Tennessee State University (TSU) recently announced that its College of Agriculture will begin offering a new Master of Science in Agribusiness and Leadership degree program in Fall 2023.
The new degree option will be available both in person and online, with and without the thesis option, TSU notes.
Agribusiness provides “training in economics and business management principles related to the production, distribution, marketing, and consumption of food and agricultural goods and services,” according to TSU.
“The need for specially-trained experts in the competitive landscape of food and agribusiness is rapidly increasing. We need to develop professionals and experts with the knowledge and skills that are vital in helping agri-food sectors and rural economies,” TSU adds on its website.
The new program, according to TSU, will allow students pursuing a master’s degree in agricultural business or agricultural leadership, education, and communications (ALEC) to take a program of study more specific to their needs and interests.
Dr. Chandra Reddy, dean of TSU’s College of Agriculture noted that the new degree program will “broaden the scope of graduate degree offerings in the College and meet the tremendous market demand and student interest.”
“Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication is very popular with those wanting to be leaders and communicators in the agricultural sector,” Reddy stated. “Many of our extension agents have been asking for such a graduate degree for a long time. The new degree is a more robust program and will be helpful to students seeking employment.”
Reddy also noted that Agribusiness is a popular undergraduate major at TSU and many other institutions, and the new program will “align graduates with their career choices, which will benefit students in finding better employment opportunities.”
In 2021, 21.1 million full and part-time jobs were related to the agricultural and food sectors – 10.5 percent of total U.S. employment, according to data by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “TSU Agriculture Study” by TSU College of Agriculture.
