MASTER OF AGRIBUSINESS

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

MASTER OF AGRIBUSINESS

OVERVIEW

MAB PROGRAM AT A GLANCE

What is a Master of Agribusiness?•Nationally recognized intercollegiate degree offered by the Department of Agricultural Economics and the Mays Business School at Texas A&M

•Professional degree program uniquely focused on the food and agribusiness sector

•Emphasis is on applying economic analysis and quantitative methods as the basis for strategic decision making

•Case-based research and team performance are the cornerstones of the integrated strategic management and finance capstone courses.

MAB PROGRAM AT A GLANCE

Why pursue an MAB degree?•Processing, manufacturing, packaging, distribution and merchandising represent a vital part of the agribusiness industry and require skilled, strategic-minded professionals

•Increasing emphasis on functional foods, food safety, biotechnology, supply chain efficiency and sustainability requires specific knowledge

•Future challenges of consolidation, globalization, technology and market access will increase demand for prepared and capable agribusiness leaders

•Potential career areas include:• Financial and Economic Analysis• Supply Chain Management• Inspection and Quality Assurance• New Product Development• Procurement• Banking and Credit• Risk Management• Policy

Trends in Agribusiness

Food Assurance, Traceability & Security•Safety•Innovation•Traceability•Brands, private labels, country of origin labeling

Consumer Influenced Markets•Processing technology•Disposable income•Lifestyles•Emerging market economies

Globalization•Growing international demand and trade•Public interest vs. private goals•Logistic management•Mergers and acquisitions

Information Technology•ECR, TQM, CSM, JIT•E-Markets•Global dynamic change and speed response•Social media’s influence on market behavior

MAB PROGRAM AT A GLANCE

Who should apply for the MAB?•Students with bachelor’s degrees in:

• Agricultural Economics• Animal Science• Business• Economics• Soil and Crop Science• Agricultural and Bio-Systems Engineering• Food Science• Biomedical and Veterinary Science• Political and Social Sciences

•Individuals interested in gaining the strategic decision-making tools and analytical skills needed to solve complex problems and drive positive results as agribusiness leaders.

MAB PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• 245 MAB graduates as of May 2012

• 80% graduate in 2 years or less

• Placement over 90% within 3 months

• Typical MAB cohort includes:• 20-25 students• 50% male, 50% female• 100% work or internship experience• 1/3 international students• 1/3 US non-Texas A&M graduates• 1/3 Texas A&M graduates• 50% with BS in life sciences• 3.5 average GPA at graduation

MAB PROGRAM STRUCTURE

Agricultural EconomicsMays Business

School Electives

18 credit hours 12 credit hours Minimum of 9 credit hours

• Managerial Economics• Regression and Forecasting• Simulation• Environment of Agribusiness• Integrated capstone

courses in:• Financial Management• Strategic Management

• Marketing• Management• Accounting• Finance

Options:• Professional internship• Professional study• Elective courses in: • Finance• Accounting• Supply Chain Management• Enterprise Risk Management• Commodity/Energy Market Analysis• Trade and Policy Analysis• HR Development & Negotiations

TOTAL OF 39 CREDIT HOURS REQUIRED

Timeline: •Fall Entry, 12 credit hours/semester, December Graduation (16 months)•Spring Entry, 9 credit hours/semester, May Graduation (20 months)

MAB PROGRAM WILL HELP STUDENTS:

1) Build skills in economics and business analysis focused on the food and agribusiness system

2) Enhance abilities to understand and keep pace with dynamic global agribusiness

3) Develop competence in skills applications and the ability to perform individually and in culturally diverse teams

4) Build confidence through case analysis, oral and written articulation skills, and peer review techniques through continuous feedback and evaluation

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Food & Agribusiness Industry SymposiaEach Fall and Spring semester, the symposium provides a forum for industry leaders to share “top of mind” issues and topics regarding career development.‐ ‐

MAB Professional WorkshopsHeld regularly throughout the semester to help students prepare for professional placement and develop valuable, practical skills.

MentoringMAB Mentors are selected from the 2nd year students each fall to serve as mentors to the new students. This is a unique opportunity for students to develop leadership skills they can apply in their careers. In addition, one-on-one mentoring is provided for each student entering the MAB program to ensure that the graduate program is tailored to each.

MAB INDUSTRY PARTNERS

The primary focus of the MAB Industry Partnership Program is to support the MAB degree program and its students. All industry partners have the opportunity to become actively engaged in the classroom, with curriculum development and in recruiting students. The financial commitments of MAB Industry Partners are used to support the MAB students through scholarships and fund student development activities.

Current MAB Industry Partners

WE’RE IN DEMAND!

Recent employers of MAB graduates include:

•Aramark•Archer Daniels Midland•Bunge•Cargill•CoBank•Dairy Farmers of America•Dow AgroSciences•Farm Credit Bank•Frito-Lay North America

• H-E-B• JBS Swift & Co.• John Deere• Kraft• Monsanto• Novus International, Inc.• Safeway• Sysco• USDA

HOW TO APPLY

Prospective students are strongly encourages to make contact with the program manager early in the decision process to discuss admission requirements.

General Admission Requirements:•Application – applytexas.org•Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)•Test of English as a Foreigh Language (TOEFL) for international students•Grade Point Ratio (GPR) – minimum of 3.0 in the last 60 hours of undergrad work•Official Transcripts – from all previous college study•3 Letters of Recommendation•Statement of Purpose•Prerequisites in calculus, statistics, intermediate micro and macro recommended.

Preferred Application Deadlines:•Fall entry – March 1•Spring entry – August 1•Summer entry – November 1

See agecon.tamu.edu and ogs.tamu.edu for more information

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

AT A GLANCE

TEXAS A&M AT A GLANCE • Located in College Station,

Texas, 90 miles northwest of Houston

• Sixth-largest university in the country

• State’s oldest public institution of higher education with over 50,000 students.

• Unique combination of world-class academics with traditions and core values

• Land-, sea- and space-grant university

TEXAS A&M AT A GLANCE

Ranked second in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for “great schools, great prices”

Ranked second in the nation by The Wall Street Journal for universities from which corporations prefer to hire

SUPPORTED BY MANY

Endowment ranks in the top four nationally among public universities

The Association of Former Students is a powerful and vast network of alumni that provides millions of dollars in support each year.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

Student leadership with more than 800 student organizations

The Big Event is the largest one-day student-run service project in the nation.

Aggies Can is a huge student athlete run food drive that collects thousands of pounds of food.

TRADITION

Kyle Field is Home of the 12th Man and is one of the best places in the country to watch a college football game. Texas A&M has the largest student section in the nation and Midnight Yell takes place at midnight before each home football game.

Aggie Muster is held in more than 400 places worldwide each year on April 21 to honor Aggies who have passed away.

The Aggie Ring is the most visible symbol that connects Aggies around the world.

Reveille is the official mascot of Texas A&M and is the first lady of Aggieland.

The Corps of Cadets is still in place and Texas A&M is one of only three schools with a full-time cadet program leading to commissions in all branches of military service.

CONTACT US

Department of Agricultural Economics

Graduate Office

600 John Kimbrough Blvd., Suite 213

College Station, TX 77843-2124

Adam Burch, Program Manager

aburch@tamu.edu

979-832-6784

For more information, visit:

tamu.edu

agecon.tamu.edu

ogs.tamu.edu