Sometimes it's difficult to find the best of two worlds in a degree program. Two areas of study may interest you, and it may seem that there's no way to bring the two together to suit your career goals. But, if you're looking for a field that has specialized as well as broad applications, a field with a wide range of career choices that will take you into the jobs of the future, then you should consider study in agricultural economics.
Agricultural economics applies the principles of economics to solve agricultural, agribusiness, natural resource and environmental problems. It's a major you'll enjoy if you like problem solving and have an interest in farming, business and business management.
Agricultural economics also involves studying several aspects of modern agribusiness from production to marketing to sales. An example of a project conducted by ag econ students might include pulling together information from several resources and analyzing the data to determine the most economical way of producing and selling a product. Their analysis may begin from the time that product is obtained or planted and include all the phases in-between until it is ready to sell to consumers.
Clemson University offers the Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural and applied economics with a major in agricultural economics (ag econ). Students majoring in ag econ select a study area to further tailor the program to their area of interest and career goals: Agricultural Business, Economics, International Trade and Development, Real Estate.
Small classes in ag econ allow our students to get well acquainted during
their academic career at Clemson. These close-knit relationships with each
other and with the faculty enhance their ability to learn and provide support
to succeed and reach their goals.
One of the many ways ag econ students interact after class is through the Agricultural Economics Club, which gives them a chance to do some fun things, such as having a pizza party with the faculty. They also attend professional meetings, sponsor speakers of interest to the group and go on field trips to businesses in the region. These trips provide exposure to careers and different types of industry, as well as allowing students to meet with potential employers for internships and permanent jobs after graduation.
Internships are available to ag econ majors. These short-term work opportunities give students additional hands-on experience and a look at the businesses and careers that appeal to them. Course requirements in the curriculum also incorporate practical experience; ag econ students serve as members of consulting teams on real-world problems.
Ag econ students who qualify can participate in the University's Honors Program, which provides academically gifted students with more opportunities for experimentation and research in the classroom. And, for students who want international experience, there are cooperative exchange agreements with schools in France, Scotland, Costa Rica and other countries.
Along with exposure to the University's Extension Service and Experiment Station, students can use department facilities, which include PC and Sun workstations, computer labs and a reading room/library with a library technical assistant available. Ag econ students also use the University's network of computers, which allows them to access information throughout the world on Internet and similar networks. The University's main library contains 1.7 million volumes, documents and serials, and the library is linked by computer terminals to more than 11,000 other libraries through a nationwide bibliographic network.
"It's an ag business degree; it covers everything and doesn't just specialize in one area . . . You can get a job in sales, in marketing, banking, a top economist position . . . I think it does make you more marketable." Ag Econ Senior
Because of the program's diversity and the opportunity to direct courses toward individual interests, ag econ students are prepared for a wide variety of careers. Between 1990-1994, 79 percent of department graduates had jobs by the time they graduated or soon after, and 18 percent chose to go to graduate school. Students in our department have the added advantage of a college Career Development Office to assist in their job search, as well as the regular University Career Placement Center. Faculty and alumni contacts also play a key role in helping students find the right career.
Ag econ alumni hold a variety of jobs. Some distinguished positions held by alumni include the assistant deputy secretary for textiles and apparel in the Bush administration (U.S. Department of Commerce), Augustine Tantillo, who negotiated fiber agreements; and a president of CoBank in Atlanta, Ga., William Clayton.
Originally Clemson Agricultural College, the University was founded in 1889, a legacy of Thomas Green Clemson, a scientist and agriculturist. Today, major emphases in research at Clemson include agriculture and natural resources, engineering and science, management and marketing, textiles and quality of life, with strong support programs in the liberal arts, social sciences and humanities.
The University has an enrollment of 16,300 students and offers 73 undergraduate and 72 graduate areas of study in five academic colleges. The main campus, which lies in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the shores of Lake Hartwell, comprises 1,400 acres and represents an investment of more than $547 million in permanent facilities. The University is midway between Atlanta, Ga., and Charlotte, N.C., and located in a beautiful area near mountains and lakes--an ideal location for recreational activities such as sailing, snow and water skiing, hiking, fishing and camping.
Some of the companies and agencies that recruit our students for permanent
positions and internships include:
Ag econ students enjoy a family-type atmosphere and a lot of one-on-one interaction with the faculty members; the student-faculty ratio is 5:1. All the department faculty have doctorates, and no graduate students teach required courses. The faculty members are active, not only in the classroom, but through consulting activities with industry and research with the University Extension Service and Experiment Station. Their research and industry contacts give students exposure to innovations and technology unavailable to others, and students have an opportunity for involvement on some projects.
In addition to membership in professional organizations, many faculty members have been recognized for their outstanding achievements and service:
Along with attention in the classroom and lab, our students receive guidance and direction in charting their career path. Every student is assigned an adviser who will help him or her in selecting the courses that meet individual career needs and University requirements.
"I think everything is done on a more personal basis in this department. They know you one-on-one, whether it is your adviser or the other professors, because there are professors who I haven't had who know my name. They'll see you in the hall and say Hey, or How's your class going? How's your project going? Let's see if I can help you on it." Ag Econ Junior
For More Information:
If you would like more information on the agricultural economics program,
please write or telephone us. We hope you can visit here in Clemson.
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2004 by Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Clemson
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