Agribusiness Management Major
Agribusiness Management is business school for hands-on learners.
A business degree—with a no-nonsense approach to the unique challenges of the agriculture, food, and fiber industries. Graduates thrive in agricultural businesses and banks, insurance companies, and government. Others continue academic journeys at MBA programs, law school, and more.
The best of agriculture, the best of business school.
Students complete course work in marketing, management, finance, and accounting at the Penn State Smeal College of Business and then roll up their sleeves and apply those concepts to the multibillion-dollar world agrifood system. This is learning by doing and excellent preparation for business of every kind.
Penn State Agribusiness Management grads are in high demand.
Seed and food companies, equipment manufacturers, and other agribusiness companies routinely tell us that our students are some of the best prepared to get right to work leading the industry.
Look at the directory of leading banks, insurance companies, and businesses ranging from Fortune 500 companies to family farms, and you will see Penn State Agribusiness Management grads. The practical, problem-solving nature of your education can set you up for success.
Agribusiness Management is the right major if you:
- are a “people person” with a focused interest in agriculture
- have an entrepreneurial appetite and mindset
- thrive academically with hands-on, applied learning
See the University Bulletin for details on program requirements, suggested academic plan, and more.
A premier academic experience.
Career-driven curriculum
The formula for success as a business leader is the mastery of marketing, management, human resources, finance, and accounting. Those are the competencies we teach.
Example Business Courses
- Strategic Decision Making in Agribusiness
- Food Product Marketing
- Economic Principles of Agribusiness Decision Making
- Markets and Prices: Analysis and Forecasting
- Agribusiness in the Global Economy
Specializations
Students majoring in Agribusiness Management must develop a 12-credit specialization. Separate your résumé from the pack and dig deep into an area driven by a specific business interest and/or personal academic curiosity.
Example specializations
- Animal science
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Information technology
- International agriculture
- International business
- Language/culture study
- Leadership development
Ag Journeys
“Not everyone gets enough food. We can be part of the solution.”
– Jason Huang
Out of the classroom and into the boardroom.
Our renowned Agribusiness Management faculty are adamant that the classroom experience is just the launchpad for your academic journey. We will help you find internships where you can put your agribusiness learnings to the test. Not only is it a great way to develop your business skills, but many of our internships result in job offers. There are also faculty-guided, student-led clubs, hands-on research opportunities, and study abroad opportunities for just about any area of interest under the sun.
Craft your experience.
Related clubs and teams
- Agribusiness Management Club
- Collegiate 4-H
- Collegiate Farm Bureau
- Penn State AgriMarketing Team (NAMA)
- See all clubs and teams
Recent internships
- Agricultural financial institution
- Food manufacturer
- Government agency
- Non-profit organization
Popular study abroad
- Comparing French and US Food Systems in France
- International Food Marketing in Italy
- Mediterranean Agribusiness Management in Spain
- Business and International Affairs in France and Spain
A practical, workforce-ready degree—and a college experience you’ll love.
Penn State Agribusiness Management grads are leading family farms and in top roles in Wall Street giants the world over.
Our alumni out in the world
- Agricultural cooperatives
- Agricultural risk management and consulting
- Agrimarketing agencies
- Ag retail management
- Commodity brokers
- Financial and lending institutions
- Food processing companies
- Futures and options exchange organizations
- Government agencies
- International trade and policy organizations
- Market analytics
- Product procurement and supply chain
Agribusiness Management Career Options
Major in Agribusiness Management, and you'll graduate ready to launch the rewarding career you want. Here are just a few career options.
Procurement specialist
A procurement specialist researches the marketplace and purchases goods and services that businesses need.
What will I do?
- Create and maintain strong relationships with vendors
- Negotiate contracts covering pricing, quality, and delivery
- Take action when contracts or agreements are not kept
- Track inventory and shortages and plan appropriate backfill
Risk management specialist
This specialist identifies financial risks to a company and recommends strategies to ensure profitability.
What will I do?
- Study predictive and historical data
- Create and implement risk management procedures
- Ensure vendor contractual compliance
- Develop and implement inventory management strategies
Industry sales representative
An industry sales representative sells specialized equipment and services to customers ranging from multinational corporations to family farms.
What will I do?
- Solicit potential customers and travel to customer locations
- Demonstrate products and services and close the sale
- Stay current on competitor offerings
- Assist customers with any questions or concerns after the sale
Agribusiness Management Students in the News
April 14, 2025
Project to ranch sea urchins as a food source named 2025 Ag Springboard winner
Penn State students had the opportunity to showcase their entrepreneurial aspirations at the 2025 Ag Springboard student business pitch contest, which took place earlier this month in State College.
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March 5, 2025
Roll the dice! Game teaches agribusiness majors principles of entrepreneurship
A Penn State agribusiness management class recently spent a session rolling dice, gathering and trading agricultural resources, gaining allies, and building roads and settlements. If that sounds familiar, you might recognize the cult classic board game CATAN, first released in 1995 as Settlers of CATAN, where players compete to build a civilization on a fictional island.
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April 18, 2024
Project to improve cropping named 2024 Ag Springboard pitch contest winner
Penn State students’ entrepreneurial spirit shone brightly at the 2024 Ag Springboard student business pitch contest, which took place in early April in State College. Taking home this year’s first-place award was the team that created CropNSoil, a platform to support international multicropping. Students Kanika Gupta and Kartikey Pandey, both computer science majors in the College of Engineering, and Samuel DeLozier, an agribusiness management major in the College of Agricultural Sciences, received $7,500 to further their project.
Read More
June 21, 2023
World Campus business and management portfolio prepares students for success
Penn State World Campus is highlighting its business and management degree programs that are offered online as it celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Read More
Explore more
Resources
- Admissions
- Tuition and Financial Aid
- Scholarships
- Student Life
- Study Abroad
- Internships
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
See the University Bulletin for details on program requirements, suggested academic plan, and more.
Contact
- Director of Student Recruitment and Activities
- Email mnm11@psu.edu
- Office 814-863-3942
