Master of Agribusiness

Program Description	for information, click here.
Accomplishments of the Program
Typical MAB Cohort
Entry Requirements
Program Requirements
Internship
Placement

Program Description

The Master of Agribusiness (MAB) is an intercollegiate degree offered by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (COALS) and the Mays Business School with the Intercollegiate Faculty of Agribusiness comprised of faculty from the Departments of Agricultural Economics, Accounting, INFO, Management, and Marketing. The MAB is a professional program that is uniquely focused on the food and agribusiness sector with an emphasis on combining economic and business analysis, and incorporating quantitative methods as the basis for decision-making. Case-based research and team performance, highlighting cultural and learning style diversity, are the cornerstones of the MAB integrated capstone courses in strategic management and financial analysis. One of the many strengths of the MAB program is the emphasis on oral and written communication and presentation skills.

Accomplishments of the Program

• 160 graduates as of December 2007
• 75% employed in US or international private industry
• Starting salaries of reporting graduates were $52,000-$57,000 with internships but no prior work experience. With 2-3 years experience before entering the MAB program, significantly higher re-entry salaries were reported.

Typical MAB Cohort

• 20 students in each cohort - low student to faculty ratio
• 25-33% international, 25% non-TAMU, 50% former TAMU
• 50% entering with life science undergraduate degree
• Approximately equal gender ratio
• 100% career-track work or internship experience

Entry Requirements

• Prospective students should contact the Director of the MAB program or the graduate admissions supervisor to review the pre-requisites for this degree and to discuss how their academic and professional work experience prepare them for this program of study. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to make contact early in their decision process.
• Prerequisites in calculus, statistical methods, intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics are recommended.

Program Requirements                                                                 [Back to Top]

The curriculum of the Master of Agribusiness degree has the flexibility to meet the needs and goals of the students. The program can be completed in 16 months based on Fall entry and 12 credit hours per semester, or a 20-month option is available as well. Students who have taken business courses as undergraduates will be able to expand on these foundation courses and specialize their training to pursue specific career goals. Each student will work closely with the MAB Director in developing a program to meet his/her unique background and career goals. The customized curriculum, internship opportunities, and team approach focus on equipping MAB graduates with the skills to excel in the agribusiness sector.

A minimum of 39 credit hours of course work is required, including:

Agricultural Economics courses in: Managerial economics Regression and forecasting methods Simulation Environment of agribusiness

Mays Business School courses in: Accounting Finance Management Marketing

Integrated Capstone Courses in Financial Analysis for Agribusiness Firms and Strategic Agribusiness Management are required, which emphasize the integration and application of subject matter learned and the development of written and oral communication skills. These courses are taken during the student's final fall semester. This six-credit-hour course requirement allows waiving of the Final Oral Examination.

Students will select 9 credit hours of electives as part of the 39 credit hour requirement, which may include AGEC 684 Professional Internship or AGEC 693 Professional Study.

Degree Planning Guide
Typical Schedule

Internship

Students are strongly encouraged to include a professional internship as one of their electives. Students should carefully selelcted their internships to provide solid business experiences and positive learning environments.

Guidelines for internships can be found in the Internship Manual. An internship is a 3 credit hour course and is pass/fail. Before enrolling for AGEC 684, students must submit the "Plan for Internship" form to the Program Director for approval.

Placement                                                                                   [Back to Top]

For a complete listing of all MAB placement in the past several years, click here. Recent graduates are in positions emphasizing:

• Financial analysis
• Auditing
• Inspection and quality assurance
• New product development
• logistics and distribution
• Procurement analysis
• Risk management analysis
• Supply chain analysis

Recent employers are:

Kraft JBS Swift & Co. Case & Sons Archer-Daniels-Midland Kroger United Food Services Purchasing Group Farm Credit HEB John Deere Information Resources, Inc. Safeway Accenture

CoBank Sysco Cargill Bunge Global Markets Sanderson Farms Jardine Foods Frito Lay Hill's Pet Food Company Tyson Monsanto Pioneer Aramark Food Services

Republic Beverage Dairy Farmers of America Washington Mutual The Hartford Clear Channel Rice Producers Association Consolidated Beef Producers Federal Reserve Bank State Farm Insurance Ford Motor Credit Calcot, Ltd. Northwest Mutual Financial Network