from campus approved list.

Hours	Natural Sciences and Technology
6	Selected from campus approved list.

Hours	Social and Behavioral Sciences
6	Selected from campus approved list.

Hours	Cultural Studies
6	Select one course from Western culture and one from non-Western/U.S. minority culture from campus approved list.

Hours	ACES Prescribed
2	ACES 101–Contemporary Issues in ACES (for freshmen only)

Hours	Department Requirements
35	Minimum Hours in the College of ACES of which 20, excluding ACE 161 and ACE 261, must be in the Department of ACE
6	Minimum of two 400-level courses in ACE
4	ACE 100–Agr Cons and Resource Econ
3	ACCY 201–Accounting & Accountancy I
3	ECON 103–Macroeconomic Principles
3	ECON 302–Intermediate Microeconomic Theory***
3	One of:
	ACE 161–Microcomputer Applications
	CS 105–Introduction to Computing, Non-Tech
3	One international course from:
	ACE 435--Global Agribusiness Management
	ACE 451–Agriculture in Intl Dev
	ACE 452--The Latin American Economies
	ACE 453–Econ Dev in S and SE Asia
	ACE 454–Econ Dev of Tropical Africa
	ACE 455–Intl Trade in Food and Agr
	ECON 422 The European Economics
	ECON 451 Transition Economics
126	Total Hours required for graduation

*Requirement must be satisfied by end of first year.
**Requirement must be satisfied prior to the fifth semester.
***Students are encouraged to complete this requirement prior to the seventh semester.
****Students pursuing Agricultural Accounting or Agricultural Finance must select ECON 202 and 203.

Agri-Accounting Concentration

Students in Agri-Accounting complete a comprehensive program that enables them to apply accounting principles in production, processing, or retailing sectors in agribusiness industries. Graduates find professional opportunities as consultants and managerial accountants.

Hours	Required for the Agri-Accounting Concentration in Addition to Department Requirements
3	ACCY 202–Accounting and Accountancy II
4	ACCY 301–Acctg Measurement & Disclosure
4	ACCY 302–Decision Making for Acctg
4	ACCY 303–Acctg Institutions and Regulations
3	ACE 447–Case Studies in Agricultural Accounting and Financial Planning
3	FIN 221–Corporate Finance

Agribusiness Markets and Management Concentration

Students in Agribusiness Markets and Management obtain management skills; strategy development and implementation; and an awareness of the interaction among agricultural technology, supply, distribution, processing, and marketing firms in the business environment. Graduates are prepared for entry-level management, sales and marketing, and technical analyst positions, and are sought by firms involved in the production, marketing, sales, and financing of farm inputs, agricultural commodities, and food and other retail products.

Hours	Required for the Agribusiness, Markets and Management Concentration in Addition to Department Requirements
3	ACE 222-Agricultural Marketing
3	ACE 231–Food and Agribusiness Mgt
3	ACCY 202–Accounting and Accountancy II
9	Three courses selected from:
	ACE 427-Commodity Price Analysis ACE 428-Commodity Futures and Concentrations ACE 430-Food Marketing ACE 431-Agri-Food Strategic Management ACE 435-Global Agribusiness Management

Agri-Finance Concentration

Students in Agri-Finance study finance as used in agribusiness, farming, financial institutions, and more broadly, in the financial services industry. In addition to positions as loan officers in banks and other lending institutions, recent graduates are working in trust and other banking operations, investments and securities firms, rural appraisals, financial management, financial planning, insurance, real estate, and related fields.

Hours	Required for the Agri-Finance Concentration in Addition to Department Requirements
3	ACE 345–Financial Decision-Making for Individuals and Small Businesses
3	ACCY 202–Accounting and Accountancy II
3	FIN 221–Corporate Finance
3	FIN 300–Financial Markets
6	Two courses selected from:
	ACE 444–Financial Services for Individuals and Small Businesses
	ACE 446–Modeling App for Financial Planning
	ACE 447–Case Studies in Agricultural Accounting and Financial Planning
	FIN 311–Investments1
	FIN 461–Financial Intermediation1

Consumer Economics and Finance Concentration

Students in Consumer Economics and Finance develop knowledge and skills to help consumers with everyday problems. Coursework in consumer economics, personal finance, and economics gives students a broad-based background and an understanding of the role of consumers in the marketplace. Students can choose an emphasis in consumer economics, family economics, or financial planning and counseling, which leads to career opportunities with government and public agencies, marketing and sales firms, and financial institutions.

Hours	Required for the Consumer Economics and Finance Concentration in Addition to Department Requirements
3	ACE 240–Personal Financial Planning
3	ACE 270–Consumer Economics
3	ACE 474–Econ of Consumption
3	ACE 476–Family Economics
6	Two courses selected from:
	ACE 445–Intermediate Personal Financial Planning ACE 455–Intl Trade in Food and Agr ACE 456--Agr and Food Policies ACE 471–Consumer Economic Policy
	ECON 440–Econ of Labor Markets ECON 482–Health Economics
	FIN 221–Corporate Finance

Environmental Economics and Policy

Students in Environmental Economics and Policy study environmental and resource management issues at the local, state, national, and international levels. Graduates are prepared for positions in governmental, environmental, and resource management agencies; interest groups; and the environmental area of private firms. Course concentrations include law, policy, management, administration, quantitative methods, and sociology, as well as economics.

Hours	Required for the Environmental and Natural Resource Management Concentration in Addition to Department Requirements
3	ACE 210–Environmental Economics
3	ACE 310–Natural Resource Economics
3	ACE 406–Environmental Law
3	ACE 411–Environment and Development

Farm Management Concentration

Students in Farm Management study the principles of economics, finance, risk and the decision-making process - all central to the successful management of a farm enterprise. Students develop skills to combine and manage land, labor, and capital resources for a competitive return. Also, students may learn how to appraise farmland and other assets. Farm (and other asset) appraisal is a growing part of professional farm management and can be pursued as a profession in itself.

Hours	Required for the Farm Management Concentration in Addition to Department Requirements
3	ACE 222–Agricultural Marketing
3-4	ACE 232–Management of Farm Enterprises
3	ACE 332–Farm Management
3	ACE 345–Financial Decision-Making for Individuals and Small Businesses
3	ACE 448 Rural Real Estate Appraisal

Financial Planning Concentration

Students in the Financial Planning concentration study finance and economics as they apply to individuals, households, and small businesses in the course of accumulating and using financial resource.  Students are introduced to issues of credit management, insurance and other risk management strategies, saving and investing, retirement planning, and estate planning.  Students also study the financial marketplace as it relates to the needs of households and small businesses.

Hours	Required for the Financial Planning Concentration in Addition to Department Requirements
3	ACE 240–Personal Financial Planning
3	ACE 270–Consumer Economics
3	ACE 345–Finan. Decision-Making for Individ. & Small Bus.
3	ACE 444–Financial Services for Individuals & Small Bus.
3	ACE 445–Intermed. Personal Fin. Planning
9	Three courses selected from:
	ACE 346–Tax Policy & Financial Planning ACE 446–Modeling Applications for Financial Planning ACE 447–Case Stud. in Agricultural Accounting and Financial Planning ACE 474–Economics of Consumption ACE 476–Family Economics
	FIN 221–Corporate Finance FIN 230–Intro to Insurance

Individually Planned Curriculum Concentration

Students in the Individually Planned Curriculum work with their faculty advisors to design a personal program of study. This concentration is a coherent and customized program of at least 20 hours in agricultural and consumer economics beyond the introductory courses. The plan of study should be developed in consultation with a faculty advisor prior to the sixth semester, and it must be approved no later than the seventh semester.

Policy, International Trade and Development Concentration

Students in Policy, International Trade, and Development enjoy a broad exposure to policy, international trade, and agricultural development from an economics perspective. The concentration provides a global and societal perspective ideally suited for exploring studies in administration, government, policy analysis, social processes, and international economics. Graduates are prepared for positions in firms with international business; in federal or state government agencies dealing with policy, trade, or development; in trade organizations; and in public interest groups.

Hours	Required for the Policy, International Trade and Development Concentration in Addition to Department Requirements
3	ACE 251–The World Food Economy
3	ACE 411--Environment and Development or ACE 451–Agriculture in Intl Dev
3	ACE 455–Intl Trade in Food and Agr
3	ACE 456–Agr and Food Policies
3	One course selected from:
	ACE 453–Econ Dev in S and SE Asia
	ACE 454–Econ Dev of Tropical Africa
	ECON 351–Economic Development in Japan
	ECON 356–The Economy of China
	ECON 422–The European Economies
	ECON 452--The Latin American Economies

Public Policy and Law Concentration

Students in Public Policy and Law become expert in the economics of public policy in general and in its application to specific areas of interest. This concentration will expose students to the legal and institutional structures in which policies are developed, the analysis of the economics impacts of policies, and special circumstances of public policy and law pertaining to the environment, consumers, the agricultural sector, international relations, and other.

Hours	Required for the Public Policy and Law Concentration in Addition to Department Requirements
3	PS 220 – Intro to Public Policy
3	ECON 411 – Public Sector Economics
3	One course selected from:
	ACE 210 – Environmental Economics ACE 251 – The World Food Economy ACE 255 – Econ of Rural Poverty and Dev ACE 270 – Consumer Economics
3	One course selected from:
	ACE 403 – Agricultural Law ACE 406 – Environmental Law ECON 484 – Law and Economics
9	Three courses selected from:
	ACE 310 – Natural Resource Economics ACE 403 – Agricultural Law ACE 406 – Environmental Law ACE 411 – Environment and Development ACE 451 – Agriculture in Intl Dev ACE 453 – Econ Dev in S and SE Asia ACE 454 – Econ Dev of Tropical Africa ACE 455 – Intl Trade in Food and Agr ACE 456 – Agr and Food Policies ACE 471 -- Consumer Economics Policy ACE 474 – Econ of Consumption ACE 476 – Family Economics

Registration may be restricted by the department offering the course; access cannot be assured.