Morrison School of Agribusiness and Resource Management

PURPOSE - Back to Top

The Morrison School of Agribusiness and Resource Management provides a variety of academic programs in Agribusiness. Agribusiness is the business of food and fiber production and the technology necessary to change a raw material (a commodity) or an idea into a new product or business for the world’s consumers. Producing, financing, marketing, and providing food and fiber for the world amounts to more than one-half of the earth’s global economy.

Agribusiness courses in the Morrison School are designed to prepare students for a wide range of job opportunities in agribusiness and business. More than 20 percent of all jobs in the United States are agribusiness-related, and the industry is even more important internationally, with more than half of all jobs in developing countries related to food and fiber products. Population increases worldwide have led forecasters to predict that more than nine billion food and fiber consumers will be part of the global agribusiness system by the year 2050. Forecasts also estimate that, at that time, more than 20,000 agribusiness jobs will go unfilled due to a lack of skilled professionals.

The academic programs in Agribusiness are especially designed to meet the needs of the urban student who has little or no previous agriculture experience. An interest in plants, animals, or food can be the starting point for career development in agricultural industries or resource management. The undergraduate programs also provide the necessary training for students preparing to enter graduate degree programs.

The Morrison School is strategically positioned to offer some unique programs. The concentration in professional golf management provides a student with the opportunity to qualify for the Professional Golfers’ Association certification program in addition to majoring in Agribusiness. Similarly, for individuals more interested in the development and management of golf and other turf facilities, the golf and facilities management concentration is well suited.

Food, its marketing and safety, is of paramount importance today and in the future. The Morrison School offers specific concentrations in both of these areas. Food and agribusiness marketing is one of the signature academic concentrations in the school. Food science and safety are emphases stressed in the food and agribusiness marketing concentration.

NATIONAL FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL POLICY PROJECT - Back to Top

The National Food and Agricultural Policy Project (NFAPP) constructs a 10-year baseline forecast for the fruit and vegetable produce industry and specific commodities, responds to congressional inquiries concerning policies affecting the fruit and vegetable industry, and publishes a monthly newsletter highlighting research efforts. Areas of study include domestic and international promotion of fruits and vegetables, trade and the impact of trade agreements, and crop insurance and risk management. For more information, call the director at 480/727-1124.

DEGREE PROGRAMS - Back to Top

The Morrison School offers a B.S. degree in Agribusiness with the following concentrations: agribusiness finance, food and agribusiness marketing, food science, general agribusiness, golf and facilities management, international agribusiness, management of agribusiness, professional golf management, resource management, e-commerce, and preveterinary medicine.

For students holding an A.A.S. degree, the school offers the Bachelor of Applied Science degree with concentrations in consumer products technology, food retailing, and resource team specialist. See the “Morrison School of Agribusiness and Resource Management Baccalaureate Degrees and Majors” table.

The school also offers the M.S. degree in Agribusiness with concentrations in agribusiness management and marketing, and food quality assurance. Students may select either a research-oriented program, which leads to the completion of a supervised thesis, or a program consisting of course work only (nonthesis option). All M.S. candidates in Agribusiness must complete a minimum of 36 semester hours.

ADMISSION - Back to Top

The Morrison School admits students to the B.S. degree programs who meet the undergraduate admission requirements of Arizona State University; see Undergraduate Enrollment, “Undergraduate Admission.” Admission to the B.A.S. degree program is restricted to students holding an A.A.S. degree from a regionally accredited U.S. postsecondary educational institution. A GPA of 2.00 or higher is required for all resident applicants and 2.50 for nonresident applicants.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS - Back to Top

Agribusiness—B.S. - Back to Top

The completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours—including First-Year Composition, General Studies (see “General Studies”), and the school and concentration requirements—leads to the B.S. degree. Note that all three General Studies awareness areas are required. An overall GPA of 2.00 is required for graduation and students must have completed a minimum of 45 semester hours of upper-division credit. Also see special graduation requirements under “Preveterinary Medicine.”

Prerequisite Courses. Students who select the concentrations in agribusiness finance, food and agribusiness marketing, food science, general agribusiness, golf and facilities management, international agribusiness, management of agribusiness, or professional golf management, must complete the following courses, some of which can also be used to meet university General Studies requirements:

Core Requirements. Agribusiness employers require their employees to possess a wide range of skills and competencies. Rapid changes in information technology and the increasingly competitive food production and distribution sector mean that agribusiness needs graduates equipped to deal with these changes. The agribusiness core, required of all the concentrations, is designed to give students these skills. The core consists of courses in business principles—management, marketing, and finance—as well as in the fundamentals of agribusiness operations management.

Concentrations - Back to Top

After completing the required agribusiness core, students select a concentration in their area of interest. A concentration allows a student to select a series of courses that complement the agribusiness core, supplement the student’s desire to master another area of interest, and broaden career opportunities.

E-commerce Concentration. The extraordinary growth of e-commerce in the business and agribusiness venues provides significant opportunities for students prepared to work in this medium. A student following this concentration builds on the prerequisite core and the agribusiness core to prepare for this field. The opportunities for personal development, advancement, and success are present domestically and internationally.

Agribusiness Finance Concentration. Agribusiness finance concentration graduates are expected to possess a broad knowledge of financial theory and practice as it pertains to the agribusiness sector. This will involve applying quantitative and computer-based analytical techniques to real-world agribusiness problems. Specific course content includes topics in financial management, financial markets, risk management, and the evaluation of financial assets and business alternatives.

Management of Agribusiness Concentration. Agribusiness managers encounter many problems and opportunities on a daily basis that are unique to the agribusiness sector. Students choosing this concentration develop skills in managing people, internal resources, and external relationships in an increasingly dynamic environment.

Food and Agribusiness Marketing Concentration. Students in the food and agribusiness marketing concentration develop critical skills relevant to dealing with firms involved in food, fiber, consumer products, and pharmaceutical manufacturing; distribution; and retailing. Students also learn about the relationship between input suppliers, commodity associations, and primary producers. To this end, food and agribusiness marketing students are required to complete a series of courses that analyze the behavior and performance of both commodity and consumer food markets.

Food Science Concentration. The food science concentration focuses on both scientific and technical competency skills with an emphasis on food microbiology, food chemistry, biotechnology, mathematics, and statistics. This unique program prepares graduates for employment opportunities in the food, beverage, and dairy industries; regulatory agencies such as the FDA and USDA; international organizations such as FAO and WHO; and consumer organizations. In addition, graduates may choose to pursue advanced degrees.

General Agribusiness Concentration. The general agribusiness concentration offers students a chance to build a broad perspective in the field of agribusiness. In an age of specialization, there remains a growing need for generalists. These individuals have mastered finance, marketing, management, and other technologies such as computers and statistics and are capable of demonstrating this mastery.

International Agribusiness Concentration. A student studying international agribusiness is typically preparing for a career with government agencies oriented toward international issues; programs of agribusiness for or in developing countries; U.S. agribusiness firms affected significantly by trade; or U.S.-based international agribusiness firms. This concentration requires a mastery of subjects in international trade, agricultural development, international policy, and global marketing practices and institutions.

Professional Golf Management Concentration. The Professional Golf Management (PGM) concentration, accredited by the Professional Golfer’s Association (PGA) of America, is specifically designed for students who aspire to become Class A PGA Professionals and work in management careers in the golf industry. International students admitted to this program should be aware that membership in the PGA of America is restricted to U.S. citizens and resident aliens. PGM students complete the agribusiness core, which helps them develop the critical skills needed to manage complex organizations. In addition, the PGM concentration requires a minimum of 23 semester hours of golf-related curriculum, of which nine hours consist of hands-on internship experience at golf facilities. The remaining 14 semester hours include courses selected from the following areas: golf course operations, turf grass management, club fitting and repair, pro shop merchandising, movement analysis, sports psychology and equipment, mechanics and shop maintenance and repair. Students must also complete the majority of requirements in the PGA Golf Professional Training Program, including the PGA Playing Ability Test. All golf-related courses and internships are selected with the assistance of the PGM program director.

PGM Admission. To be admitted to the PGM program, students must meet a playing ability test. Call the PGM director at 480/727-1017 for more information.

Golf and Facilities Management Concentration. The Golf and Facilities Management (GFM) concentration is designed to prepare students for careers as golf course superintendents. Through the agribusiness core, students develop the critical skills needed to manage complex organizations. In addition, the GFM concentration requires a minimum of 25 semester hours of golf and facilities management-related curriculum, of which six hours consist of hands-on internship experience at golf courses. The remaining 19 semester hours include courses selected from the following areas: golf course operations, plants and landscaping, soils, irrigation and water management, fertilizers, pest control, turf grass management, mechanics and shop maintenance and repair. The GFM concentration also requires the student to complete six semester hours of internship experience at golf facilities, providing valuable hands-on experience. Call the GFM program coordinator at 480/727-1256 for additional information.

Prerequisite Courses for Preveterinary Medicine. Students who select the preveterinary medicine concentration must take the following courses, some of which can also be used to meet the General Studies requirement.

Preveterinary Medicine. A student studying agribusiness could also be preparing for admission to a professional veterinary school. While completing the courses needed for acceptance into veterinary school, the student is broadening his or her career potential with agribusiness courses. The Agribusiness major provides knowledge of how to run a business or practice. In addition, should a preveterinary student decide not to apply to a veterinary school, this major provides alternative career paths into human or veterinary pharmaceutical industries or the food industry. This concentration permits students to complete the preveterinary requirements for entrance to professional veterinary school.

Veterinary College Acceptance. A student who has been accepted to a school of veterinary medicine before he or she has earned a B.S. degree in the Morrison School may do so by completing a minimum of 30 semester hours at ASU and the General Studies requirement. Students must receive a written statement from the dean of the Morrison School giving senior-in-absentia privileges. A student is eligible to receive the B.S. degree after the ASU Office of the Registrar receives a recommendation from the dean of the veterinary professional school and a transcript indicating the student has completed the necessary semester hours commensurate with ASU graduation requirements.

Veterinary Medical Schools. There are approximately 27 schools of veterinary medicine in the United States. Each school establishes the specific prerequisites that are required for admission. Advisors in the Morrison School assist students in designing their class schedules to meet the requirements of the veterinary schools to which they plan to apply. Each school generally looks for courses in biology, chemistry, genetics, microbiology, and organic chemistry. In addition to a science foundation, all students must meet the University General Studies requirement, complete 45 semester hours of upper-division courses, and satisfy the school admission requirements.

Resource Management Concentration. The resource management concentration combines the agribusiness concentration core with solid technical preparation in biology, chemistry, and/or economics. There is a growing demand by industry and government for persons who understand both the technical and managerial basis for sustainable development, remediation and/or utilization of natural resources for agribusiness, conservation, and habitat restoration. Courses and field projects prepare the student to analyze, develop, and manage programs that make use of land and water in an economic as well as environmentally sustainable fashion.

Resource Management Concentration Prerequisite Courses. Students who select the resource management concentration must complete these courses, some of which can also be used to meet General Studies requirements:

APPLIED SCIENCE—B.A.S. - Back to Top

The Bachelor of Applied Science degree is a capstone degree for the Associate of Applied Science degree. The B.A.S. degree exposes students to advanced concepts and diverse critical thinking skills to prepare them for future career opportunities and professional advancement.

Admission - Back to Top

Admission to the B.A.S. degree program is restricted to students holding an A.A.S. degree from a regionally accredited U.S. postsecondary educational institution. A GPA of 2.00 or higher is required for all resident applicants and 2.50 for nonresident applicants.

B.A.S. Degree Graduation Requirements - Back to Top

The B.A.S. degree program consists of 60 semester hours of upper-division courses, with 30 semester hours in residence. An overall GPA of 2.00 or higher is required.

General Studies Curriculum. The B.A.S. curriculum builds on the general education content of the A.A.S. degree. Additional General Studies courses are taken in the core or concentration. General Studies courses focus on contextual learning.

Assignable Credit. Assignable credit allows space in the curriculum for prerequisite courses. The courses are determined by the student and advisor.

Consumer Products Technology Concentration. Students in this concentration prepare for a career in the food and consumer products industries. Students learn to develop food, drug, cosmetic, and other consumer products and to ensure product safety and marketability by obtaining a thorough mastery of courses in product and package design, manufacturing, processing, and safety.

Food Retailing Concentration. A student studying food retailing prepares for a career in the food marketing and distribution industries. Potential employers are food manufacturing and processing companies, distribution centers, wholesalers, and all types of food retailers, e.g., supermarkets, mass merchandisers, fast food outlets, restaurants, and direct marketers of food.

Resource Team Specialist Concentration. The resource team specialist concentration combines the technical preparation acquired in an A.A.S. program with a special orientation in environmental and resource management. This concentration prepares individuals to participate as an integral part of an environmental emergency response team as well as postemergency biological and environmental rehabilitation efforts.

Morrison School of Agribusiness and Resource Management

Professors: Daneke, Edwards, Kagan, Marquardt, Seperich, Shultz, Thor

Associate Professors: Patterson, Raccach, Richards

Assistant Professors: Hughner, Manfredo, Schmitz

Senior Lecturer: Lindley

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