Food and Agricultural Business Minor

Are you interested in a career with a food or agricultural business? If so, the food and agricultural business minor is designed for you.

Format: In person
Location: Ithaca, NY
Degree Awarded: Minor

Overview

This minor gives you the opportunity to select core business courses that are relevant to your personal and career interests, and take courses that specifically equip you to better understand the particular characteristics of food or agricultural sectors in the United States and abroad. Career opportunities exist in food processing, marketing and distribution, the production and marketing of agricultural products, and the businesses that support food and agricultural enterprises.

Who’s eligible for the food and agricultural business minor?

All Cornell undergraduates except students enrolled in the Dyson School, and any majors that include overlap of two or more core courses.

How many credits are required?

15 core credits on topics like the business and economics of food, agribusiness finance, accounting, management, and more. In addition, 3 credits in microeconomics. Visit the Cornell University Registrar for full course information.

Foundation course

This minor requires 3 credits in microeconomics. We recommend taking this course before taking the minor’s core requirements and require it to be completed by your sixth semester. A letter grade of a C or better is required.

Introductory microeconomics (3 credits)

One of the following courses is required:

Course code	Course title
ECON 1110	Introductory Microeconomics – SP 26 \| FA 26
ECON 3030	Intermediate Microeconomic Theory – SP 26 \| FA 26
PUBPOL 2000	Intermediate Microeconomics – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a

Core requirements

The minor’s requirements (15 credits) must be fulfilled by taking the courses from the list below. Please note that 9 credits must be SC Johnson College of Business courses, which include any course code of AEM, HADM, NBA or NCC. Of the courses taken, at least two of the five courses need to be 3000 level or above. You may not double count courses across the categories below. In the general business and management category, only one course may be taken per area. A letter grade of a C or better is required. Transfer courses are not permitted for core requirements. Students may not “double count” courses that overlap with the other business minors — the courses you choose may only count toward one minor. Nolan School students may use HADM 1410 to satisfy the microeconomics requirement. You may not use HADM course codes to satisfy any other requirements for this minor.

Core (3 credits)

The following course is required:

Course code	Course title
AEM 2310	Business and Economics of Food – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a

General business and management (6 credits)

Two of the following courses are required. Only one course per category may be taken:

Business Management

Course code	Course title
AEM 1200	Introduction to Business Management – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a
AEM 3020	Farm Business Management – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
AEM 3260	Cooperative Business Management – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a
HADM 1810	Introduction to Management – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26 n/a
ILRID 1700	Introduction to Organizations and Management – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26

Marketing

Course code	Course title
AEM 2400	Marketing – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
AEM 4150	Price Analysis – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26 n/a
HADM 2410	Marketing Principles – SP 26 \| FA 26

Finance

Course code	Course title
AEM 2050	Introduction to Agricultural Finance – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26 n/a
AEM 2241	Finance – SP 26 \| FA 26
AEM 5241	Finance – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a
HADM 2250	Finance – SP 26 \| FA 26

Accounting

Course code	Course title
AEM 2210	Financial Accounting – SP 26 \| FA 26
HADM 2230	Financial Accounting Principles – SP 26 \| FA 26

Electives (6 credits)

A minimum of 6 credits is required from the list below. A maximum of 3 credits may be taken in experiential courses.

Course code	Course title
AEM 2050	Introduction to Agricultural Finance – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26 n/a
AEM 2480	Food & Consumer Packaged Goods Industry Dynamics – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a
AEM 3020	Farm Business Management – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
AEM 3040	Dairy Markets and Policy – SP 26 \| FA 26 n/a
AEM 3270	Supply Chain Strategy and Supermarket Simulation – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26 n/a
AEM 4450	Toward a Sustainable Global Food System: Food Policy for Developing Countries – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26 n/a

Experiential

Course code	Course title
AEM 3290	International Agribusiness Study Trip – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26 n/a
AEM 3385	Social Entrepreneurship Practicum: Anabel’s Grocery – SP 26 \| FA 26
AEM 4050	Farm Credit Fellows – Agricultural Lending – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26 n/a
AEM 4460	Food Marketing Fellows (.5 cr) – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
HADM 4315	Nonprofit Social Enterprise and Food Justice – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26
HADM 4340	Catering and Special Events Management – SP 26 n/a \| FA 26

Academic policies

A minimum of 12 unique credits (outside of major’s core discipline) must be taken to complete any/all minors. Some majors may be required to take an additional course to satisfy this requirement. All courses must be taken in person (unless through Cornell’s SCE), and for a letter grade (grade of C or better is required).

More about our business minors

Learn more about our programs, policies and professional resources.

Current business minor students

You can manage your minor and track your progress using the Business Minors Dashboard.

I’m interested. What’s next?

After reviewing the requirements above and our Policies and FAQs page, you can begin the process using the Business Minors Dashboard.

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