Agribusiness Management and Rural Development
The Agribusiness Management and Rural Development program focuses on agribusiness and business development in nonmetropolitan regions. Businesses in these regions tend to be smaller and more self-sufficient which pose special challenges and opportunities. The program offers training in the use of accounting, marketing, finance, management, agricultural law, economics and computer applications allow students to successfully manage business for others or to manage their own businesses.
This degree program combines knowledge of business management and agricultural systems with an understanding of how the market economy works and the appropriate role of government regulation. Growth and production in the economy are examined in the context of natural resource conservation and agribusiness management.
Program Admission and Curriculum
Students who meet University admission requirements may be accepted directly into the Davis College as Agribusiness Management and Rural Development majors. To earn a bachelor’s degree, all students must complete 128 credit hours including the General Education Curriculum required by the University.
Core courses for this major include, but are not limited to, agribusiness accounting, agricultural and agribusiness economics, agribusiness management, applied demand analysis, rural economic development, marketing agricultural products, agribusiness finance, natural resources law, and environmental regulations.
In consultation with their academic adviser, students select 30 hours of electives to complement an intended career path. Four of the courses must be from the Davis College.
Complete course listings and descriptions can be found in the current WVU Undergraduate Catalog.
Employment Opportunities
There is high demand for graduates with degrees in Agribusiness Management and Rural Development. Graduates may find employment with agricultural cooperatives, agricultural supply firms, banks, family farms, and other entrepreneurial ventures. Average starting salaries for management trainees range from $30,000 to $40,000 with opportunities for advancement.
