Basic business literacy can benefit all graduates, whatever their field or intended career may be. When entering the professional world, CALS students increasingly encounter situations that require an understanding of basic business and management concepts. The certificate in business management for agricultural and life sciences can provide students the business skills that employers value.
The certificate offers students in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) the opportunity to gain business knowledge and have it recorded on their transcript. The certificate is designed specifically for students intending to pursue careers in agriculture and life sciences, and enrollment is open only to undergraduates currently enrolled in CALS. This professional credential is offered by the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, the Department of Life Sciences Communication, and the Renk Agribusiness Institute.
How to Get in
To declare this certificate, students must be admitted to UW–Madison and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS). For information about becoming a CALS first-year or transfer student, see Entering the College. Contact the advisor listed under the Advising and Careers tab for more information or to declare the certificate.
Students may not earn this certificate in conjunction with a BS in Agricultural Business Management.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Completion of the certificate requires a total of six courses. | ||
| The following four courses are required: | ||
| A A E 101 | Introduction to Agricultural and Applied Economics | 4 |
| LSC 270 | Marketing Communication for the Sciences | 3 |
| GEN BUS 310 | Fundamentals of Accounting and Finance for Non-Business Majors | 3 |
| GEN BUS 311 | Fundamentals of Management and Marketing for Non-Business Majors | 3 |
| Select two courses from the following: | 5-6 | |
| The International Agricultural Economy | ||
| Agricultural Systems Management | ||
| Commodity Markets | ||
| Cooperatives and Alternative Forms of Enterprise Ownership | ||
| Introduction to Data Analysis using Spreadsheets | ||
| Agricultural Finance | ||
| Economic Decision Analysis | ||
| Food Systems and Supply Chains | ||
| Quantitative Methods in Agricultural and Applied Economics | ||
| Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Technology | ||
| Dairy Herd Management I | ||
| Dairy Herd Management II | ||
| Dairy Farm Management Practicum | ||
| Research Methods in the Communication Industry | ||
| Science, Media and Society | ||
| Social Media for the Life Sciences | ||
| Brand Strategy for the Sciences | ||
| Total Credits | 18-19 | |
- No substitutions are allowed for the core courses.
- Students may count no more than two courses toward both their major requirements and these certificate requirements.
- Minimum average 2.000 GPA in all certificate courses.
- 12 credits in the certificate must be taken in residence.
Certificate Completion Requirement
This undergraduate certificate must be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree. Students cannot delay degree completion to complete the certificate.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand general business concepts.
- Understand business management fundamentals in an agricultural and life sciences context.
- Understand economics, marketing and communication as they relate to business management in agricultural and life science industries.
Advising and Careers
For academic advising information, please visit: aae.wisc.edu/undergrad/advising
Students pursing the certificate in business management for agricultural and life sciences are often interested in careers such as running a research lab, managing the books on their family farm, banking, business analysis, marketing, or management and sales, depending on their major. When combined with their major, the certificate can provide a basic background in business management that many employers find valuable.
Students can use the services provided by the CALS Career Services Office, which include help with creating a resume or cover letter and mock interviews. CALS students also have access to Handshake, an online job/internship posting tool that provides students with hundreds of job and internship listings.
People
Faculty
Conroy, Tessa
Du, Sheldon
Mitchell, Paul
Nicholson, Charles
van Rijn, Jordan
Shi, Guanming (Chair)
Stevens, Andrew
Faculty associates
Beach, Jeremy
Berner, Courtney
Undergraduate advisor
Thaw, Michaela
Wisconsin Experience
Internships
Students declared in the Certificate in Business Management for Agricultural and Life Sciences may choose to do an internship to get some experience in their field of interest. They can use the services provided by the CALS Career Services Office to help find an internship, including Handshake, an online job/internship posting tool that provides students with hundreds of job and internship listings.
Renk Scholarship Program
Students declared in the Certificate in Business Management for Agricultural and Life Sciences are eligible to apply for the Renk Scholarship Program, which can provide scholarships for up to three years. The Renk Scholarship Program is part of the Renk Agribusiness Institute and emphasizes leadership in contemporary agricultural issues and activities linked to agribusiness.
Resources and Scholarships
Renk Scholarship Program
Students declared in the Certificate in Business Management for Agricultural and Life Sciences are eligible to apply for the Renk Scholarship Program, which can provide scholarships for up to three years. The Renk Scholarship Program is part of the Renk Agribusiness Institute and emphasizes leadership in contemporary agricultural issues and activities linked to agribusiness.