Master of Agriculture with Specialization in Agribusiness New Mexico State University

The New Mexico State University Master of Agriculture program specializing in Agribusiness (MAG-AB) is an attractive graduate education alternative for individuals completing or holding undergraduate degrees in the various fields of agricultural and food sciences such as agronomy, horticulture, pest management, animal and/or range science, food processing/technology, agricultural education and/or communication, as well as degrees in agricultural economics and/or agricultural business and related fields.

MAG-AB Program provides students with backgrounds or interests in agriculture with graduate-level training in agribusiness and applied economics. The program is offered by the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) through the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agricultural Business (AEAB), and also draws from classes offered by the College of Business (CB).

Student Organizations

NAMA - National Agra-Marketing Association

Students may wish to join the NMSU chapter of the National Agra-Marketing Association (NAMA), established in 1994. NAMA Team participation prepares students for careers in agribusiness marketing, sales, public relations, and advertising. Team activities include field trips, work experiences, yearly professional development workshops, and the annual national marketing plan competition. The Team is also involved in volunteer/community service and several fundraising activities. Since 1994, NMSU NAMA teams have won more than 20 national awards, including the winning of the National NAMA Student Marketing Competition in April 2010. Please visit NMSU NAMA (NMSU Student Chapter) for more information about our organization:

Marta Ortigosa / unsplash

NAMA News

• National NAMA e-News
• NMSU NAMA Team Wins 2010 National Student Marketing Competition
• NMSU NAMA 2015-16

NMSU NAMA Student Research

For this year's competition, New Mexico State University's National Agra-Marketing Team (NMSU/NAMA) conducted a transplant research marketing study. Precision Transplant is a service that plants produce plugs to the field utilizing Tanimura and Antler’s (T&A) transplant tape. The team partnered with T&A to market their state-of-the-art equipment. This year's competition will take place in Kansas City, Missouri in April 2016.

Assistantships

Graduate assistantships in teaching and research are available through the department and awarded on a competitive basis.

• Teaching assistantships (TA) are awarded for the academic year (9 months). Teaching assignments for Teaching Assistants (TAs) are changed each semester; Teaching Assistants will often have work assignments with professors other than their advisor.
• Research assistantships (RA) are awarded for either 9 or 12 months. Research assignments for RAs are usually with the same faculty member for the duration of the student's program of study.

Assistantships (TA and RA) may be awarded for 10 hours (half-time) or 20 hours (full-time). Graduate students on assistantship are required to carry and complete at least nine graduate credit hours of graded graduate coursework per semester, which is considered to be a full course load. Students must also have a regular admission status to receive an assistantship and must maintain a graduate GPA of 3.0 to remain eligible for an assistantship.

All students with at least 10 hours of assistantship receive a waiver of out-of-state tuition.

• Application for Financial Assistantship Consideration form
• Your letters of recommendation/reference are to be uploaded to your graduate school application when you apply.

Advising

Faculty Advising

Upon entering the program, each graduate student is temporarily assigned to a Faculty member for advising by the Graduate Program Coordinator based on the student's areas of interest and career objectives. Eventually, students may remain or choose a new permanent Faculty Advisor that is usually in a student's principal field of interest. Faculty Advisors, along with advising students about courses, research, and job placement in that field, also assist advisee(s) to ensure they are on track for graduation. Graduate students are required to meet with their advisors on a regular basis to ensure graduation requirements are being satisfied.

Departmental Student Services Center

The Departmental Student Services Center maintains copies of all graduate student records and is located in Gerald Thomas Hall, Room 379. Irma Marshall, a full-time staff member, is the administrative assistant in the Departmental Student Services Center and familiar with the graduate school rules and regulations and provides additional support for the graduate students including applications for a graduate assistantship.

Agricultural Economics Club (AEC)

Who We Are

The Agricultural Economics Club (AEC) is a student organization for students interested in local, national, and world agricultural issues. The Club provides opportunities for students to gain practical knowledge on various aspects of the U.S. food supply chain. Moreover, the club is directly involved in harvesting, processing, packaging, and marketing the NMSU pecans. These club activities provide ample opportunities for students to gain real-world agribusiness management experience. The club membership is open to all students who have a general interest in food and agribusiness-related issues.

What We Do

As a club or as individuals we conduct research and discuss current Ag Issues and try to develop a better understanding of the U.S. food industry. We facilitate lively interactions between students and faculty and help students to develop professional networks with prospective employers and other industry professionals. We also represent NMSU through our participation in professional meetings, competitive events, and industry organizations.

Activities

• Weekly meetings
• Guest Speakers
• Local Industry Tours
• Social Events
• Community service
• Participation in Professional Organizations

Candidates for the Master of Agriculture (MAG) with a concentration in Agribusiness must successfully complete a minimum of 33 graduate credits. Students entering the Master of Agriculture program are required to have completed:

• intermediate microeconomics and intermediate macroeconomics,
• a college-level calculus class, and
• a course in statistics that included linear regression analysis.

All prerequisite courses must be completed with a B grade or better. AEEC 545 Advanced Agricultural Policy must be taken in the graduate program if an agricultural policy course was not taken as an undergraduate. Those students not having completed these courses may be admitted with the requirement that the deficiencies be completed at the beginning of the graduate program. Prospective graduate students must have at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA. Students with a GPA less than 3.25 must complete the GRE or GMAT exam.

All students in the MAG program must successfully complete the following:

Core Courses

• AEEC 551- Advanced Agribusiness Marketing- 3
• AEEC 556- Advanced Agribusiness Management- 3
• BFIN 503- Financial Management- 3
• ACCT 503- Accounting for Managers- 3

Additional Requirements

AEAB Block (6 hours)- 6

• AEEC/BFIN 511- Advanced Futures and Options Markets
• AEEC 520- International Agricultural Trade Theory and Policy- 3
• AEEC 526- Global Food Supply Chain Management- 3
• AEEC 540- Econometrics I- 3
• AEEC 550- Advanced Microcomputer Applications in Agriculture- 3
• AEEC 575- Economics of Water Resource Management and Policy- 3
• AEEC 585- Production Economics- 3
• AEEC 545- Advanced Agricultural Policy- 3

Internship, Creative Component, or Thesis (3- 6 hours)- 3- 6

• AEEC 595- Internship- 3
• AEEC 598- Creative Component Project- 3- 6
• AEEC 599- Master's Thesis- 15

Electives (~9- 12) - 12

Total Credits 33- 36