Agriculture Business Management
Complete your degree in two years!
The Southwestern Illinois College Agriculture Business Management program aims to prepare students for careers in production agriculture and farm-related businesses.
Students completing the Agribusiness Management Program will find a great demand for their skills and services in the ag chemicals, feed, fertilizer, grain, seeds and other agri-related supply and service businesses.
CONTACT THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Spencer Schuchman
spencer.schuchman@swic.edu
Agriculture Business Management Degree
Associate in Applied Science Degree (0082)
The Agriculture Business Management program is completed over a series of 4 semesters,
2 Fall semesters and 2 Spring semesters.
First year
Fall Semester
| Course Number | Course Description | Credits |
| AGRI 121 | Soil Science | 4 |
| AGRI 135 | Crop Science | 4 |
| COMM 151 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking OR | |
| COMM 155 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| ENG 101 | Rhetoric & Composition I | 3 |
| HES 151 | Personal Health & Wellness OR | |
| HES 152 | First Aid – Medical Self Help | 2 |
| Total Semester Credits | 16 |
Spring Semester
| Total Semester Credits | 14-15 | |
| Course Number | Course Description | Credits |
| AGRI 100 | Intro to Ag Business Management | 3 |
| AGRI 152 | Agricultural Economics | 3 |
| AGRI 220 | Internship | 1 |
| ACCT 110 | Financial Accounting | 4 |
| BUS 102 | Business Mathematics OR | |
| MATH 112 | College Algebra | 3-4 |
Second year
Fall Semester
| Total Semester Credits | 16 | |
| Course Number | Course Description | Credits |
| ACCT 111 | Managerial Accounting4 | 4 |
| MGMT 214 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| Agribusiness Elective Selection | 3 | |
| Agribusiness Elective Selection | 3 | |
| Agribusiness Elective Selection | 3 |
Spring Semester
| Total Semester Credits | 15 | |
| Course Number | Course Description | Credits |
| AGRI 104 | Ag Application of the Computer OR | |
| BUS 209 | Business Computer Systems | 3 |
| AGRI 220 | Internship | 3 |
| Human Relations or Non-Western Elective Selection | 3 | |
| Agribusiness Elective Selection | 3 | |
| Agribusiness Elective Selection | 3 |
| Total Program Credits | 61-62 |
Refer to the Online Course Catalog or Class Search link in eSTORM for a full course description.
Agribusiness Elective Selections
| Course Number | Course Description | Credits |
| AGRI 111 | Animal Science | 4 |
| AGRI 180 | Plant Pest Management | 4 |
| AGRI 211 | Crop Machinery and Equipment | 3 |
| AGRI 213 | Soil Fertility and Fertilizers | 3 |
| AGRI 216 | Agricultural Sales | 3 |
| AGRI 217 | Agriculture Finance | 3 |
| AGRI 218 | Agriculture Marketing | 3 |
| AGRI 220 | Internship OR | |
| AGRI 299 | Special Topics in Agriculture | Variable |
| AVIA 126 | UAS Pilot Certification OR | |
| AVIA 226 | Advanced UAS Professional Pilot Certification | 1-4 |
| BIOL 100 | General Biology OR | |
| BIOL 101 | Principles of Biology 1 | |
| BIOL 151 | Plants and Society* | 4 |
| BUS 215 | Business Law | 3 |
| BUS 220 | Data Analytics for Business | 3 |
| BUS 241 | Fundamentals of Finance | 3 |
| BUS 261 | Business Communications | 3 |
| CHEM 101 | Introductory Chemistry* | 5 |
| COMM 151 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking OR | |
| COMM 155 | Interpersonal Communications | 3 |
| ECON 201 | Principles of Economics 1 (macro) | 3 |
| ECON 202 | Principles of Economics 2 (macro) | 3 |
| ENG 102 | Rhetoric and Composition 2* | 3 |
| ENG 203 | Technical, Scientific, and Professional Communication* | 3 |
*Some courses may have requisites. Refer to the Course Description Guide in the yellow section of the Course Catalog
Agriculture Business Management Career Overview
Graduates of the Associate in Applied Science in Agriculture Business Management program will be well-prepared to enter a variety of in-demand roles across the agricultural field. This degree program equips students with the skills needed to support and manage agricultural operations, finance, marketing, and supply chains.
Career opportunities for graduates include:
- Budget Analyst
- Buyer and Purchasing Agent of Farm Products
- Farm and Ranch Manager
- Financial Analyst
- Insurance Adjuster
- Marketing Specialist
- Sales Manager
- Agribusiness Sales Representative
- Agricultural Buyer or Purchasing Assistant
- Farm or Ranch Assistant Manager
- Grain Elevator or Cooperative Associate
- Agricultural Finance Support Staff
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (2021), there are approximately 59,400 job openings annually, with a 2.6% growth in employment opportunities over five years. These positions typically offer compensation about 20% higher than the national average.
Regional Labor Market Snapshot (2019–2024):
- Total Jobs (2019): 2,973
- Projected Jobs (2024): 3,067
- Overall Growth: +3.2%
- Median Earnings: $24.58/hour ($51,100/year)
- Annual Job Openings: 472
Key Occupations and Growth Projections:
Buyers and Purchasing Agents
- Growth: +26% (from 799 to 1,006 jobs)
- Median Earnings: $30.42/hour
- Annual Openings: 125
First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
- Growth: +9% (from 67 to 73 jobs)
- Median Earnings: $23.20/hour
- Annual Openings: 14
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers
- Slight Decline: -6% (from 2,107 to 1,988 jobs)
- Median Earnings: $18.69/hour
- Annual Openings: 332
While some traditional roles like farmers and ranchers may see a modest decline, opportunities in management, procurement, and sales are expected to grow steadily, reflecting the evolving and increasingly business-focused nature of the agricultural industry.
Agriculture Business Management Scholarships
Students enrolled in the Agriculture Business Management program at Southwestern Illinois College have access to a variety of scholarship opportunities designed to support their education and career goals in the agricultural industry.