Business Administration–Agricultural Business
The agricultural business option offers students a business administration major with distinctive agriculture courses. Our design sets NWC apart from competitors that offer more of an agriculture production curriculum with only a few business courses. The agricultural business option is for students who desire a strong foundation from an accredited business program in a liberal arts context that improves communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills; agricultural industry knowledge and connections; and hands-on experience in the growing, innovative field of agri-business. Careers in agriculture increasingly require savvy strategy and entrepreneurial instincts.
That's what a Northwestern agricultural business degree will prepare you for.
Business and economics department homepage
Major requirements
AGR 101 - Introduction to Agricultural Business
(3 credits) This course will examine the foundational principles in livestock and crop
production systems utilized in the Midwest. Basic cultural, management,
scientific, and business principles used in the production of food and fiber
will be covered. In addition, the course will incorporate agricultural
safety and occupational hazards for developing competencies needed for the
agricultural worksite.
AGR 210 - Practicum in Agricultural Business
This course will examine the foundational principles in livestock and crop
production systems utilized in the Midwest. Basic cultural, management,
scientific, and business principles used in the production of food and fiber
will be covered. In addition, the course will incorporate agricultural
safety and occupational hazards for developing competencies needed for
agricultural work site. (3 credits)
AGR 330 - Agricultural Technology Systems
AGR 340 - Agricultural Issues and Ethics
(2 credits) This course will examine many of the current issues and ethical arguments
facing the agricultural industry today. Topics will include livestock
production practices, animal rights issues, genetically modified crops,
organic foods, water quality issues, climate change, conservation, energy
use, food safety, land acquisition, and government farm programs.
Prerequisites: AGR 101 and sophomore standing.
AGR 410 - Agricultural Risk & Cost Management
In this course, we will analyze and review commodity marketing,
marketing costs, governmental regulations, marketing information sources,
pricing, distribution, competition, and retailing. In addition to marketing,
we will examine the risk factors on the production side of agricultural
products. Prerequisites: AGR101 and ACC216. (4 credits)
AGR 417 - Agricultural Internship
(4 credits may apply toward the major)
BUS 432 - Small Business Management
This course focuses on current theory and practice relating to starting and
continuing management of small and family businesses. As such, it is
designed for students contemplating management or ownership of a small
business. The course will focus on leadership, decision-making, management,
marketing, financial controls and other necessary processes to ensure the
successful start-up and long-term health of the small business enterprise.
It will include identifying the particularities of small business
management, analyzing process and life cycle, focusing on growth, and taking
an emphasis on total quality management. Prerequisites: ACC 216, BUS 201 and
junior standing.
(4 credits)
Business Administration Core requirements
ACC 215 - Principles of Financial Accounting
(4 credits) This course covers the basic introduction to financial management and financial accounting, including an understanding of the concepts, principles and practices in these areas.
ACC 216 - Principles of Managerial Accounting
(3 credits) This course covers the basic concepts, principles and practice in managerial accounting, including the use of accounting in management decision- making. Prerequisite: ACC215.
BUS 200 - Principles of Marketing
This course introduces students to marketing terminology; defines the elements necessary in moving a product, service or idea from concept to market sales; and enables students to understand and replicate the marketing process at an entry level.
(2 credits)
BUS 201 - Principles of Management
(2 credits) This course introduces the student to the basic principles of
management. It includes the understanding of manager's actions in the
work place, on the organization and employees. It includes the study of
basic management tools and techniques.
BUS 221 - Introduction to Legal Environment
The goal of this course is to provide the student with an introduction to
the American legal system from a Christian perspective. Emphasis is placed
on those topics which are particularly relevant to business and business
transactions. (2 credits)
BUS 300 - Principles of Finance *
(2 credits) This course covers the basic principles, theory and techniques of financial decision-making in the structure of a corporation. Prerequisites: ACC215 and 216 and MAT117.
BUS 403SR - Strategic and Ethical Management
(4 credits) This capstone management major course is designed to assist students in
analyzing and synthesizing the material covered in other courses throughout
their studies along with integrating their faith with that of their business
education. It focuses on an integrated approach to management
decision-making using all of the functional areas of business with an
emphasis on strategic thinking. Prerequisites: Completion of business core
and senior class standing.
Choose one course:
AGR 310WI - Agribusiness Writing
(2 credits) (Writing intensive) Agribusiness Writing is an interdisciplinary writing course focused on the
study and practice of written communication essential to success in the
professional world. The course explores techniques and strategies specific
to agribusiness writing through lectures, exercises, collaborative projects,
and individual writing assignments.
Prerequisites: Sophomore standing and two ACC, AGR, BUS, or ECO courses.
BUS 315WI - Business Writing
(2 credits)(Writing intensive) Business Writing is an interdisciplinary
writing
course designed to provide instruction on writing skills relevant to the
workplace. The course focuses on the practice and study of methods of
written communication that are utilized in the professional world. This
course explores techniques and strategies specific to business writing
through in-class lectures and exercises, a group project, and individual
writing assignments.
Prerequisites: Sophomore standing and two business classes.
Choose one course:
BUS 205 - Project Management
(2 credits) This course is an introduction to the field of project management. The main
objective is to gain a basic overview of how project management is an art, a
science, and a practice. Students will gain technical skills but even more
importantly soft skills. Projects are about people, working with people,
using skills like communication, working effectively in teams, interpersonal
skills, time management, critical thinking, and organizational skills that
are all highly valued by employers. The course will emphasize experiential
learning and collaborative learning. Prerequisites: BUS200 or BUS201.
BUS 210 - New Venture Innovation
(2 credits) This course is a foundational course designed to inspire and engage students
in dimensions that drive new ideas as well as the methods and tools to
develop innovation and problem solving. Students will address practical
problems associated with starting a business, including a feasibility
analysis. The focus is to empower learning through entrepreneurial thinking
and immerse students in experiences that will develop skills for new
ventures. This course will be of value to students of all majors and
requires no specialized knowledge.
Cognate requirements:
CSC 120 - Business Data Analysis using Spreadsheets
This course teaches students to use spreadsheets to organize, calculate, analyze, and report on business data. Topics include using built-in statistical, logical, lookup, and financial functions, writing custom formulas and conditional formulas, using built-in data analysis tools, presenting information with charts and graphs, creating PivotTables and PivotCharts, exporting and importing data to and from other applications, sharing data on the World Wide Web, and using macros to automate tasks. The course will culminate by developing key performance indicators (KPIs) and dashboards. (2 credits)
ECO 213 - Principles of Microeconomics
Microeconomics deals with price determination and how the price system functions. Supply and demand, output, competition, monopoly, resource pricing, international trade and finance will be studied. (4 credits)
ECO 214 - Principles of Macroeconomics
Macroeconomics concerns itself with economic aggregates such as inflation,
unemployment, recessions, national debt, and income inequality international
trades. Macroeconomic models will be introduced. These models will be used
to understand the application of monetary and fiscal policy. (4 credits)
MAT 117QR - Applied Statistics for Management
(3 credits)(NWCore option under Quantitative Reasoning) The course is
designed to study statistical methodology commonly used in
business including descriptive statistics (the nature of data and how to
summarize it), basic probability concepts, and inferential statistics
(making claims or decisions from one or more sets of data using
confidence intervals and multiple types of hypothesis testing).
Note: Students may receive credit for only one course among MAT
116QR, MAT 117QR and MAT 208.
Prerequisites: C- or better in MAT090, an ACT math score of 20 or above
(SAT 510 or above), a passing score on the basic algebra placement exam,
or permission of instructor.
Total credits required: 55-56
Note:
*BUS300 is waived for students who have taken ACC315 and 316
