Agricultural Business and Leadership, Agribusiness Management Concentration, M.S.

Agribusiness and Agricultural Education Major

Program Overview

Mission of the College

The College of Agriculture carries out the Land Grant mandates of the University in teaching, research, and service. The major goal of the College is to satisfy the educational needs and aspirations of both traditional and non-traditional students enrolled in its academic programs. 

Department Goals and Objectives

The graduate programs in the Department of Agricultural Business and Education (DABE) are designed to provide students with a solid and the most relevant up-to-date curriculum that blends advanced scientific knowledge in economics and business applications, agricultural education, communication, and leadership skills to solve problems in agriculture and related areas. Students will develop the necessary set of skills and competencies, and expand their knowledge, creativity, and scholastic activities through the classroom and laboratory, experiential hands-on learning, case study and analysis, and networking opportunities that prepare them for today’s ever-demanding job market. 

Program Description

The Master of Science in Agricultural Business and Leadership is offered with two concentrations: a) Agribusiness Management, and b) Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication (ALEC). The degree is offered with two options, thesis or non-thesis. A completely online degree option is also available for non-thesis students. The Agribusiness Management concentration focuses on agricultural economics and agricultural business management -related course work, research, and applications. 

Program Outcomes

1. Graduates will be prepared for careers in agricultural product processing, agricultural leadership and management, agricultural supply and value chains, marketing, input supply firms, agricultural finance and financial management, consumer and market research in agriculture, and various state and federal government agencies. 
2. Develop professionals and research scholars with in-depth knowledge and skills in agribusiness and economic applications to agriculture. 
3. Prepare scholars for rewarding careers in government, industry, international organizations, and higher education. 
4. Develop scholars to take leadership roles in professional food, agricultural, and environmental sciences. 
5. Equip agricultural professionals to evaluate, analyze, and define diverse problems and develop solutions. 
6. Enable experts to analyze data, develop, implement, and evaluate solutions to real-world problems. 
7. Foster scholars capable of communicating effectively to diverse audiences. 
8. Prepare scholars for further doctoral and/or post-doctoral training (primarily through the thesis option). 

Admissions Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year degree granting college or university with a major in one of the Agricultural Sciences disciplines, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness management, Economics or closely related areas. 

• Minimum GPA of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale. 

• Minimum GRE score of 290 (Verbal + Quantitative). 

• A sliding scale in one metric, GPA and GRE may be used for minor deficiencies for degrees from U.S. institutions. 

• International Students: 

• TOEFL minimum score: Internet-based Test (iBT) - 71 (Computer-based Test (CBT) - 197; Paper-based Test (PBT) - 530) OR IELTS minimum score of 6.0. Test scores are valid for five years. 

• Non-US transcripts must be evaluated by a foreign educational credential agency (e.g., WES). 

• Required Application Materials (submitted via GradCAS): Official transcripts, GRE scores and official score report, personal statement of purpose, contact details for three professional/academic references, CV/Resume. 

Important Dates 

Refer to the official 2025-2026 Graduate School Calendar when available): 

• Fall Admission Application Deadline (Domestic): July 1 (Confirm with official calendar for 2025-2026) 

• Fall Admission Application Deadline (International Students Abroad): April 1 (Confirm with official calendar for 2025-2026) 

• Spring Admission Application Deadline (Domestic): December 1 (Confirm with official calendar for 2025-2026) 

• Spring Admission Application Deadline (International Students Abroad): October 1 (Confirm with official calendar for 2025-2026) 

Program Duration

M.S. with thesis is typically 2 years. 

M.S. non-thesis is typically 2 years. 

GRA for MS level is standard for 18 months, with a research mode extension for 6 months (total 24 months). 

Transfer of Credits

Up to 12 credit hours from another accredited institution may be transferred, subject to approval by the student’s advisory committee, graduate coordinator, department chair, and graduate school dean. 

Degree Requirements

• Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. 

• Thesis Option: Successful completion of coursework, appointment of thesis advising committee, advancement to candidacy, submission and successful oral defense of an approved thesis. Must pass AGSC 5110 and AGSC 5060 before enrolling in AGSC 5120. 

• Non-Thesis Option: Students choosing the non-thesis option will be required to take a minimum of 35 hours of course work. After successful completion of coursework including AGSC 5350 (Independent Study of Contemporary Issues and Problems), student need to pass comprehensive written and oral examinations administered by the student’s advisory committee and other faculty members representing appropriate subject matter areas. The student’s major advisor will serve as chairperson of the committee conducting the examination. If a student fails the comprehensive examination, one retake will be allowed. Should the student again fail, a third and final examination may be taken upon completion of additional course work (minimum of 6 hours) to be selected by the student’s advisory committee. 

• File program of study after completion of 9 to 15 credit hours of coursework. 

Accreditation Information

 Tennessee State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Specific programmatic accreditation for this degree is not detailed in the provided documents. 

Career Opportunities

Employers in agricultural product processing, marketing organizations, input supply firms, private and public institutions in marketing, food processing, banking and finance, research fellowships and business data analytics, teaching, agricultural extension services, and various state and federal government agencies. 

Faculty 

• Dr. Prabodh Illukpitiya, Ph.D. (Agricultural and Resource Economics) 

• Dr. Aditya Khanal, Ph.D. (Agri. Finance, Agri. Economics, Producer Behavior) 

• Dr. Doc Lap Tran, Ph. D. (Consumer Economics, Consumer Behavior) 

• Dr. Abdelaziz Lawani, Ph. D. (Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship) 

• Dr. Sean Posey, Ph. D.  (International Trade, Development Economics) 

• Dr. James M. Muriuki, Ph. D. (Agricultural Marketing) 

• Dr. Sajid Al Noor, Ph. D. (Rural Community Development, Regional Economics) 

• Dr. Armine Poghosyan, Ph.D. (Applied Economics) 

Program Website

https://www.tnstate.edu/agribusinessed/index.aspx  

Program Coordinator/Contact Information

• Department Chair: Dr. Prabodh Illukpitiya (Professor, Office: 204H Farrell-Westbrook Complex, Phone: (615) 963-1877, Email: pillukpi@tnstate.edu ) 

• Graduate Coordinator: Dr. Aditya Khanal (Associate Professor, Office: 204D Farrell-Westbrook Complex, Phone: (615) 963-4986, Email: akhanal1@tnstate.edu) 

• College Dean: Chandra Reddy (Office: 213 Agricultural Biotechnology Building, (615) 963-7561, creddy@tnstate.edu) 

Program of Study and Credit Hours 

• Thesis Option: Minimum 33 credit hours (29 course hours + 4 thesis hours);  

• Non-thesis option: Minimum 35 credit hours (course hours) 

• Program of Study

  Core Courses

  12 credit hours required for thesis students OR 11 credit hours required for non-thesis students

• AGSC 5060 - Statistics for Research (3) CIP:
• AGSC 5110 - Research Methods (3) CIP:
• AGSC 5120 - Thesis Writing (Thesis Option) (4) CIP:
• AGSC 5350 - Independent Study of Contemporary Issues and Problems (3) CIP:

• Non-Thesis students are required to take AGSC 5350.
  Thesis students may take AGSC 5350 as an elective course.

• AGSC 5610-5620 - Graduate Seminar in Agricultural Sciences (1-1) CIP:

Concentration I-Required Courses:

• Agribusiness Management: 12-credit hours minimum for thesis students OR 15-credit hours minimum for non-thesis students.

• AGSC 5012 - Food Supply and Value Chain Management (3) CIP:
• AGSC 5014 - Food Marketing and Retail Management (3) CIP:
• AGSC 5080 - Agribusiness Management and Market Analysis (3) CIP:
• AGSC 5100 - Environmental, Resource Economics and Management (3) CIP:
• AGSC 5300 - Applied Microeconomics in Agribusiness (3) CIP:
• AGSC 5310 - International Agricultural Trade and Marketing (3) CIP:
• AGSC 5330 - Agribusiness Strategy (3) CIP:

Concentration-I Elective Courses

Electives: 6-credit hours maximum for thesis students OR 9-credit hours maximum for non-thesis students with the approval of the advisor and department head.

• AGSC 5040 - Program Planning, Development and Evaluation (3) CIP:
• AGSC 5350 - Independent Study of Contemporary Issues and Problems (3) CIP:
• BISI 6130 - Management and Evaluation of Information Systems (3) CIP:
• ECON 6110 - Managerial Economics (3) CIP:
• MGMT 6020 - Organizational Behavior, Ethics and Leadership (3) CIP:

• Students may take a 3-credit hour guided elective course as recommended by the major advisor.

• DATA 5050 - Mathematics for Data Science 3 CIP:
• DATA 5100 - Programming for Data Science 3 CIP:
• AGSC 7590 - Applied Multivariate Statistics (3) CIP:
• ECON 6010 - Statistical Methods (3) CIP:
• FINA 6300 - Managerial Finance (3) CIP: