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The key word here is variety.  Food and Agricultural Business graduates work throughout the agri-food system, from the input supply sector (e.g., as a manager of a local farmers cooperative store or a marketing representative with an agricultural machinery manufacturer) to the food retail sector (e.g., as a manager of a food supermarket).  In between the two ends of the agri-food system are many other career opportunities (e.g., as a loan specialist, an insurance agent, a manager of a food processing plant, or a marketing representative with a food distributor). Graduates also work for agricultural commodity organizations and public agencies at the local, state and federal level.  And many graduates pursue careers with companies or organizations outside the agri-food system. For more information check Careers.

Because of the variety of career options available, the range on starting salaries is rather wide.  The median is somewhere around $35,000 per year with the range extending from around $30,000 to as high as $45,000.

In recent years, roughly 25% of our graduates have pursued graduate studies.  Many continue in the M.S. program in our Department.  A significant number over the years have gone on to successfully complete a law degree, others an MBA.

Students meet with one of the three faculty advisors in the Department during freshman or transfer orientation and typically meet with that advisor on a regular basis throughout their academic program.  These faculty advisors are also actively involved in the Department’s undergraduate teaching program.  This extended interaction allows for very personalized advising with regard to course selection, scholarships, internships, extracurricular activities, graduate or professional studies and career placement.  Working closely with a student over a period of years, the advisor can be a valuable advocate if issues or problems arise and provide a letter of reference or recommendation when requested.

The core of the curriculum requirements is the 36 hours of course work in the Department.  The eight required courses cover agricultural economics, farm and agribusiness management, food and agricultural marketing, agricultural finance and quantitative methods.  Students also choose four courses from areas such as agricultural law, professional selling, rural development, international trade, food and agricultural policy, precision farming technology and natural resource management.  This core is complemented by a set of required courses and directed electives from three areas: the University-wide General Education categories, the College of Business Administration (accounting, economics and statistics) and elsewhere in our College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (focusing on food and other related subjects).

A substantial percentage of our majors complete one or more internships with private companies, public agencies and industry organizations.  Students normally receive competitive pay, in addition to earning three hours of academic credit.  Internships are typically done during the summer, though some take place during the fall or spring semester.  Participation in an internship commonly leads to an offer of full-time employment upon graduation.

Approximately half of our majors each year receive scholarships from departmental or college sources, averaging about $2,000 per student.  This is in addition to the Hope Tennessee Lottery Scholarship and any guaranteed UT scholarships a student may receive.  Students must submit an application by February 1 for the following academic year.  Both merit and need are considered in the process of awarding scholarships.  For general information, click on Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

Majors can join the NAMA Marketing Team (National Agri-Marketing Association) which develops a marketing plan for a new product each year and travels to the national NAMA Conference to compete with teams from around the country.  The 2008 NAMA Marketing Team placed third nationally out of more than 30 teams.  The Department also has a student club that provides opportunities for developing leadership skills participating in social activities and learning about career opportunities.  Numerous college-wide clubs and organizations are also open to our majors.

Students can declare the major as freshmen or when they decide to transfer from a community college or different major at UT.  There are no minimum GPA requirements or prerequisite course requirements that must be met to associate with the major.

A faculty advisor works carefully with any student looking to transfer into the major and seeks to be as flexible as possible in assessing how previous credits can count toward meeting curriculum requirements.  The advisor takes the initiative in submitting substitution or waiver requests when appropriate.  The Department has developed articulation agreements with several community colleges which provide guidance on courses to be taken in preparation for transferring into the major.

For incoming freshmen, apply early in your senior year of high school, anytime after August 1 but no later than the December 1 deadline.  For transfer students, apply by June 1 for fall semester enrollment and November 1 for spring semester enrollment.  For more information on procedures and deadlines, click on UT Office of Admissions.