Areas |
Employers |
Strategies |
ECONOMICS & BUSINESS
Appraisal
Consulting
Risk Management
Credit Analysis
Retail Management
Marketing
Sales
Public Relations
Finance and Banking
Economic and Policy Analysis
Commodity Trading
Farm Management
|
- Agricultural businesses
- Production industries
- Credit agencies, banks, brokers
- Real estate and appraisal services
- Public/private market analysis firms
- Farm information services utilizing mass
communications
- County agricultural offices
- Purchasing/supply firms
- Feedlot operations
- Federal government
- Private foundations
- Farm cooperative services
- Feed and seed companies
- Self-employment
|
Plan on securing a masters or doctoral degree for advanced positions.
Gain work experience in area of interest through
internships, co-ops, or summer or part-time work.
Get involved in campus and community organizations.
Learn the federal job application procedure for government
work. |
| |
| EXTENSION/EDUCATION |
- Schools
- Extension services
- Agricultural agencies
- Agricultural communications and
media firms
- Agribusinesses
- Government agencies
|
Obtain teacher certification for public school positions.
Develop excellent writing and speaking skills.
Take courses in economics and community
development.
Learn to work well with all types of people.
Develop strong interpersonal skills.
Be willing to live in rural communities for extension
positions. |
| |
BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING
Power and Machinery
Structures and Environment
Electronic Systems
Soil & Water Conservation
Food Engineering
Engineering Technology
|
- Equipment design, testing, and manufacturing firms
- Equipment and food industries including:
processing, packaging, and storing
- Quality control organizations for food, feed, or fiber
- Biotechnology research firms
- Environmental consulting firms
- Local, state, and federal government
- Public health service
|
Gain experience through co-ops or internships.
Develop strong math skills and problem solving abilities.
Earn an advanced degree for positions in research and development. |
| |
ANIMAL SCIENCE
Research
Inspection
Farm Production and Management
Veterinary Science
Sales
|
- Genetic research organizations
- Agribusinesses: meat, poultry, feed
- Government laboratories
- Livestock producers
- Feed companies; Feedlot operations
- Supply and equipment industries
- Extension services
- Veterinary practices
- Universities
|
Gain extensive laboratory and research experience.
Get experience in a veterinary medical practice and prepare for application to veterinary school.
Obtain knowledge of sales and business principles if interested in that area.
Develop good communication skills. |
| |
FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Quality Assurance
Research
Food Chemistry and Microbiology
Manufacturing & Distribution
|
Food industry, including:
- Processing plants
- Quality control units
- Manufacturing
- Distribution
- Government laboratories and regulatory agencies
such as the USDA
- Universities
|
Plan on securing advanced degrees for promotion.
Obtain laboratory and research experience.
Find a related internship.
Take additional courses in chemistry, biology, and microbiology. |
| |
FORESTRY
Forest Recreation
Resource Interpretation
Resource Management
Wood Products/Utilization
|
- Local, state and federal government
- Forestry Service
- USDA
- National and state parks
- Reserves
- Research Centers
- Lumber, pulp, and paper industries
- Private industry
- Landowners
- Nature centers
|
Develop physical stamina, resourcefulness, and outdoor skills.
Gain experience through volunteer opportunities or
internships.
Be willing to relocate. |
|
WILDLIFE & FISHERIES
Law Enforcement
Conservation
Resource/Range Management
Wildlife/Fisheries Biology
Aquaculture
|
Local, state, and federal government including:
- Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
- Wildlife refuges
- Management areas
- Private industries (e.g. aquaculture
production firms)
- County/municipal agencies
- Foundations, museums, nature centers, zoos
- Nonprofit organizations
|
Develop physical stamina, outdoor skills, and attention to detail.
Plan to earn a business minor or take additional
communications courses including conflict management.
Earn a minor in criminal justice for game management.
Develop interpersonal skills.
Obtain paid or volunteer experience while in school. |
| |
PLANT & SOIL SCIENCES
Crop Production Management
Research
Environmental Science
Plant Breeding
Soil and Water Conservation
Soil and Plant Tissue Analysis
Pest Management
Farm Management
Sales
|
- Extension services
- Federal agencies
- Agribusiness
- Construction agencies
- Plant propagation/production agencies
- International agricultural agencies
- Harvesting and fertilization manufacturers
|
Find a related internship.
Develop effective communication skills.
Supplement curriculum with courses in business, geology, entomology, or pathology depending upon interests. |
| |
ORNAMENTAL HORTICULTURE
& LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Growing/Production
Design
Landscape Construction
Nursery Management
Arboriculture
Turfgrass Management
Sales
Plant Therapy
|
- Landscaping firms
- Parks and amusement parks
- Golf courses
- Cemeteries
- Large hotels and resorts
- Industrial sites
- Wholesale growers: nurseries, greenhouses,
florists
- Retail outlets
- City and highway departments
- Botanical gardens and arboretums
- Floral designers
- Government agencies: local, state, and federal
- Colleges and universities
- Self-employed
- Health-related organizations and community
centers
|
Get practical experience in the field through internships or summer and part-time jobs.
Develop skills in speaking, writing, and
photography.
Minor in business if interested in management or
self-employment.
Be prepared to work seasonally or move to a climate where more year-round opportunities are available.
Earn Registered Horticultural Therapist licensure for plant therapy. |
| |
GENERAL INFORMATION
• For entry-level positions, a bachelor’s degree is sufficient. A master’s or doctoral degree is often necessary for advancement. Some federal and
privateagency work, consulting positions, and especially research positions require a graduate degree.
• Obtain volunteer, part-time, summer, internship, or co-op experience in field of study.
• Develop excellent computer skills.
• Join a student club or student professional association to network and cultivate related academic interests.
• Many students apply to professional programs such as pharmacy, medical, or veterinary school with an agriculture and natural resources background.
• Majoring in two subject areas or pursuing a minor can increase marketability. For example, study in landscape design and business can lead to
higher-level management opportunities.
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