Students in this concentration study finance as used in agribusiness, farming, financial institutions, and, more broadly, in the financial services industry.

Student sitting with instructor
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Learn

All aspects of the financial management of firms that are connected to agriculture and agribusiness, including the financial institutions and financial markets that serve the industry. Develop skills that are broadly applicable to financial services industries with specific exposure to real asset markets, insurance and investment activities, lending and credit evaluation, and management accounting.

Do

Have a summer internship with a bank, an agricultural lender like RaboBank, Farm Credit, or MetLife, or a company in the Research Park like Granular, Agrible, or John Deere.

Advance

Be a loan officer in a bank and other lending institutions. Find opportunities in investment and securities firms, firm financial management, insurance, real estate, and related fields. Discover job leads with commercial banks, private equity funds, Ag-Tech investors, the Farm Credit System, the Federal Reserve System, and the USDA’s Farm Service Agency, or develop programs with firms that finance purchases for producers such as GROWMARK and John Deere.

Sample Curriculum

Finance in Agribusiness
Agricultural and Consumer Economics (ACE) Major (10KL5004BS)

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  
ACCY 201* 3 ACCY 202* 3
ACE 341 FAA 1 ACE 264* 3
ACE 262* 3 FIN 221* 3
ACES Elective 3 Soc/Behavioral Sciences 3
Soc/Behavioral Sciences 3 Cultural Studies1 3
Cultural Studies 3    

* Prerequisites:
ACCY 201: ACE 100 or ECON 102 or ECON 103; credit for or concurrent enrollment in remaining ACE 100, ECON 102, or ECON 103
ACCY 202: ACCY 201
ACE 262: MATH 124
ACE 264: ACE 262
FIN 221: ACE 100 or ECON 102 or ECON 103

1 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.

Third Year

Fall Course & Hours   Spring Course & Hours  
ACE 345* 3 ACE 360* 3
ACE 300* 3 ACE 446 2
Advanced Composition 3 400-level International1 3
Humanities 3 Ag Fin Core Course2 3
ACE Elective 3 Humanities 3

* Prerequisites:
ACE 345: ACCY 201
ACE 300: ACE 100 or ECON 102
ACE 360: ACE 161 or CS 105
1 Choose from ACE 435, 436, 451, 452, or 455.  May also be fulfilled by 3 hours of credit from studying abroad in an approved program.
2 Take two of: ACE 427, 428, 447, 449, or FIN 300. Access to FIN classes cannot be assured, as registration may be restricted by the Finance department.

Fourth Year

Fall Course & Hours   Spring Course & Hours  
ACE 444 3 ACE or ACES Electives 6+
Ag Fin Core Course1 3 Other Electives 6+
Cultural Studies2 3 ACE or ACES Electives  

* Prerequisites:
FIN 300:Fin 221,consent of ACE Dept.
ACE 428: ACE 222 or FIN 300
ACE 444: ACE 240, ACE 345, or FIN 221 and ECON 302
ACE 446: ACE 240, ACE 345, or FIN 221; ACE 360
ACE 447: ACCY 301, ACE 444,or FIN 300
ACE 449: ACE 240,ACE 345, and ACE 300 or ECON 302
1 Take two of: ACE 427, 428, 447, 449, or FIN 300. Access to FIN classes cannot be assured, as registration may be restricted by the Finance department.

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.

Senior Academic Advisor
Caroline Helton

304A Mumford Hall
217-300-4825
chelton@illinois.edu

Concentrations covered: Agricultural Accounting; Finance in Agribusiness; and Financial Planning

Caroline Helton