Agribusiness

The Morrison School of Agribusiness and Resource Management (MSABR), at the East campus, offers the MS degree in Agribusiness with a choice of two concentrations: (1) agribusiness management and marketing and (2) food quality assurance. In general, this degree is designed to prepare students from a variety of backgrounds with a set of critical and analytical business skills while recognizing the unique demands of the agribusiness and resource management sectors. Graduates are well prepared for successful administrative or managerial careers with either government or private-sector organizations in either field. Students are able to 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). The nonthesis option allows students to develop an area of specialization and apply these skills to a real-world agribusiness problem through an integrative, capstone course experience. Both the thesis and nonthesis options require the completion of a common set of core courses and successful completion of an MSABR standard comprehensive exam following the first year of course work.

Admission.. Applicants to the program are expected to meet the minimum requirements for admission to the Division of Graduate Studies. In addition, scores from the Graduate Record Examination, Miller Analogies Test, or Graduate Management Admission Test are required. Applications must include a vita and statement of purpose; letters of recommendation are suggested. The statement of purpose must offer evidence of the applicant’s basic skills in economics, accounting, statistics, and computer use, as well as some experience or knowledge in an area related to agribusiness. Applicants not meeting this last requirement may be considered for admission with deficiencies. The application deadline for admission in the fall semester is April 15. Applications received after that date and before November 15 are considered for admission in the spring semester. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by mid-February to increase their chances for official university funding.

Thesis Option. Students interested in pursuing a research-related career, or an in-depth study of a particular agribusiness issue to improve employment prospects, may choose the thesis option. These students are advised to begin discussions with faculty members early in their studies so that course work and potential employment can be geared toward supporting thesis research. Six of the 36 semester hours in the program are dedicated to the research time required to complete a thesis.

Nonthesis Option.. The nonthesis MS degree in Agribusiness option provides an opportunity for students who wish to pursue a professional career that is not specifically research-oriented to obtain a rigorous and comprehensive graduate degree. The nonthesis option allows for the selection of six semester hours of electives to be taken in a specific area of emphasis. In lieu of a thesis, a nonthesis option student completes a case-oriented capstone course, which allows the student an opportunity to pursue a course-based project that integrates all of the core business skills acquired during the course work sequence.

Program of Study. All MS candidates must complete a minimum of 36 hours of approved graduate-level course work, excluding courses taken to address deficiencies. Of these 36 hours, 21 must be taken to satisfy core requirements in basic business, statistics, and computer proficiency. For students selecting the nonthesis option, fulfilling the requirements for an area of emphasis consists of the successful completion of six hours of elective courses from within that area chosen from graduate agribusiness courses. The specific courses are determined by the student and his or her academic advisor. Thesis students are required to complete three semester hours of research and three hours of writing in addition to six hours of general 500-level agribusiness electives.

It is suggested that students take a coherent sequence of courses such as those indicated below, but considerable flexibility is possible based on individual backgrounds and interests.

Foreign Language Requirements.. None.

Peace Corps’ Master’s International Program. MSABR has an agreement with the United States Peace Corps that makes combining graduate studies with Peace Corps service even more appealing. Participants can receive up to six hours of credit for their independent field work while in Peace Corps service. Graduate course work precedes departure to foreign countries. Interested individuals make separate application to ASU and the Peace Corps, and prepare plans of study with their faculty committees regarding studies in the field.

Faculty are engaged in a number of research projects of global, national, regional, or state importance. Scholarship in service to community is the hallmark of a state-supported university and is evident in the Morrison School of Agribusiness and Resource Management. A few examples of this scholarship are “The National Food and Agriculture Policy Project”; a project involved with “Retail Contracting and Growers’ Prices in Fresh Fruit”; investigations in “Emerging Markets of the Balkans and Black Sea Region”; as well as “Curriculum for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Food Management.”