Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Science
Nature of the Program
The goal of this major is to provide students with a breadth of knowledge that will prepare them for employment in the fields of food, agricultural, or environmental & natural resource economics. This major opens doors to a range of career paths from entrepreneurship and joining family-owned businesses, to working in the banking/finance sector, to being hired by state or federal agencies, or to seeking employment in large food or agribusiness firms. Students will work with their advisors to select an AOE and restricted electives that meets their goals. The Agribusiness Management AOE gives students a background in accounting, marketing, sales, strategic management, and new venture creation such that they will gain practical prowess to excel in agricultural and food-related businesses. The objective of the Environmental and Natural Resource Economics AOE is to provide students with the necessary training for the application of economic theory and analysis to environmental and natural resource issues to prepare them for careers as analysts, in government, or to continue to graduate school.
Admissions for 2025-2026
First-Time Freshman requirements for admission into this major are the same as the general high school credit requirements for admission into the University.
Students transferring from another major within WVU will need at least a 2.00 in order to transfer into the Agribusiness Management and Applied Economics major. All transfer students will be assigned a Professional Advisor (Barry Stephens) as their advisor. Students are encouraged to contact Mr. Stephens at barry.stephens@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-5396 with questions about transferring to this major.
Students transferring from another institution will need to meet admission requirements of the University. All transfer students will be assigned to a Professional Advisor (Barry Stephens) as their advisor. Students are encouraged to contact Mr. Stephens at barry.stephens@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-5396 with questions about transferring to this major.
Major Code: 1702
General Education Foundations
Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.
NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 41 | |
| Agribusiness Management and Applied Economics Major Requirements | 79 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
| Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8 | 22 | |
| ANRD 191 | First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| General Electives | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 41 | |
Agribusiness Management and Applied Economics Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum GPA of 2.0 is required in all Agribusiness Management and Applied Economics Major Requirements. | ||
| AGEE 110 | Microcomputer Applications in Agricultural Education | 3 |
| or CS 101 | Intro to Computer Applications | |
| ARE 150 | Introductory Agricultural and Agribusiness Economics (GEF 4) | 3 |
| or ECON 201 | Principles of Microeconomics | |
| ECON 202 | Principles of Macroeconomics (GEF 8) | 3 |
| ARE 204 | Agribusiness Management | 3 |
| ARE 220 | Introductory Environmental and Resource Economics (GEF 8) | 3 |
| STAT 111 | Understanding Statistics (GEF 3; ENRE AOE must take STAT 211) | 3 |
| or STAT 211 | Elementary Statistical Inference | |
| Intermediate Theory and Analysis | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Intermediate Micro-Economic Theory | ||
| Intermediate Macro-Economic Theory | ||
| Applied Quantitative Methods | ||
| Records and Analysis for Sustainable Agribusinesses | ||
| Futures Markets and Commodity Prices | ||
| Law & Policy | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Agricultural and Natural Resources Law | ||
| Enterprise Operation Law | ||
| Land Use Planning Law | ||
| Agriculture, Environmental and Resource Policy | ||
| ARE 488 | Career Development | 1 |
| Capstone Experience: | 3 | |
| Professional Field Experience | ||
or ARE 496 | Senior Thesis | |
| Area of Emphasis | 18 | |
Agribusiness Management | ||
Environmental and Natural Resource Economics | ||
| Restricted Electives (12 hours must be upper-division) | 27 | |
The restricted electives must be selected in consultation with the advisor, and selected from the list below. A minor and/or second AOE can be used to satisfy restricted elective courses. | ||
Upper-division (300-400 level) courses from the following subjects: ADV, AGBI, AGEE, ARE, AGRN, ANNU, ANPH, ANPR, A&VS, AEM, BCOR, BIOL, COMM, DSGN, ECON, ENLM, ENTO, ENTR, ENVP, FIN, FDST, FMAN, FOR, GEOG, GEOL, HORT, HN&F, LARC, LDR, MKTG, PLSC, POLS, PSYC, PR, RPTR, RESM, SOCA, WMAN, WGST, and WDSC. | ||
STAT at 200-level or higher. | ||
| Group Organization and Leadership | ||
| Animal Nutrition | ||
| Principles of Animal Science and Principles of Animal Science Laboratory | ||
| Introduction to Equine Care and Use | ||
| Sustainable Design and Development | ||
| Principles of Soil Science and Principles of Soil Science Laboratory | ||
| Food Science and Technology | ||
| General Horticulture and General Horticulture Laboratory | ||
| Principles of Plant Science and Principles of Plant Science Laboratory | ||
| Law and the Legal System | ||
| Total Hours | 79 | |
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ARE 150 (GEF 4) | 3 | STAT 111 (GEF 3) | 3 |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | AGEE 110 or CS 101 | 3 |
| GEF 5, 6, or 7 | 3 | GEF 5, 6, or 7 | 3 |
| GEF 2 | 4 | GEF 5, 6, or 7 | 3 |
| ANRD 191 | 1 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 1 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ARE 204 | 3 | ECON 202 (GEF 8) | 3 |
| ARE 220 (GEF 8) | 3 | Intermediate Theory and Analysis Course | 3 |
| ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 | Restricted Elective | 3 |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | GEF 8 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ARE 488 | 1 | Intermediate Theory and Analysis Course | 3 |
| Law & Policy Course | 3 | AOE Course | 3 |
| AOE Course | 3 | AOE Course | 3 |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | Restricted Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | Restricted Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 2 | ||
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| AOE Course | 3 | AOE Course | 3 |
| AOE Course | 3 | Law & Policy Course | 3 |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | Restricted Elective | 3 |
| Restricted Elective | 3 | Restricted Elective | 3 |
| ARE 491 | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||
Areas of Emphasis
Agribusiness Management Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ARE 110 | Agribusiness Accounting | 3 |
| ARE 380 | Agribusiness Sales and Management | 3 |
| ARE 422 | New Venture Creation | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Marketing Agricultural Products | ||
| Marketing Livestock Products | ||
| ARE 461 | Agribusiness Finance | 3 |
| ARE 484 | Agribusiness Strategic Management | 3 |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Environmental and Natural Resource Economics Area of Emphasis
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 150 | Applied Calculus | 3 |
| ARE 410 | Environmental and Resource Economics | 3 |
| RESM 440 & 440L | Foundations of Applied Geographic Information Systems and Foundations of Applied Geographic Information Systems Laboratory | 3 |
| RESM 480 | Environmental Regulation | 3 |
| ARE 485 | Economics of Water Resources and Energy | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Mathematical Economics | ||
| Introductory Econometrics | ||
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Major Learning Outcomes
Agribusiness Management and Applied Economics
After completing this major students will be able to:
- Explain the major concepts in economics, management, law, and policy as applied to agribusiness and/or environmental & natural resource economics.
- Communicate effectively in a business or professional setting (written and oral).
- Synthesize knowledge from across the curriculum to solve management and economic questions.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the application of relevant software and quantitative techniques.
- Work cooperatively within a business or professional setting.