Put your passion for agriculture into a meaningful and successful career with a degree in ag business from Graceland University.
Graceland’s Agricultural Business degree is designed to produce graduates who can quickly begin their careers as global agricultural professionals. Those in the agribusiness industry are responsible for farm management, production, and the marketing of agricultural-related materials such as livestock and crops.
Graceland offers unique opportunities for students to put their passion for agriculture into meaningful professional careers such as agricultural accounting, agricultural management, farming, conservation, ranching, and sales. A major goal of the agricultural business degree is that 100% of students will be employed as global professionals or pursuing an advanced degree in the first year after graduation.
Graceland’s rural location in southern Iowa puts students in the heart of the agricultural community, providing access to local resources for learning experiences, in addition to other academic and leadership opportunities.
Graceland is a proud member of the ACBSP.
In addition to the essential education requirements, majors in Agricultural Business must complete a concentration of 36 semester hours in Accounting, Agriculture, Business and Economics including:
Courses Required for General Education:
Recommended in addition to required courses for Agricultural Business:
Other Recommendations:
An introduction to the study of accounting dealing with the preparation and analysis of the balance sheet, income statement, and related accounting records. Prerequisites: One MATH course.
Exposure to accounting methods and taxation policies specific to agricultural producers and businesses. Prerequisite: ACCT2310 Financial Accounting.
Sustainable International Agriculture explores global issues, incremental and transformative steps toward sustainable agriculture, international development opportunities, current agricultural industries, educational pathways, and career options. Content includes emphasis on understanding the need for agricultural infrastructure and production, embracing sustainability, and appreciating broad-based, liberating (essential) education. ELO4 Global Learning - Sustainability
An analytical course in agronomy applying multiple perspectives in studying crops, soils, and environmental sciences to understand the interconnectedness of agricultural systems in global communities. Includes questioning the sources of assumptions about and the strengths/weaknesses of past innovations of production and management. Recognizes the soil and crops as the sources of food, fiber, and fuel and emphasizes the need for diverse innovation in varied ecosystems to improve global conditions. ELO4 Global Learning - Innovation +This course is only offered every other year.
Overview of agricultural management and markets including exposure to management of commodity/livestock production, product differentiation/promotion, pricing issues, and distribution opportunities/challenges. Prerequisite: ECON1320 Microeconomics.
Application of economics and financial resource allocation to agricultural businesses from producer to distributor to the end consumer. Content includes equity and credit practices for operations and for capital investments. Prerequisite: ECON1320 Microeconomics.
A decision-oriented overview of marketing management in modern organizations. The most basic objectives of the course are to provide students with a broad introduction to marketing concepts, the role of marketing in society and in the firm, and the various factors that influence marketing decision-making. Students will be exposed to and expected to learn the "language of marketing" (that is, terms, concepts, and frameworks) used by practicing marketing managers. Prerequisite: ECON1320.
An analysis of the problem of business and the functions of management in the determination of business policy in the various functional areas of the enterprise. Prerequisites: BUAD3320, BUAD3330, BUAD3380, and MATH1360.
Study of legal rules governing the usual business transactions and relations. Consideration of selected cases in areas such as contracts, agency, sales, negotiable instruments, private property, and bankruptcy. Prerequisite: Junior standing or above.
Analysis of the fundamental principles of the American economic system, centering on price, national income, international trade and finance, fiscal policy, monetary policy, money, and banking. Prerequisite: 1 year high school algebra; geometry recommended. ELO5 Social Science - World Citizenship, ELO5 Social Science - Innovation
Analysis of the fundamental principles of the American economic system, centering on price, production, market structures, and a survey of contemporary economic problems, e.g. sustainability. ELO5 Social Science - Sustainability
An introduction to economic data and statistical techniques commonly applied in business settings. Topics include understanding the basics of data interpretation, manipulation, and visualization. Students will learn how to carry out and interpret basic linear regression and other methods of statistical analysis in Excel.
Solutions of polynomial, rational and radical equations, systems of equations, matrices, sequences, series, functions, exponentials.. ELO6 Math, GE2B Foundational Skills-Mathematics/Quantitative.
A critical thinking approach to data analysis, measures of central tendency, dispersion, correlation, probability, estimation and hypothesis testing. ELO6 Math, GE2B Foundational Skills-Mathematics/Quantitative.
An introduction to the study of accounting dealing with the preparation and analysis of the balance sheet, income statement, and related accounting records. Prerequisites: One MATH course.
Exposure to accounting methods and taxation policies specific to agricultural producers and businesses. Prerequisite: ACCT2310 Financial Accounting.
Sustainable International Agriculture explores global issues, incremental and transformative steps toward sustainable agriculture, international development opportunities, current agricultural industries, educational pathways, and career options. Content includes emphasis on understanding the need for agricultural infrastructure and production, embracing sustainability, and appreciating broad-based, liberating (essential) education. ELO4 Global Learning - Sustainability
An analytical course in agronomy applying multiple perspectives in studying crops, soils, and environmental sciences to understand the interconnectedness of agricultural systems in global communities. Includes questioning the sources of assumptions about and the strengths/weaknesses of past innovations of production and management. Recognizes the soil and crops as the sources of food, fiber, and fuel and emphasizes the need for diverse innovation in varied ecosystems to improve global conditions. ELO4 Global Learning - Innovation +This course is only offered every other year.
Overview of agricultural management and markets including exposure to management of commodity/livestock production, product differentiation/promotion, pricing issues, and distribution opportunities/challenges. Prerequisite: ECON1320 Microeconomics.
Application of economics and financial resource allocation to agricultural businesses from producer to distributor to the end consumer. Content includes equity and credit practices for operations and for capital investments. Prerequisite: ECON1320 Microeconomics.
A decision-oriented overview of marketing management in modern organizations. The most basic objectives of the course are to provide students with a broad introduction to marketing concepts, the role of marketing in society and in the firm, and the various factors that influence marketing decision-making. Students will be exposed to and expected to learn the "language of marketing" (that is, terms, concepts, and frameworks) used by practicing marketing managers. Prerequisite: ECON1320.
An analysis of the problem of business and the functions of management in the determination of business policy in the various functional areas of the enterprise. Prerequisites: BUAD3320, BUAD3330, BUAD3380, and MATH1360.
Study of legal rules governing the usual business transactions and relations. Consideration of selected cases in areas such as contracts, agency, sales, negotiable instruments, private property, and bankruptcy. Prerequisite: Junior standing or above.
Analysis of the fundamental principles of the American economic system, centering on price, national income, international trade and finance, fiscal policy, monetary policy, money, and banking. Prerequisite: 1 year high school algebra; geometry recommended. ELO5 Social Science - World Citizenship, ELO5 Social Science - Innovation
Analysis of the fundamental principles of the American economic system, centering on price, production, market structures, and a survey of contemporary economic problems, e.g. sustainability. ELO5 Social Science - Sustainability
An introduction to economic data and statistical techniques commonly applied in business settings. Topics include understanding the basics of data interpretation, manipulation, and visualization. Students will learn how to carry out and interpret basic linear regression and other methods of statistical analysis in Excel.
Solutions of polynomial, rational and radical equations, systems of equations, matrices, sequences, series, functions, exponentials.. ELO6 Math, GE2B Foundational Skills-Mathematics/Quantitative.
A critical thinking approach to data analysis, measures of central tendency, dispersion, correlation, probability, estimation and hypothesis testing. ELO6 Math, GE2B Foundational Skills-Mathematics/Quantitative.
A minor in Agricultural Business consists of 18 semester hours as follows:
An introduction to the study of accounting dealing with the preparation and analysis of the balance sheet, income statement, and related accounting records. Prerequisites: One MATH course.
Exposure to accounting methods and taxation policies specific to agricultural producers and businesses. Prerequisite: ACCT2310 Financial Accounting.
Sustainable International Agriculture explores global issues, incremental and transformative steps toward sustainable agriculture, international development opportunities, current agricultural industries, educational pathways, and career options. Content includes emphasis on understanding the need for agricultural infrastructure and production, embracing sustainability, and appreciating broad-based, liberating (essential) education. ELO4 Global Learning - Sustainability
Overview of agricultural management and markets including exposure to management of commodity/livestock production, product differentiation/promotion, pricing issues, and distribution opportunities/challenges. Prerequisite: ECON1320 Microeconomics.
Application of economics and financial resource allocation to agricultural businesses from producer to distributor to the end consumer. Content includes equity and credit practices for operations and for capital investments. Prerequisite: ECON1320 Microeconomics.
Analysis of the fundamental principles of the American economic system, centering on price, production, market structures, and a survey of contemporary economic problems, e.g. sustainability. ELO5 Social Science - Sustainability
An introduction to the study of accounting dealing with the preparation and analysis of the balance sheet, income statement, and related accounting records. Prerequisites: One MATH course.
Exposure to accounting methods and taxation policies specific to agricultural producers and businesses. Prerequisite: ACCT2310 Financial Accounting.
Sustainable International Agriculture explores global issues, incremental and transformative steps toward sustainable agriculture, international development opportunities, current agricultural industries, educational pathways, and career options. Content includes emphasis on understanding the need for agricultural infrastructure and production, embracing sustainability, and appreciating broad-based, liberating (essential) education. ELO4 Global Learning - Sustainability
Overview of agricultural management and markets including exposure to management of commodity/livestock production, product differentiation/promotion, pricing issues, and distribution opportunities/challenges. Prerequisite: ECON1320 Microeconomics.
Application of economics and financial resource allocation to agricultural businesses from producer to distributor to the end consumer. Content includes equity and credit practices for operations and for capital investments. Prerequisite: ECON1320 Microeconomics.
Analysis of the fundamental principles of the American economic system, centering on price, production, market structures, and a survey of contemporary economic problems, e.g. sustainability. ELO5 Social Science - Sustainability
Data analytics certificates are designed to equip students with:
Data analytics certificates are broken down into three levels:
Students wishing to earn the Data Analytics for Agricultural Business certificate must complete the following 18 credit hours with Graceland University.
Exposure to accounting methods and taxation policies specific to agricultural producers and businesses. Prerequisite: ACCT2310 Financial Accounting.
Application of economics and financial resource allocation to agricultural businesses from producer to distributor to the end consumer. Content includes equity and credit practices for operations and for capital investments. Prerequisite: ECON1320 Microeconomics.
An introduction to the fundamentals of computer programming through extensive practice developing software in the Python language. Fundamental terminology and topics such as integrated development environments, variables, data types, control structures, functions, and objects will be covered. ELO4 Global Learning - Innovation
Introduction to the basic methods of analysis in Data Science and Data Analytics. This course introduces students to the basic statistical methods, coding applications, problem solving, and data integrity issues common to the field.
The course covers the basic aspects of a complete data analytics project. Students will use data sets obtained from community partners. Students will work in teams with each team producing a problem definition in conjunction with the client, conducting the proposed analysis directed at providing insight into the problem, and disseminating the results of the analysis in written and oral form.
An introduction to economic data and statistical techniques commonly applied in business settings. Topics include understanding the basics of data interpretation, manipulation, and visualization. Students will learn how to carry out and interpret basic linear regression and other methods of statistical analysis in Excel.
Exposure to accounting methods and taxation policies specific to agricultural producers and businesses. Prerequisite: ACCT2310 Financial Accounting.
Application of economics and financial resource allocation to agricultural businesses from producer to distributor to the end consumer. Content includes equity and credit practices for operations and for capital investments. Prerequisite: ECON1320 Microeconomics.
An introduction to the fundamentals of computer programming through extensive practice developing software in the Python language. Fundamental terminology and topics such as integrated development environments, variables, data types, control structures, functions, and objects will be covered. ELO4 Global Learning - Innovation
Introduction to the basic methods of analysis in Data Science and Data Analytics. This course introduces students to the basic statistical methods, coding applications, problem solving, and data integrity issues common to the field.
The course covers the basic aspects of a complete data analytics project. Students will use data sets obtained from community partners. Students will work in teams with each team producing a problem definition in conjunction with the client, conducting the proposed analysis directed at providing insight into the problem, and disseminating the results of the analysis in written and oral form.
An introduction to economic data and statistical techniques commonly applied in business settings. Topics include understanding the basics of data interpretation, manipulation, and visualization. Students will learn how to carry out and interpret basic linear regression and other methods of statistical analysis in Excel.
Sustainable International Agriculture explores global issues, incremental and transformative steps toward sustainable agriculture, international development opportunities, current agricultural industries, educational pathways, and career options. Content includes emphasis on understanding the need for agricultural infrastructure and production, embracing sustainability, and appreciating broad-based, liberating (essential) education. ELO4 Global Learning - Sustainability
An analytical course in agronomy applying multiple perspectives in studying crops, soils, and environmental sciences to understand the interconnectedness of agricultural systems in global communities. Includes questioning the sources of assumptions about and the strengths/weaknesses of past innovations of production and management. Recognizes the soil and crops as the sources of food, fiber, and fuel and emphasizes the need for diverse innovation in varied ecosystems to improve global conditions. ELO4 Global Learning - Innovation +This course is only offered every other year.
Overview of agricultural management and markets including exposure to management of commodity/livestock production, product differentiation/promotion, pricing issues, and distribution opportunities/challenges. Prerequisite: ECON1320 Microeconomics.
Application of economics and financial resource allocation to agricultural businesses from producer to distributor to the end consumer. Content includes equity and credit practices for operations and for capital investments. Prerequisite: ECON1320 Microeconomics.
Internship with professionals who are in agricultural business. The student takes an active role in identifying and arranging for a field sponsor. Repeatable to a maximum of 12 hours. (Graded on a Pass/Fail basis.) Prerequisite: Instructor’s consent.
Selected topics in agricultural business as determined by student interest and instructor expertise. Topics will be announced prior to each semester they are offered. Course may be repeated for credit when the topics vary.
A capstone experience for students to apply their skills and education in agricultural business in a practicum setting (preferably in the type of business in which they gain future employment) and present their experience and education in a seminar with other students.
Sustainable International Agriculture explores global issues, incremental and transformative steps toward sustainable agriculture, international development opportunities, current agricultural industries, educational pathways, and career options. Content includes emphasis on understanding the need for agricultural infrastructure and production, embracing sustainability, and appreciating broad-based, liberating (essential) education. ELO4 Global Learning - Sustainability
An analytical course in agronomy applying multiple perspectives in studying crops, soils, and environmental sciences to understand the interconnectedness of agricultural systems in global communities. Includes questioning the sources of assumptions about and the strengths/weaknesses of past innovations of production and management. Recognizes the soil and crops as the sources of food, fiber, and fuel and emphasizes the need for diverse innovation in varied ecosystems to improve global conditions. ELO4 Global Learning - Innovation +This course is only offered every other year.
Overview of agricultural management and markets including exposure to management of commodity/livestock production, product differentiation/promotion, pricing issues, and distribution opportunities/challenges. Prerequisite: ECON1320 Microeconomics.
Application of economics and financial resource allocation to agricultural businesses from producer to distributor to the end consumer. Content includes equity and credit practices for operations and for capital investments. Prerequisite: ECON1320 Microeconomics.
Internship with professionals who are in agricultural business. The student takes an active role in identifying and arranging for a field sponsor. Repeatable to a maximum of 12 hours. (Graded on a Pass/Fail basis.) Prerequisite: Instructor’s consent.
Selected topics in agricultural business as determined by student interest and instructor expertise. Topics will be announced prior to each semester they are offered. Course may be repeated for credit when the topics vary.
A capstone experience for students to apply their skills and education in agricultural business in a practicum setting (preferably in the type of business in which they gain future employment) and present their experience and education in a seminar with other students.
Students enrolled in Graceland’s agricultural business major are in close proximity to university-owned test plots and area agricultural experts because of the schools location in rural Iowa.
Students can enroll in The Agricultural Business Club, which offers leadership development through annual events and officer responsibilities.
In order to focus on a specific aspect of agribusiness or expand their business knowledge, students can easily double or even triple major in other business related programs. Graceland also offers an agricultural plant and animal sciences minor to provide students even more skills toward their career.
If you’re passionate about agriculture and business, there are endless opportunities for you in your professional career. We make it a point to ensure our students all graduate into employment or are well-prepared for a graduate program with us. An Agricultural Business major from Graceland University can help to prepare you for these careers:
…and many other exciting fields.
99% of students on the Lamoni campus receive financial aid.
As you consider college, you want a simple, easy-to-understand formula designed to ensure that the one-of-a-kind Graceland Experience is within reach for your family. Undergraduate tuition includes our unique Transformational Leadership major, and we offer generous financial aid and scholarships to all of our students, making Graceland as affordable, if not moreso, than most public universities.
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