MBA: Food & Agribusiness Specialization

Develop Your Career in Agribusiness While Earning Your MBA

When you earn an MBA with a specialization in food and agribusiness as a Full-Time MBA or Part-Time MBA student, you'll take advantage of the thriving agribusiness environment at the University of Minnesota, learning about the future of food from farm to fork. 

One of the country's original land-grant institutions, the University of Minnesota is dedicated to its mission of promoting access to higher education and advancing knowledge benefiting communities, the state, and world through innovation. Surrounded by world-class global food companies and exciting startups evolving the way we grow and consume food, few institutions have more opportunities than Minnesota Carlson.

format
Format

Full-Time: On-campus 
Part-Time: In-person, Online, Remote

duration
Duration

Full-Time: 2 years 
Part-Time: Average 3.5 years

work experience
Work experience

Full-Time: Average 5 years 
Part-Time: Average 6 years 

start date
Start date

Full-Time: Fall (September) 
Part-Time: Fall (September); Spring (January); Summer (June) 

Curriculum: Food and Agribusiness Specialization

In this specialization, you'll take 12 credits of food and agribusiness MBA courses. Additionally, you should consider incorporating involvement in organizations to develop your skills. Please note, not all courses listed are offered every semester. Use the One Stop Class Schedule to verify each semester's course offerings and the assigned professor.

Students should complete 12 credits from the following list:

  • APEC 5411: Commodity Marketing - 3 Credits*
  • APEC 5451: Food Marketing Economics - 3 Credits*
  • APEC 5481: Futures and Options Market - 3 Credits*
  • APEC 5831: Food and Agribusiness Marketplace - 2 Credits
  • APEC 5832: The Business of Food Systems - 1 Credit*
  • MGMT 6411: Corporate Responsibility - 2 Credits

*MBA students are eligible to petition to have a maximum of 8 credits of courses from outside of the MBA Program count towards their MBA Electives requirement. These courses will require approval from the instructor and Applied Econ Department for registration.

We recommend students pursuing a food and agribusiness specialization consider incorporating professional development into their education to obtain a well-rounded business foundation. The following opportunities exist at Carlson and across the University of Minnesota:

Food and agriculture MBA students discussing concepts by white board

Gain Skills for the Future of the Food Development Industry

No matter your career aspirations, Minnesota Carlson is here to support you. Connect to a wide range of opportunities and companies that directly shape or impact the landscape of food and agribusiness. You can work with the Carlson Business Career Center (CBCC) to search for jobs, polish your resume, and practice your interview skills. It's a one-stop shop to help you on every step of your career journey.

The following are among the many employers that recruit talent from Minnesota Carlson:

  • Amazon
  • General Mills
  • Hormel
  • Land O' Lakes
  • Organic Valley
  • Target
Explore Careers
2

of the United States' largest food and agriculture companies are in Minnesota1

#48

in agricultural sciences according to U.S. News and World Report in 2022-20232

More Ways to Customize Your MBA

Explore our other specialization options:

More Specializations

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore some of our frequently asked MBA specialization questions below.

Apply to the MBA program using our online application. You will not apply to the specialization. Request information for the Full-Time or Part-Time MBA program and we're happy to answer any outstanding questions.

Generally, specializations require students to complete a track of 12-13 credits of courses within a specified subject area. Course recommendations for each specialization are outlined on the documents posted on the specialization webpage.

Yes. Choosing a specialization is not required, and you can change your pathway during your program to pursue another.

A specialization indicates your mastery of and demonstrated interest in a specific area of business, as well as your commitment to that area. Being able to tailor your degree to your goals makes you uniquely qualified for the roles you're planning to pursue after graduation.

Graduates pursue a wide range of careers. Our graduates work for large corporations like Target, General Mills, Amazon, and Schwan’s Food Company.

Stay Connected

We’d love to hear from you. Fill out the form, and we’ll be in touch shortly to learn more about your goals and how we can help.

Sources

  1. 15 Biggest Agricultural Companies in the U.S. Yahoo Finance.
  2. U.S. News Education Rankings. U.S. News & World Report.