Morrison School of Agribusiness and Resource Management

www.poly.asu.edu/msabr

PURPOSE

Located at the Polytechnic campus, 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 employment 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, agribusiness and consumer products marketing concentration.

The BS degree in Agribusiness with a concentration in professional golf management is accredited by the Professional Golfer’s Association of America. For more information, write

PGA EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

100 AVENUE OF THE CHAMPIONS

PO BOX 109601

PALM BEACH GARDENS FL 33410

NATIONAL FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL POLICY PROJECT

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

The Morrison School offers a BS degree in Agribusiness with the following concentrations: agribusiness finance; food, agribusiness and consumer products marketing; food science; general agribusiness; golf and facilities management; international agribusiness; management of agribusiness; professional golf management; and preveterinary medicine.

For students holding an AAS degree, the school offers the Bachelor of Applied Science degree with concentrations in consumer products technology and food retail management. See the Morrison School of Agribusiness and Resource Management Baccalaureate Degrees and Majors table below.

The school also offers the MS 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 MS candidates in Agribusiness must complete a minimum of 36 semester hours.

The Morrison School and the W. P. Carey School of Business offer an interdisciplinary PhD in Business Administration with a concentration in agribusiness. See the Graduate Catalog for requirements.

ADMISSION

The Morrison School admits students to the BS degree programs who meet the undergraduate admission requirements of Arizona State University; see Undergraduate Admission. Admission to the BAS degree program is restricted to students holding an AAS 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

Agribusiness—BS

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 BS degree. Note that all three General Studies awareness areas are required. A minimum 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, agribusiness and consumer products 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:

ACC 230 Uses of Accounting Information I (3)

ACC 240 Uses of Accounting Information II¹ (3)

BIO 100 The Living World SQ (4)

CHM 101 Introductory Chemistry SQ² (4)

ECN 211 Macroeconomic Principles SB³ (3)

ECN 212 Microeconomic Principles SB (3)

ENG 301 Writing for the Professions L (3)

MAT 210 Brief Calculus MA¹ (3)

Total 26

¹ This course is not required for the golf and facilities management concentration.

² This course is not required for the professional golf management concentration.

³ This course is not required for the golf and facilities management or professional golf management concentration.

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.

AGB 100 Introduction to Agribusiness (3)

AGB 161 Computer Applications for Agribusiness Industries CS (3)

AGB 310 Agribusiness Management I (3)

AGB 320 Agribusiness Marketing I (3)

AGB 321 Agribusiness Marketing II¹ (3)

AGB 332 Agribusiness Finance I (3)

AGB 333 Agribusiness Finance II² (3)

AGB 360 Agribusiness Statistics CS (3)

AGB 364 Agribusiness Technologies I (3)

AGB 365 Agribusiness Technologies II¹ (3)

AGB 410 Agribusiness Management II (3)

AGB 414 Agribusiness Analysis L (3)

Core total 36

¹ This course is not required for the professional golf management or golf and facilities management concentrations.

² This course is not required for the golf and facilities management concentration.

Concentrations

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.

Note: Omnibus hours will not exceed six hours.

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.

Agribusiness Finance

AGB 431 Intermediate Agribusiness Financial Management (3)

AGB 434 Agricultural Risk Management and Insurance (3)

AGB 435 Agricultural Commodities (3)

AGB electives (8)

Agribusiness core (36)

Agribusiness prerequisite courses (26)

Total 79

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.

Management of Agribusiness

AGB 411 Agricultural Cooperatives 3
or AGB 480 Agribusiness Policy and Government Regulations (3)

AGB 451 Management Science CS (3)

AGB 481 Applied Microeconomics (3)

AGB electives (8)

Agribusiness core (36)

Agribusiness prerequisite courses (26)

Total 79

Food, Agribusiness, and Consumer Products Marketing Concentration

Students in the food, agribusiness and consumer products 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, agribusiness and consumer products marketing students are required to complete a series of courses that analyze the behavior and performance of both commodity and consumer food markets.

Food, Agribusiness and Consumer Products Marketing

AGB 422 Consumer Behavior (3)

AGB 429 Marketing Research (3)

AGB 435 Agricultural Commodities 3
or AGB 420 Food Marketing (3)

AGB electives (8)

Agribusiness core (36)

Agribusiness prerequisite courses (26)

Total 79

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.

Food Science

AGB 340 Food Processing (3)

AGB 440 Food Safety (3)

AGB 442 Food and Industrial Microbiology (4)

AGB upper-division electives (7)

Agribusiness core (36)

Agribusiness prerequisite courses (26)

Total 79

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 technologies such as computers and statistics and are capable of demonstrating this mastery.

General Agribusiness

AGB 435 Agricultural Commodities (3)

AGB electives 1 (4)

Agribusiness core (36)

Agribusiness prerequisite courses (26)

Total 79

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.

International Agribusiness

AGB 450 International Agricultural Development G (3)

AGB 452 International Agricultural Policy (3)

AGB 454 International Trade (3)

AGB electives (8)

Agribusiness core (36)

Agribusiness prerequisite courses (26)

Total 79

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. Any student 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 complete all PGA membership requirements, including the PGA Playing Ability Test. All golf-related courses and internships are selected with the assistance of the PGM program director.

Note: Omnibus hours will not exceed nine hours.

Special class fees are in place to cover the cost of PGA books, seminars, and testing. The PGM program fee ensures all students have access to the ASU/PGM Practice Facility, the PING Swing Analysis Lab, and a club repair room.

PGM Admission

To be admitted to the PGM program, students must meet a playing ability test. Call the PGM director at 480/727-1912 for more information.

Professional Golf Management

Agribusiness core (30)

Agribusiness prerequisite courses (19)

Professional golf management courses (14)

Professional golf management internship (9)

Total 72

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. For more information, call the GFM program coordinator at 480/727-1256.

Golf and Facilities Management

Agribusiness core (27)

Agribusiness prerequisite courses (17)

Golf and facilities management courses (19)

Internship (6)

Total 69

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.

ACC 230 Uses of Accounting Information I (3)

BCH 361 Principles of Biochemistry (3)

BIO 187 General Biology I SG (4)

BIO 188 General Biology II SQ (4)

BIO 340 General Genetics (4)

CHM 113 General Chemistry I SQ (4)

CHM 115 General Chemistry with Qualitative Analysis SQ (5)
or CHM 116 General Chemistry II SQ (4)

Choose between the course combinations below (4–8)

CHM 231 Elementary Organic Chemistry SQ¹ (3)

CHM 235 Elementary Organic Chemistry Laboratory SQ¹ (1)

———or———

CHM 233 General Organic Chemistry I (3)

CHM 234 General Organic Chemistry II (3)

CHM 237 General Organic Chemistry Laboratory I (1)

CHM 238 General Organic Chemistry Laboratory II (1)

ECN 211 Macroeconomic Principles SB (3)
or ECN 212 Microeconomic Principles SB (3)

ENG 301 Writing for the Professions L (3)

MAT 210 Brief Calculus MA (3)

MIC 205 Microbiology SG² (3)

MIC 206 Microbiology Laboratory SG² (1)

PHY 111 General Physics SQ³ (3)

PHY 113 General Physics Laboratory SQ³ (1)

Upper-division AGB (9)

Total 57–61

¹ Both CHM 231 and 235 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

² Both MIC 205 and 206 must be taken to secure SG credit.

³ Both PHY 111 and 113 must be taken to secure SQ credit.

Preveterinary Medicine

A student studying agribusiness can 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.

Preveterinary Medicine

Agribusiness core (24)

AGB 100 Introduction to Agribusiness (3)

AGB 310 Agribusiness Management I (3)

AGB 320 Agribusiness Marketing I (3)

AGB 332 Agribusiness Finance I (3)

AGB 360 Agribusiness Statistics CS (3)

AGB 364 Agribusiness Technologies I (3)

AGB 365 Agribusiness Technologies II (3)

AGB 414 Agribusiness Analysis L (3)

Preveterinary medicine prerequisites (57–61)

Total 81–85

Veterinary College Acceptance

A student who has been accepted to a school of veterinary medicine before he or she has earned a BS 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 BS 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 27 schools of veterinary medicine in the United States. Each school establishes 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, organic chemistry, and physics. In addition to a science foundation, all students must meet the University General Studies requirement, and complete 45 semester hours of upper-division courses.

APPLIED SCIENCE—BAS

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

Admission

Admission to the BAS degree program is restricted to students holding an AAS 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.

BAS Degree Graduation Requirements

The BAS 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.

AAS degree (60)

Assignable credit (6)

BAS core (16)

Concentration (19)

General Studies (19)

Total 120

General Studies Curriculum

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

L (3)

MA (3)

HU (3)

HU or SB (3)

SB (3)

SG (4)

Total 19

Assignable Credit

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

BAS Core

AGB 310 Agribusiness Management I (3)

AGB 320 Agribusiness Marketing I (3)

AGB 360 Agribusiness Statistics CS (3)

AGB 414 Agribusiness Analysis L (3)

AGB 460 Agribusiness Management Systems (3)

Total 15

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.

Consumer Products Technology

AGB 340 Food Processing (3)

AGB 364 Agribusiness Technologies I (3)

AGB 440 Food Safety (3)

MET 341 Manufacturing Analysis (3)

MET 494 ST: Consumer Manufacturing (3)

MET 494 ST: Packaging Design (3)

AGB elective (1)

Total 19

Food Retail Management Concentration

A student studying food retail management 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.

Food Retail Management

AGB 332 Agribusiness Finance I (3)

AGB 340 Food Processing (3)

AGB 420 Food Marketing (3)

AGB 440 Food Safety (3)

AGB 445 Food Retailing (3)

AGB 484 Internship (1)

AGB elective (3)

Total 19

Morrison School of Agribusiness and Resource Management

www.poly.asu.edu/msabr

480/727-1585

WANER 101

Professors

Daneke, Edwards, Kagan, Marquardt, Richards, Seperich, Shultz, Thor

Associate Professors

Manfredo, Patterson, Raccach, Schmitz

Assistant Professor

Hughner

Senior Lecturers

Hudek, Lindley

Omnibus Courses. For an explanation of courses offered but not specifically listed in this catalog, see Omnibus Courses.

Graduate-Level Courses. For information about courses numbered from 500 to 799, see the Graduate Catalog, or access www.asu.edu/aad/catalogs on the Web. In some situations, undergraduate students may be eligible to take these courses; for more information, see Graduate-Level Courses.