Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics Typical Career Areas

Employment opportunities are excellent in this area. Students are prepared to enter graduate school in many fields including agricultural economics, business, economics, and law. Typical career areas are as follows:

• Agribusiness Management: You may work in sales, management, appraisal, research, or public relations for businesses that produce, buy, sell, process, and distribute agricultural products.
  
• Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management: Be your own boss. Working in family enterprises and managing small businesses are the focus of opportunities in this area.
  
• Environmental and Resource Economics and Management: Private and public sector opportunities to manage resources and/or develop environmental policy.
  
• Farm Business Management: You would manage farm operations, work for integrated agricultural firms, or own and manage your own farm.
  
  
• Finance and Appraisal: You would have the opportunity to make loans, evaluate investment opportunities, and appraise property. Students work for lending institutions such as commercial and farm banks.
  
  
• Financial Planning: Career opportunities range from employment with small “boutique” financial planning firms that serve a niche market to nationally recognized companies that provide financial planning products and services.  Work directly with client services, or in the “back office” doing advisor support, product analysis, plan preparation, or compliance.  Positions also are available in banking, insurance, investments, or employee benefits and retirement planning.
  
  
• International Agriculture and Development: Job opportunities in international agriculture have multiplied in recent years, mostly because of the growth of multinational firms and the efforts of businesses, foundations, and national governments to assist developing countries. You would be employed in development, finance, production, natural resource management and marketing in countries throughout the world.
  
  
• Market and Price Analysis: You may market commodities, provide investment and/or market analysis and research, or work for a brokerage house.
  
  
• Public Service: Public service careers are available at the federal, state, and local levels. Federal careers are in such areas as agricultural production, marketing, finance, conservation, and others. State and local agencies offer a wide variety of careers.
  
  
• Veterinary Management: The pre-vet option allows students to take the scientific classes necessary to enter veterinary medicine while acquiring the skills necessary to manage a veterinary practice upon completion of the veterinary medicine program.