Agriculture and Agribusiness Major: What It Includes, Classes and Careers

An Agriculture and Agribusiness major studies how food, fiber and plants are produced, managed and sold. Agriculture majors study crop and soil science, animal production, agricultural economics, farm management and agricultural technology.

An Agriculture and Agribusiness major includes coursework in crop and soil science, animal production, agricultural economics, farm and ranch management, and precision agriculture and more. You build skills such as farm management, equipment operation, business planning, and plant and animal care. Typical degrees: certificate, associate, bachelor's and master's degrees.

Typical courses include crop and soil science, animal production, agricultural economics, farm and ranch management, precision agriculture, and agricultural policy. Exact course names and requirements vary by college, and most degrees also include general education courses.

It depends on the level. Agriculture and Agribusiness is offered as certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral awards at U.S. colleges; certificates take from a few months to about two years, an associate degree usually takes about two years of full-time study, a bachelor’s degree usually takes about four years of full-time study, a master’s degree usually takes one to two years after a bachelor’s, and a doctoral or professional degree takes several more years beyond that. Part-time study takes longer.

Certificate, associate, bachelor's and master's degrees. In the latest federal data, 239 colleges reported certificate awards, 307 colleges reported associate awards, 188 colleges reported bachelor’s awards, 87 colleges reported master’s awards, and 50 colleges reported doctoral awards.

Career paths connected to agriculture and agribusiness include farm manager, agricultural technician, agricultural inspector, soil and plant scientist, agricultural engineer, extension educator, and agricultural equipment operator. Some roles need additional training, experience, certification or a license.

Examples include farm manager (typical training: 5+ years of farm experience), agricultural technician (typical training: 2 years), agricultural inspector (typical training: 4 years + agency training), soil and plant scientist (typical training: 4-year degree), agricultural engineer (typical training: 4-year engineering degree), and extension educator (typical training: Master’s plus field experience).

Agriculture and Agribusiness majors build skills such as farm management, equipment operation, business planning, plant and animal care, and data and technology.

Good pairings include Business (helps you run a farm or agribusiness) and Environmental Studies (fits sustainable agriculture).

It can be a good fit if you are interested in the work it leads to, such as farm manager, agricultural technician, and agricultural inspector, and enjoy subjects like crop and soil science and animal production. No major guarantees a job, so compare the coursework, the careers and the education each career requires before deciding.

How hard it feels depends on your strengths. Core coursework includes crop and soil science, animal production, and agricultural economics; if those subjects interest you, the major is likely to feel more manageable. Reviewing a college’s course list and talking to current students helps you judge.

517 U.S. colleges reported awarding degrees or certificates in this field in the latest federal (IPEDS) data. Programs can have different names at different schools.

California (49), Texas (35), Illinois (34), North Carolina (28), and Iowa (21), based on the colleges that reported awards in this field.

464 of the colleges that offer agriculture and agribusiness also report offering at least one program entirely online, though not necessarily this one. Use the college search with this major and “Offers fully online programs”, then confirm with the school.

Agriculture and Agribusiness studies how food, fiber and plants are produced, managed and sold. Animal Science and Veterinary Technology studies animal biology, care, nutrition and health. Agriculture and Agribusiness leads to careers such as farm manager and agricultural technician, while Animal Science and Veterinary Technology leads to careers such as veterinary technician and veterinary assistant.

Agriculture and Agribusiness studies how food, fiber and plants are produced, managed and sold. Forestry and Natural Resources studies how to manage forests, wildlife, parks and natural resources. Agriculture and Agribusiness leads to careers such as farm manager and agricultural technician, while Forestry and Natural Resources leads to careers such as forester and forest and conservation worker.

Yes. Short online career training can help you understand a specific job and build practical knowledge alongside your classes. It does not replace your degree or any required license.

No. Career Education Institute is not a college and does not award degrees. It offers short, non-credit online trainings about jobs connected to agriculture and agribusiness, such as Farm Manager Training.