Agribusiness Management

NC State's Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ARE) offers the Associate Certificate in Agribusiness Management. This associate-level certificate, which requires five courses (15 credit hours) is not a degree and does not imply admission to any undergraduate or graduate program at NC State University, including the Agricultural Institute at NC State University. Rather, it provides students not enrolled in a degree program at NC State University an opportunity to learn basic agribusiness and economic principles that are useful in careers in agriculture and related agribusiness industries, such as horticulture, landscaping, chemical and farm equipment sales, and the production and distribution of crops and other commodities. View the Agricultural Entrepreneurship Program for more information.

Credits completed in this online associate certificate program are transferable to the Agricultural Institute's Associate of Applied Science degree in Agribusiness Management (transfer of courses is subject to the requirements and approval of the Agricultural Institute; the completion of the certificate does not imply admission to the Agricultural Institute). ARE 201, Introduction to Agricultural and Resource Economics, also meets a General Education Program course requirement for baccalaureate degree programs.

Potential students who have already earned an associate's or undergraduate degree or are working toward an undergraduate degree may be eligible for one of these online programs:

• University Undergraduate Certificate in Agricultural Business Management
• University Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Agricultural Business Management

Eligibility

To be admitted to the Associate Certificate in Agribusiness Management, an applicant must:

• Hold a high school diploma or a GED received at least 12 months prior to applying to the program;
• Not be enrolled in a degree program (4-year or 2-year) at NC State University;
• Complete and submit the University Associate Certificate in Agribusiness Management application, which must be requested from the department. Applicants must be Non-Degree Studies (NDS) students at NC State. Please see "Program Contacts" for contact information to obtain an internal application after NDS acceptance.

Plan of Study

The University Associate Certificate in Agribusiness Management requires 15 credit hours. NDS students may register for a maximum course load of two courses per semester. Thus, the certificate may be completed in as little as three semesters.

All certificate program courses must be Distance Education courses (identified with section numbers of 601 or higher) unless special approval is granted for completion of an on-campus section. No transfer credits from other institutions to fulfill certificate course requirements are allowed.

Career Prospects

With increasing demands on farmers and associated businesses, agribusiness management is more important than ever. Like the academic programs offered by NC State's Agricultural Institute, the primary purpose of the University Associate Certificate in Agribusiness Management is to provide students with the practical experience needed to be productive in agribusiness management careers. Our graduates may find careers in farm management, horticulture, landscaping, and chemical and farm equipment sales, as well as the production and distribution of crops and other commodities.