Agricultural Business Degree Goes Online With Colorado State

Are you interested in the business end of farming? Are you interested in making a lucrative career out of growing crops and feeding the nation? Then you might be interested in the new online degree completion option being offered at Colorado State University — agricultural business. What’s more, they are hosting an event to discuss the program at nearby Northeastern Junior College, where the corresponding associate’s program is offered.

“Our northeast Colorado economy is built on the strength of agriculture,” said Lance Bolton, president of Northeastern Junior College. “We know many of our current and former students will embrace the opportunity to complete their agricultural business degree through this new online option. We applaud CSU’s efforts to increase access to higher education with targeted programs that meet the needs of rural Colorado.”

The flexible online program uses economic theory to provide a framework for understanding agricultural issues, predicting the likely effects of government policies and regulations and devising solutions to economic and environmental problems. It focuses on the production and marketing of agricultural products for an industry that requires a variety of businesses to distribute, process, package and market agricultural commodities, in addition to other businesses to supply agricultural producers with capital, fuel, machinery, fertilizer and management services.

“Colorado State has a long history of working with Northeastern Junior College to provide agricultural education, and we are pleased to be moving forward together to provide quality online learning options for students who seek an undergraduate degree,” said Lou Swanson, vice provost for Outreach and Strategic Partnerships at Colorado State.

School officials point to the flexibility of the program as one of its major benefits, giving students empowerment over their own education. It sounds like the future of agricultural study just got a little brighter.

© Copyright 2009 The Distance Daily. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.