Residential MBA Co-ordinator
Francesco Braga 323 MacLachlan, Ext. 2763/2771)
(E-mail: fbraga@agec.uoguelph.ca)

Graduate secretary
Kathryn Selves (226 MacLachlan, Ext. 2771)
audrey@agec.uoguelph.ca

Graduate Faculty

Clayton Barrows
Associate Professor, Hotel and Food Administration

Joe Barth
Assistant Professor, Hotel and Food Administration

M. Rick Bates
Assistant Professor, Agricultural Economics and Business

Francesco Braga
Associate Professor, Agricultural Economics and Business

George L. Brinkman
Professor, Agricultural Economics and Business

Julia Christensen-Hughes
Associate Professor, Hotel and Food Administration

John Cranfield
Assistant Professor, Agricultural Economics and Business

Elliott Currie
Assistant Professor, Agricultural Economics and Business

Glenn Fox
Professor, Agricultural Economics and Business

Thomas F. Funk
Professor, Agricultural Economics and Business

Spencer Henson
Associate Professor, Agricultural Economics and Business

Vinay Kanetkar
Associate Professor, Consumer Studies

Stephen Lynch
Assistant Professor, Hotel and Food Administration

David Sparling
Assistant Professor, Agricultural Economics and Business

Ralph Sykes
Assistant Professor, Agricultural Economics and Business

Francis Tapon
Professor, Economics Department

Calum G. Turvey
Associate Professor, Agricultural Economics and Business

Erna van Duren
Associate Professor, Agricultural Economics and Business

Alfons J. Weersink
Professor, Agricultural Economics and Business

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     The University offers an interdepartmental program of study leading to the degree of master of business administration (MBA) in the field of agribusiness management . The participating units are the Departments of Agricultural Economics and Business, Consumer Studies, Economics, and the School of Hotel and Food Administration.

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MBA Program

Admission Requirements
     The minimum requirement for admission to the program is a baccalaureate in an honours program or equivalent from a recognized university or college with an average standing of at least a 'B' (second-class honours) in the last four semesters or two years, and two letters of recommendation from former professors and/or employers or colleagues. GMAT scores may be requested in certain cases where it is difficult to judge an applicant's suitability. A minimum of two years of relevant industry experience in a managerial capacity is preferred. A resume or CV is also required outlining relevant work experience. Applicants must also submit a statement of interest in agribusiness management. Selected applicants are interviewed by the MBA in Agribusiness Program Committee. Admission to the program is competitive; normally not more than twenty applicants are admitted every year. The program has a single entry, in the Fall Semester.

Degree Requirements
     There are four components to the MBA program: 1) a core of business courses required by all students, 2) a specialization of agribusiness courses, 3) a minimum of two approved electives, and 4) a management project.

Course Requirements
     The minimum number of semester-long courses (or equivalents) required for the MBA in Agribusiness degree is 15 plus an acceptable two-course project paper; a total equivalent of 17 courses. Course performance evaluations will be based on examinations, participation, presentations, written reports, and problem sets. Students will be evaluated on an individual basis and as part of group efforts. The program will normally take three semesters over twelve months with provision for additional time if necessary for completion of the special topics/project paper.
     The business core required for all students includes the basic "tools" courses found in most business programs: accounting, quantitative methods, marketing, information systems, communication, finance, economics, human resource management, and operations. Where appropriate, case studies will be used extensively to illustrate and demonstrate applications of these tools.
     The similarities between agribusiness industries will facilitate using industry-based cases rather than "generic" case studies found in most business programs. Thus, industry issues can be explored concurrently with the teaching of a basic set of business tools.
     The specialization core focuses on the unique aspects and issues facing agribusiness industries. Subjects include strategic management and business policy in an ever-changing, global market, environmental issues and their impact on agribusiness, the impact of government policy on agribusiness, the development and implementation of effective strategies for dealing with price risk in financial and agricultural markets. The importance of written and verbal communications and formal presentations is recognized in all courses.
     Electives allow students to tailor their studies to fit their individual interests and goals. Students may choose from a number of different courses from across the university to increase their breadth of knowledge and understanding. The selection of electives must be approved by the MBA in Agribusinss Program Committee.
     The project paper will be a capstone project for all students. It will be the equivalent of a two-semester course, taken in the second and third semesters of the program. The subject and content will be jointly determined by students and their advisory committees and must be approved by the MBA in Agribusiness Program Committee. The project paper will focus on an issue or a problem in the industry. The project paper could be a business feasibility study, a marketing plan, an in-depth case study, an industry analysis, or anything that the students and their committees deem appropriate and worthwhile. It is an opportunity for students to apply what they have learned in the classroom and to concentrate on an area or issue that interests them.

Advisory Committee
     Students will select an advisory committee no later than the end of their second semester. The advisory committee will consist of the advisor (who will serve as committee chair) and at least one other graduate faculty member (who may be from a second department). The committee will be responsible for advice and guidance on curriculum and progress, selection of an appropriate topic for the project paper, work on the paper, and final evaluation of the paper.
     The project paper will be presented in an open seminar at the end of the third semester in collobaration with the MBA in Agribusiness Program Committee.

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Courses

This section describes the sequence of academic activities normally completed by the students who are accepted into the program. The MBA in Agribusiness Program Committee may authorize changes from this normal path.
    The program begins in September with a week long orientation designed to build a team spirit between students and faculty members.
     During the fall semester students earn the equivalent of 3 graduate credits by completing graduate courses in Marketing Management (0.5 cr.), Financial Accounting (0.5 cr.), Financial Management (0.5 cr.); Business Decision Making (0.5 cr.); Organizational Behavior (0.5 cr.); Business Tools (0.25 cr. - proposed). In addition, students complete the first part of Business Problems I, a seminar course with invited industry speakers.
    During the winter semester students earn the equivalent of 3 graduate credits by completing graduate courses in Agricultural Policy (0.5 cr.), Futures and Options (0.5 cr.), Managerial Skill Development (0.5 cr.), Managerial Economics (0.5 cr.), Agribusiness Law (0.25 cr.) plus one approved Agribusiness Elective (0.5 cr.). Business Problems I (0.5 cr.) is also completed during this semester.
    During the spring semesters students earn 2.5 graduate credits by completing graduate courses in Operations Management (0.5 cr.), Business Policy (0.5 cr.), one approved Agribusiness Elective (0.5 cr.), and by working on the Major Project (1 cr.).
    Students who are approved for the “extended major project” option complete a fourth semester, earning up to 2 additional graduate credits by working on a combination of the “extended major project” and a supervised industry internship.
    Students may expect to work on average 60 to 70 hours per week during the program.

The Office of Graduate Studies has attempted to ensure the accuracy of thison-line Graduate Calendar. However, the publication of information in this document does notbind the university to the provision of courses, programs, schedules of studies, fees, or facilities aslisted herein. Other limitations apply.