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Abstract
Curriculum for 140 agribusiness and agricultural economics programs were identified
and compared against a similar study done in 1985 when the National Agribusiness
Education Commission began studying agribusiness programs. We have identified five
key findings. First, agribusiness management is now tied with policy as the third most
commonly taught undergraduate course in agricultural economics departments (after
agricultural marketing and agricultural finance). A required course in farm management
has decreased from two-thirds of agribusiness degrees in 1985 to only one-third of such
degrees in 2003. Second, many agribusiness degrees are three times as likely to require
business finance relative to agricultural economics degrees. Third, no strategy courses
were identified as being taught in agribusiness management degrees in 1985. In 2003, 17
such courses were being taught. Strategy is a course that integrates many management
concepts. With the exception of an advanced farm management course, no such
integrative course was identified in agricultural economics courses. Fourth, a course in
business marketing was almost twice as likely to be required in an agribusiness degree
relative to an agricultural economics degree. Fifth, a required course that explores the
international dimensions of finance, management, marketing, policy, trade, or similar
topics remains a severe limitation in most agribusiness and agricultural economics
degrees. Finally, it is clear that agribusiness management has become an even more
important subject in agricultural economics programs since 1985.