What Can I Do With This Major?
AGRICULTURE ECONOMICS and BUSINESS

FINANCE/BANKING

Commercial Lending
Branch Management
Bank Operations
Lending
Commodities (Stocks & Futures)
Accounting
Risk Management
Appraisal
Real Estate
Insurance

EMPLOYERS
Commercial banks
Credit unions
Savings and loans associations
Service banks
Mortgage banks
Insurance companies
Legal firms
Purchasing/supply firms
Farm cooperative services

STRATEGIES
Seek out experience in financial areas through part-time employment or internships. Develop skills in decision-making, policy analysis and technical analysis. Explore ways to demonstrate competence in managing money and analyzing data. Stay up to date on local, national and global economic trends. Get involved in campus organizations such as the National Agrimarketing Association or other Agribusiness clubs. Research and contact major and/or local financial and banking institutions that specialize in the agricultural market. Take additional courses in statistics, finance and accounting.

SALES/MARKETING

Agricultural Marketing
Outside Sales
Retail Sales
Customer Relations
Public Relations
Advertising
Insurance Sales
Real Estate
Agricultural Consultation

EMPLOYERS
Market analysis firms
Agribusinesses
Production industries
Food retailers and wholesalers
Food processors
Manufacturers of farm input supplies
Farm equipment manufacturers
Insurance firms
Media companies
Advertising agencies
Consulting firms

STRATEGIES
Join a professional organization such as National Agri-Marketing Association. Gain experience with retailers in the agricultural industry and other agribusinesses. Develop skills in decision-making, policy analysis and technical analysis. Develop excellent verbal and written communication skills. Get involved in campus organizations such as the National Agrimarketing Association and seek leadership roles. Build relationships with major and local retail and marketing firms that specialize in agriculture.

MANAGEMENT/DEVELOPMENT

Agricultural Management
Crop and Livestock Farm Management
Farm and Home Management
Agribusiness Management
Land Management
Environmental Resource Management
Rural Economic Development
Rural Planning
Strategic Planning
Agricultural Programming
Agricultural Consultation

EMPLOYERS
Agribusinesses
Farm-input-supply businesses
Commodity processors
Landscape design and maintenance firms
Production industries
Feedlot operations
Feed and seed companies
Food wholesalers and retailers
Gas, electric, and water distributors
USDA
Environmental Protection Agency
Law firms

STRATEGIES
Join a professional organization such as Institute of Food Technologists or International Food and Agribusiness Management Association. Pursue experiences with management companies through part-time employment, internships or co-ops. Develop your skills in decision-making, policy analysis and technical analysis. Develop excellent verbal and written communication skills. Stay up to date on local, national and global economic trends. Become involved in campus organizations such as the NAMA/Agribusiness club. Research and contact management organizations that specialize in agriculture. Be prepared to start in entry-level management trainee positions.

AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT

Purchasing/Buying
Dealership Management
Customer Relations
Wholesale and Retail Sales
Environmental Technology
Farm Supply Management
Teaching/Training
Logistics

EMPLOYERS
Agricultural support companies
Agricultural machinery manufacturers
Farm machinery sales and service companies
Landscape development and maintenance industry
Farm input supply businesses
Farm and garden supply stores
Wholesale distributors
Logistics firms

STRATEGIES
Develop awareness and understanding of the farm machinery and equipment market, both nationally and internationally. Explore current and past research into the development of basic and advanced farm and agricultural equipment. Obtain retail and/or wholesale sales experience, preferably in the field of agriculture or farm supply companies. Get involved in related student organizations. Develop strong interpersonal and communication skills, especially for sales-related positions.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT/RESOURCE ECONOMICS

Land Management
Environmental Resource Management
Rural Economic Development
Rural Planning
Policy Analysis
Timberland Economy
County Planning

EMPLOYERS
Local, state and federal government
USDA
Environmental Protection Agency
Gas, water and electric distributors
Coal companies
Railroads
Law firms

STRATEGIES
Develop excellent verbal and written communication skills. Stay up to date on local, national and global economic trends. Develop your skills in decision-making, policy analysis and technical analysis. Complete an internship with a government agency. Volunteer to assist a faculty member with his or her research.

GOVERNMENT/NONPROFIT

State and Federal Conservation
Health and Regulatory Inspection
Agricultural Inspection
Legislation
Policy Analysis
Association Representation

EMPLOYERS
State and local government
Federal government agencies including: US Department of Agriculture, National Parks, Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, Bureau of Land Management
Non-profit organizations
Advocacy groups
International agencies & non-governmental organizations

STRATEGIES
Gain exposure and experience by volunteering with agencies such as 4-H. Find an internship with a government agency. Develop excellent verbal and written communication skills. Learn about the federal government application process. Maintain a high grade point average.

EDUCATION

Agricultural Education
Ag Extension
Teaching
Research and Research Analysis

EMPLOYERS
K-12 schools
Colleges and universities
Research institutions
Extension services
Farm information services utilizing mass communication

STRATEGIES
Volunteer to assist a faculty member with his or her research Gain certification to teach K-12. Earn a PhD for university teaching. Learn to work well with all types of people. Get involved in relevant activities such as tutoring, peer mentoring, etc. Be prepared to live in a rural community for extension positions.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Since the foundation of the degree is business and economics, students may pursue employment opportunities outside of agriculture. Consider Marketing, Communications, Publics Relations and Management.

Investigate the different opportunities associated with Bachelor's, Master's and PhD degrees.

A Bachelor's of Science in Agricultural Business and Economics may serve as a pre-professional degree for students interested in pursuing a degree in law or business.

Earn a graduate degree to pursue university teaching and advanced research positions.

Developing networking skills and obtaining related experience is essential.

Build a professional network for exploring career opportunities and job openings.

Join a campus and/or national club or organization.

Develop transferable skills that most employers value, such as communication skills, leadership ability, creativity, ability to work on a team, and self-motivation.

Be prepared to live in rural and farming communities for some of the career areas in Agricultural Economics and Business and also be prepared to move from your local community in most cases.

Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. (2006) UTK is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA /ADEA Employer