Degree requirements Sample curriculum

Students in this concentration study finance, risk management and economics as applied to management of a complex farm enterprise or ownership of rural real estate.

Students prepare to manage farms as owners, tenants, or employees; to work as professional farm managers for off-site owners; and to work in real estate appraisal, which requires state certification.

Students working at computers speaking with their instructor

Learn

Study the business, economics, and finance of commercial agriculture. Learn the complexities of managing a business, cost concepts, economies of scale, budgeting, financial statements, crop insurance, agricultural real estate, agricultural credit, and farmland as an investment.

Do

Gain valuable experiential insights about food and agribusiness through internships with leading companies. Travel and experience commercial agriculture through experiential learning opportunities domestically and abroad.

Advance

Shape the future of food production and engage in the business of feeding the world.  Operate a farm, manage farmland for investment owners, or use these valuable skills in ag lending, crop insurance, ag real estate, grain merchandising, commodity risk management, and supply chain management.

Sample Curriculum

Farm Management
Agricultural and Consumer Economics (ACE) Major (10KL5005BS)

NOTE: This is merely a sample schedule. It is not the only schedule by which classes may be taken.

First Year

Fall Course & Hours   Spring Course & Hours  
ACE 100 4 ACE 161 3
ACES 101 2 RHET or CMN 1011 3-4
RHET or CMN 1011 3-4 MATH 124 or 2342 3-4
MATH 124 or 2202 3-4 ECON 103 3
Natural Sciences 3-5 Natural Sciences 3-5

1 An acceptable substitute is CMN 111/112.
2 Other acceptable math sequence is (MATH 220 and MATH 231).

Second Year

Fall Course & Hours   Spring Course & Hours  
ACE 222 3 ACE 232 3
ACCY 201* 3 ACE 231 3
ACE 341 (consult advisor for section) 1 ACE 300* 3
ACE 262** 3 ACE 264** 3
Humanities 3 Humanities 3
Cultural Studies 3 Cultural Studies 3

* Prerequisites:
ACE 261/262: MATH 124 or 125
ACE 264: ACE 262 and MATH 124
ACCY 201: ACE 100 or ECON 102 or ECON 103; credit for or concurrent enrollment in remaining ACE 100, ECON 102, or ECON 103
ACE 300: ACE 100 or ECON 102
**Students who started ACE/FM in SP20 or earlier may meet the QR2 requirement with ACE 261 only, ACE 262/264, or ECON 202/203. Contact your advisor with any questions.

Third Year

Fall Course & Hours   Spring Course & Hours  
ACE 345* 4 ACE 360* 2
Advanced Composition 3 400-level International1 3
ACE 428 3 Soc/Behavioral Sciences 3
NRES 201* 3 Cultural Studies2 3
Humanities 3 ACES Electives 4

* Prerequisites:
ACE 345: ACCY 201
ACE 360: ACE 161 or CS 105
ACE 428: ACE 222 or FIN 300
ACE 432: ACE 232, and credit or concurrent enrollment in ACE 360
ACE 444:  ACE 240, ACE 345 or FIN 221 and ECON 302
NRES 201: MATH 234, CHEM 102
1 Choose from ACE 435, 436, 451, 452, or 455. May also be fulfilled by 3 hours of credit for studying abroad in an approved program.

2 Students entering UIUC as of Summer 2018 or later have 3 cultural studies general education requirements.  Students entering prior to Summer 2018 have 2 cultural studies general education requirements.

Fourth Year

Fall Course & Hours   Spring Course & Hours  
ACE 432* 3 ACE or ACES Electives 6+
ACE or ACES Electives 6+ Other Electives 6+
Other Electives 6+    

*Prerequisites:
ACE 432: ACE 232

Aaron Slack
Academic Advisor and Recruitment Coordinator

304B Mumford Hall
217-300-9528
aslack2@illinois.edu

Concentrations covered: Agribusiness Markets and Management, Farm Management, Finance in Agribusiness

Schedule an appointment
Aaron Slack