The rapid expansion of the world’s population has created both great opportunities and great needs in the area of food production. A General Business degree with a specialized minor in Agriculture equips students with both the general business knowledge and the specialized knowledge of agricultural economics, skills, and methods to take advantage of these opportunities and address these needs.

Students who choose the Agricultural Industries Track complete 19 hours of coursework through the SAU Agriculture Department. In addition, these students will have 12 hours of additional electives split between business, agriculture, and free electives.

Topics Covered

In the first two years of a four-year business degree, students take a broad range of classes. Upper level courses include advanced business courses that are taken by all business majors and major-specific courses that allow students to specialize in their areas of interest.

Students who choose the General Business Agricultural Industries Track complete 19 hours of coursework through the SAU Agriculture Department. In addition, these students will have 12 hours of additional electives split between business, agriculture, and free electives.

• Agriculture classes include courses related to farm management, animal science, plant science, agricultural policies and procedures, real estate, and forestry.
• Students are encouraged to obtain internships related to their career plans.
• Students are assigned to advisors who are members of the faculty to help with class scheduling, professional mentoring, and career placement.

Careers

• Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers manage organizations that grow crops, raise and manage livestock, and process dairy products.
• Food Manufacturing Operations.
• Sales and Marketing of Agricultural Products.
• Inspectors ensure the compliance of agriculture-based businesses with government safety, health, and quality regulations.

Student Engagement

• Student organizations like Phi Beta Lambda, ENACTUS, Emerging Entrepreneurs, the Finance and Economics Society, and the Business Student Investment Advisory Council provide opportunities for fun, leadership, and networking
• Guest lectures and workshops conducted by business professionals and recognized speakers
• Student travel both within and outside the region and the US: Recent trips included tours of financial institutions in New York and Chicago, advertising agencies in Dallas and Chicago, and Arkansas businesses like Walmart, Tyson, and J.B. Hunt and international destinations such as Costa Rica.
• The Arkansas Small Business Development and Technology Center is located on the first floor of the business building. The center offers seminars and other resources that are free to students and houses the Entrepreneurship Center.

Faculty Expertise 

The Rankin College of Business is AACSB certified. All upper level professors are required to hold doctorates from AACSB certified universities or to have significant professional experience in the areas in which they teach.