Advising Information
- Where Do I Go For Advice?
- What Courses Should I Take?
- What Courses Are Offered?
- What Else Must be Done to Graduate?
- What About Extracurricular Activities?
- Opportunities for Minors
There are at least four sources of information you can turn
to when you have a question. One is the University Catalog.
Every student should have a copy of the catalog. It can be purchased
from the Kennel Bookstore on campus. The catalog that applies
to you is usually the one in effect the semester you enroll
at California State University, Fresno. Transfer students may
choose the catalog in effect when they first entered an accredited
California community college or university. The requirements
for graduation in that catalog are the ones you are expected
to meet. Since graduation requirements change from year to year,
it is important that you always refer to the catalog that applies
to you. A second source of information is the Schedule of Courses
published each semester. This booklet can be purchased in the
Kennel Bookstore in April (for the fall semester) and November
(for the spring semester). It contains policies, calendars,
fees, exam dates, and times and locations of courses being offered
that semester.
A third source of information is other students. Networking
with your peers can provide valuable information on part-time
jobs, internships, and industry contacts as well as opinions
on elective course content and instructor teaching styles.
The fourth, and most important source of information is your
adviser. Every Agricultural Business major is assigned a faculty
adviser. Assignments are posted on the Departmental Bulletin
Board in the hall outside the Departmental Office (Peters Business
Building, Room 302). If your name is not listed, please notify
us. Students may request a change in adviser or express a preference
if unassigned. Information about each faculty adviser is included
in the biographical sketch section.
Faculty advisers serve as a resource. They can offer guidance
regarding your college education, job opportunities and advanced
degrees. They can also identify other campus and community resources
that may be helpful. Faculty offices are located on the third
floor (south wing) of the Peters Business Building. Departmental
faculty maintain an open door policy -- if the door is open,
come in. All faculty post office hours during which students
are welcome. If these hours are not convenient, you can make
an appointment by telephone. Each has an answering machine and
will get back to you as soon as they can if they are out when
you call. You can also leave messages at the departmental office
(278-2949).
It is a good idea to visit with your adviser at least once each
semester.
If you are unable to get help you need from your faculty adviser,
ask for assistance in the departmental office.
You are required to take a minimum of 128 units of coursework to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Business. Fifty-two of these 128 units are in General Education. Sixty units are in the major. The remaining units are electives.
General Education
The goal of General Education is to broaden the individual. The State of California requires that a certain number of courses in particular areas be studied. CSUF has divided these areas into Core, Breadth and Capstone. In Core, limited opportunity exists for student choice. You must take specific courses in English, History and Political Science. You may choose from several courses in the Math, Critical Thinking, and Speech categories. Prior to enrolling in the English and Math courses, you must take and pass the Entry Level Math (ELM) exam and the English Placement Test (EPT). Failure to pass either exam means that you must take remedial Coursework. Since Core Math and English courses should be completed during the first year of your college career, these tests should be taken at the earliest opportunity. Ag Ec 71 can be taken as the Math course in the Core area of General Education. The Breadth area of General Education is divided into nine areas. You must take one course from each area. Some of the courses in this area are particularly relevant to agricultural business and are "additional requirements" for an agricultural business degree. These include Chemistry 3A in Division 1, Biology (Biology 10, Botany 10 or Zoology 10) in Division 2, and Ag Ec 1 in Division 8. These courses should be completed by the middle of your sophomore year. Additionally, other General Education courses are recommended (Plant Sci 105 or Psych 10 in Division 3, Nutr 53 in Division 4). Two courses are required in Capstone. The Agriculture and Government Policy cluster (Ag Ec 150 and either Poli Sci 150 or Phil 125) satisfies the Capstone requirement. If you are a transfer student, nine units of your General Education must be taken at CSUF. Nine upper Division General Education units (courses numbered 100 or higher at CSUF) are required of all students. These courses must be taken after 56 units of coursework have been completed. Since six units of upper division credit are earned in Capstone, three additional units of upper division coursework must be taken in either Core, Breadth or Capstone. General Education courses cannot be counted in the major.
Major
Agricultural Science Foundation The agricultural science
foundation consists of four courses that should be completed
early in your college career (before your junior year). These
courses come from four different agricultural areas. One course
(Ag Ec 2) is an agricultural economics course. The other three
may be chosen from the areas of Ag Engineering Technology, Animal
Sciences, Enology, Food Science and Nutrition, Plant Science,
or Soils/Irrigation, The courses you will take will depend upon
your areas of interest as well as previous experience. For example,
if you plan to take advanced courses in Soils/Irrigation, then
you will want to make certain you have the necessary prerequisites.
Therefore, you may wish to take the introductory level course
as part of your agricultural science foundation.
Business Management Base
The business management base consists of courses in law, computers,
accounting, and mathematics. Courses taken to fill these areas
should be taken during the freshman and sophomore years. Introductory
Agricultural Law (Ag Ec 28) or Business Law (BA 18) satisfy
the law requirement. Ag Ec 76 or IS 50 meet the computer requirement.
A full year of accounting (either Ag Ec 31-32 or Acct 4A-4B)
is required. The mathematics requirement can be met by either
Ag Ec 78 or DS 71.
Agricultural Economics Core
The agricultural economics core consists of seven courses integral
to the major. Ag Ec 100 is the theory course that serves as
the foundation for many of the other upper division courses.
Therefore, it should be taken during the first semester of your
junior year. Ag Ec 120, 130, and 160 should also be taken during
the junior year. Ag Ec 110 and 170 should be taken during the
senior year. The seventh course in the agricultural economics
core is an upper division agricultural economics elective that
you choose.
Career Specialty
Four courses (12 units) form a career specialty. You decide
what particular area you are interested in studying and select
either a formal or a flexible concentration. A formal concentration
consists of four courses selected from a prearranged group of
courses focusing on particular areas. Flexible concentrations
can be composed of courses selected by you in consultation with
your adviser. The courses must be logically integrated. Six
of the twelve units in the career specialty must be upper division
Ag Ec courses to ensure cross-disciplinary integration with
the major.
If you are considering graduate school, you should take note
of the agricultural business master's degree preparation and
agricultural economics concentrations.
Electives
General Education and major coursework totals approximately
112 units. This leaves about 16 more units to earn before graduation
requirements are met. These 16 units of "free" electives can
be selected from anywhere in the University. Transfer students
will normally find that some of their community college courses
will not transfer as General Education or major requirements
and will be used in the electives area.
Recommended electives include three Ag Ec classes: 185T, 195,
and 194. Ag Ec 185T is an introduction to the university and
the professions in agriculture. It is strongly recommended that
you take this courses during your first semester in residence.
In addition, to getting acquainted with University policy, requirements,
and resources, you will learn time management, study, and personal
skills that will enable you to get everything possible out of
your college experience. Ag Ec 195 (career planning) should
be taken during your junior year. This course will provide you
with the skills necessary to market yourself and find that first
job. Ag Ec 194 is the internship course. A number of agricultural
businesses provide students with opportunities to work one day
per week and gain exposure to what goes on in particular segments
of the industry. While some of these are paid positions and
others are not, they are all valuable for the work experience
that can be gained. Many of our former students have moved into
positions with the firms for which they worked as interns. (Internship
units are not permitted as academic units in the major but do
count as electives.)
The Ag Ec courses required in the major are usually offered every semester. Some of the electives are also offered every semester. However, most elective courses are offered only every other semester as follows:
| Fall Courses | Spring Courses | Summer Courses |
| Ag Ec 114 | Ag Ec 124 | Ag Ec 185T |
| Ag Ec 122 | Ag Ec 128 | Ag Ec 194 |
| Ag Ec 140 | Ag Ec 136 | |
| Ag Ec 153 | Ag Ec 155 | |
| Ag Ec 164 | Ag Ec 162 | |
| Ag Ec 163 | ||
| Ag Ec 166 | ||
| Ag Ec 192 | ||
| Ag Ec 195 |
An Agricultural Business Tour Class (Ag Ec 192) is offered during Winter Break. There is the possibility of earning internship credit during the summer and occasionally a topics class (Ag Ec 185T) is taught during summer session. However, summer school students usually must take General Education and business school courses since Agricultural Economics courses are not usually taught.
What Else Must be Done to Graduate?
In order to graduate, you must meet all university and department
requirements. There are minimum requirements in terms of number
of units taken at CSUF (nine in General Education, 12 in the
major, 24 upper division, 30 total), and number of upper division
units (nine in General Education, 20 in the major, 40 total).
You must also satisfy the Upper Division Writing Requirement
by either passing the Upper Division Writing Exam or taking
a writing course (any course in the schedule of courses with
a W after the number.
During your second to last semester, you should meet with your
adviser and fill out the "Certification of Major Requirements."
During the first three weeks of your last semester, you must
file for graduation and pay a fee in the Joyal Administration
Building, Room 115.
What About Extracurricular Activities?
The National Agri-Marketing/Agricultural Business Club is
one of many clubs in the School where you can meet fellow students
and have fun at the same time as you prepare to meet your career
goals. The club sponsors an annual career day where successful
alumni return to campus to share their insights. The networking
that begins here carries into professional contacts that can
prove invaluable.
There are a wide range of other activities in which students
are involved. The university's athletic teams provide year round
entertainment. Cultural arts activities are also abundant. Taken
together, the strong curriculum, excellent faculty, and modern
facilities coupled with CSUF's location in the agribusiness
capital of the world make an unbeatable combination. We think
you will find CSUF a fantastic place to earn your college degree!
What is a Minor?
Various programs on campus offer "minors." A minor can complement
your major and offer additional training in an area of interest
to you. Minors usually require 21-24 units of coursework outside
the major. Careful sequencing of courses and attention to courses
taken in General Education can reduce the time required to earn
a minor but it will usually require an extra semester or a heavier
course load.
Advising sheets for the various minors are available in the
offices of the department offering the minor. Examples of minors
that might be of interest to students majoring in Agricultural
Business include:
Minor Office Phone
| Plant Science | AG 220 | 559-278-2861 |
| Animal Science | AG 230 | 559-278-2971 |
| Food and Nutritional Sciences | FFS 103 | 559-278-2164 |
| Accounting | PB 284 | 559-278-2852 |
How a Minor Works
Each minor is slightly different but an example illustrates how they work. You must complete all of the requirements for the major. Additionally, if you elected to pursue a minor in plant science, you would choose:
| 1 course from three basic plant science offerings | 3 units |
| 1 course from two soil/water courses | 3 units |
| 2 courses from three plant protection courses (requires botany and chemistry) | 6 units |
| 3 courses from a focus area | 9 units |
| Total | 21 units |
If GE courses in biology and chemistry were taken in the freshmen year, these courses could be taken over four years as follows:
| Year | Fall Courses | Spring Courses |
| 1 | Basic Plant Science | Soils/Irrigation |
| 2 | Plant Protection | Plant Protection |
| 3 | Focus Area | Focus Area |
| 4 | Focus Area |