This single-degree option allows you to earn the Master of Science (MS) in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University. The MS option spans 21 months, with classes ending after the spring module of year two.
MS Plan of Study
The plan of study lists the specific courses you will take at Purdue and Indiana Universities to an MS in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University. The plan of study is the blueprint for the successful completion of the program.
PRE-FALL MODULE
V599: Leading Individual Change
Pre-Fall 2025
COURSE TYPE: Residency UNIVERSITY: Indiana COURSE CREDITS: 1.5
Held in Bloomington, Ind.
This course will provide students with an introduction to the concept of personal leadership, using the reflective lens of the DLS self-observant leadership model. Topics covered will include building your capacity for personal awareness, creating and leading meaning in your work, internal / external feedback processing through a self-observant lens, and leadership communications excellence. Students will hear from expert practitioners from the field, as well as top rated Kelley Faculty. Students will have the opportunity to practice each concept in detail throughout the week, and will also be provided the option of seven Executive / Communications Coaching follow-up sessions (4 EC and 3CC) to reinforce key concepts and develop a personal action plan as they begin the Kelley MBA Program. As a result of this course, students will be better able to state their personal values and vision, understand how to drive meaning in their work and be ready to lead themselves through transitional experiences like the Kelley MBA Program.
FALL MODULE
AGEC 681: Economics for Food and Agribusiness Managers
Aug. 11 – Oct. 30, 2025
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Purdue COURSE CREDITS: 3
Addresses the institutional setting and structure of the food and agricultural markets. Encompasses both the domestic and international dimensions of the food chain, including consumer demand, global sourcing and worldwide production potential. Also focuses on managerial economics as applied to such topics as food system market structure, the nature and dimensions of domestic and global competition, the components of cost and revenue, and the food system value chain.
AGEC 684: Applied Quantitative Methods for Decision-Making
Aug. 11 – Oct. 30, 2025
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Purdue COURSE CREDITS: 3
Explores the application of contemporary concepts and quantitative techniques for decision-making in the face of uncertainty and/or multiple conflicting objectives. The focus is on the application of these tools to decisions facing the food and agricultural business manager. Also explores key areas of risk management of the food and agricultural firm including price, production, strategic, regulatory, technology, market/competitor, political, financial, and exchange rate risk.
Purdue Residency
TBA
COURSE TYPE: Residency UNIVERSITY: Purdue (West Lafayette, Ind.)
Purdue residency session to be held in West Lafayette, IN. This residency is a continuation of the distance education courses above.
WINTER MODULE
C521: Managing Accounting Information for Decision-Making
Nov. 3, 2025 – Feb. 12, 2026
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Indiana COURSE CREDITS: 3
Provides a user-oriented understanding of how accounting information should be managed to ensure its availability on a timely and relevant basis for decision making. The first part of the course reviews financial accounting and reporting while the second part of the course focuses on cost-benefit analysis for evaluating the potential value-added results from planning, organizing, and controlling a firm’s accounting information. Cases, forum discussions and computer support are used extensively.
C570: Strategic Marketing Management
Nov. 3, 20245 – Feb. 12, 2026
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Indiana COURSE CREDITS: 3
An introduction to the process of creating a market-driven organization. Specific topics include marketing strategy, market research and analysis, and the development of products and services, pricing, distribution and promotion. The course employs lectures, classroom discussion through threaded discussion forums, case analysis and field research projects.
Thanksgiving & Winter Break
Thanksgiving Break: TBD
Winter Break: TBD
SPRING MODULE
C540: Financial Management
Feb. 16 – May 7, 2026
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Indiana COURSE CREDITS: 3
Provides a working knowledge of the tools and analytical conventions used in the practice of corporate finance; establishes an understanding of the basic elements of financial theory to be used in the application of analytical reasoning to business problems; and explores the interrelationship among corporate policies and decisions. Coursework will include problem sets, study group preparation of executive summary memos and critiques and use of PC spreadsheets to develop a planning model for a case focusing on funds requirement.
C550: Law and Ethics in Business
Feb. 16 – May 7, 2026
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Indiana COURSE CREDITS: 3
The objective is to provide the student of management with a basic knowledge of the American legal system, the legal process and relevant substantive law that is necessary to making informed and effective business decisions. The law develops and evolves in response to changing social, economic, political and technological forces, and business decisions often carry long-lasting, as well as delayed effects. This course emphasizes the study of the law of torts, contracts and product liability. It is hoped that consideration of a study of these legal principles will give prospective managers insight into the dynamics of the legal process to enable them to predict as soundly as possible the future legal environment in which their present decisions will bear fruit.
SUMMER MODULE
AGEC 687: Problem-Solving and Project Management for Decision Makers
May 18 – Aug. 6, 2026
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Purdue COURSE CREDITS: 3
Develops a structured approach to problem-solving, including problem definition, development of alternatives, identifying consequences, assessing trade-offs and making informed choices. Research methods and project management concepts will be addressed. A major business analysis project will be framed during the course, to be completed as part of the capstone course in business analysis.
C580: Operations Management (Recommended but not required for MS only)
TBD
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Indiana COURSE CREDITS: 3
Surveys the management of operations in manufacturing and service firms. Diverse activities, such as determining the size and type of production process, purchasing the appropriate raw materials, planning, and scheduling the flow of materials and the nature and content of inventories, assuring product quality, and deciding on the production hardware and how it gets used, comprise this function of a company. Managing operations well requires both strategic and tactical skills. The topics considered include process analysis, workforce issues, materials management, quality and productivity, technology and strategic planning, together with relevant analytical techniques. The course makes considerable use of business cases. Most classes will be spent discussing the cases assigned. For each case, students will be asked to review actual company situations and apply technical and managerial skills to recommend courses of action. Most cases will be taken from manufacturing, but some will be service-oriented. Several of the cases will focus on international companies or issues.
V599: Leading Individual Change
Pre-Fall 2025
COURSE TYPE: Residency UNIVERSITY: Indiana COURSE CREDITS: 1.5
Held in Bloomington, Ind.
This course will provide students with an introduction to the concept of personal leadership, using the reflective lens of the DLS self-observant leadership model. Topics covered will include building your capacity for personal awareness, creating and leading meaning in your work, internal / external feedback processing through a self-observant lens, and leadership communications excellence. Students will hear from expert practitioners from the field, as well as top rated Kelley Faculty. Students will have the opportunity to practice each concept in detail throughout the week, and will also be provided the option of seven Executive / Communications Coaching follow-up sessions (4 EC and 3CC) to reinforce key concepts and develop a personal action plan as they begin the Kelley MBA Program. As a result of this course, students will be better able to state their personal values and vision, understand how to drive meaning in their work and be ready to lead themselves through transitional experiences like the Kelley MBA Program.
AGEC 681: Economics for Food and Agribusiness Managers
Aug. 11 – Oct. 30, 2025
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Purdue COURSE CREDITS: 3
Addresses the institutional setting and structure of the food and agricultural markets. Encompasses both the domestic and international dimensions of the food chain, including consumer demand, global sourcing and worldwide production potential. Also focuses on managerial economics as applied to such topics as food system market structure, the nature and dimensions of domestic and global competition, the components of cost and revenue, and the food system value chain.
AGEC 684: Applied Quantitative Methods for Decision-Making
Aug. 11 – Oct. 30, 2025
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Purdue COURSE CREDITS: 3
Explores the application of contemporary concepts and quantitative techniques for decision-making in the face of uncertainty and/or multiple conflicting objectives. The focus is on the application of these tools to decisions facing the food and agricultural business manager. Also explores key areas of risk management of the food and agricultural firm including price, production, strategic, regulatory, technology, market/competitor, political, financial, and exchange rate risk.
Purdue Residency
TBA
COURSE TYPE: Residency UNIVERSITY: Purdue (West Lafayette, Ind.)
Purdue residency session to be held in West Lafayette, IN. This residency is a continuation of the distance education courses above.
C521: Managing Accounting Information for Decision-Making
Nov. 3, 2025 – Feb. 12, 2026
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Indiana COURSE CREDITS: 3
Provides a user-oriented understanding of how accounting information should be managed to ensure its availability on a timely and relevant basis for decision making. The first part of the course reviews financial accounting and reporting while the second part of the course focuses on cost-benefit analysis for evaluating the potential value-added results from planning, organizing, and controlling a firm’s accounting information. Cases, forum discussions and computer support are used extensively.
C570: Strategic Marketing Management
Nov. 3, 20245 – Feb. 12, 2026
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Indiana COURSE CREDITS: 3
An introduction to the process of creating a market-driven organization. Specific topics include marketing strategy, market research and analysis, and the development of products and services, pricing, distribution and promotion. The course employs lectures, classroom discussion through threaded discussion forums, case analysis and field research projects.
Thanksgiving & Winter Break
Thanksgiving Break: TBD
Winter Break: TBD
C540: Financial Management
Feb. 16 – May 7, 2026
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Indiana COURSE CREDITS: 3
Provides a working knowledge of the tools and analytical conventions used in the practice of corporate finance; establishes an understanding of the basic elements of financial theory to be used in the application of analytical reasoning to business problems; and explores the interrelationship among corporate policies and decisions. Coursework will include problem sets, study group preparation of executive summary memos and critiques and use of PC spreadsheets to develop a planning model for a case focusing on funds requirement.
C550: Law and Ethics in Business
Feb. 16 – May 7, 2026
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Indiana COURSE CREDITS: 3
The objective is to provide the student of management with a basic knowledge of the American legal system, the legal process and relevant substantive law that is necessary to making informed and effective business decisions. The law develops and evolves in response to changing social, economic, political and technological forces, and business decisions often carry long-lasting, as well as delayed effects. This course emphasizes the study of the law of torts, contracts and product liability. It is hoped that consideration of a study of these legal principles will give prospective managers insight into the dynamics of the legal process to enable them to predict as soundly as possible the future legal environment in which their present decisions will bear fruit.
AGEC 687: Problem-Solving and Project Management for Decision Makers
May 18 – Aug. 6, 2026
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Purdue COURSE CREDITS: 3
Develops a structured approach to problem-solving, including problem definition, development of alternatives, identifying consequences, assessing trade-offs and making informed choices. Research methods and project management concepts will be addressed. A major business analysis project will be framed during the course, to be completed as part of the capstone course in business analysis.
C580: Operations Management (Recommended but not required for MS only)
TBD
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Indiana COURSE CREDITS: 3
Surveys the management of operations in manufacturing and service firms. Diverse activities, such as determining the size and type of production process, purchasing the appropriate raw materials, planning, and scheduling the flow of materials and the nature and content of inventories, assuring product quality, and deciding on the production hardware and how it gets used, comprise this function of a company. Managing operations well requires both strategic and tactical skills. The topics considered include process analysis, workforce issues, materials management, quality and productivity, technology and strategic planning, together with relevant analytical techniques. The course makes considerable use of business cases. Most classes will be spent discussing the cases assigned. For each case, students will be asked to review actual company situations and apply technical and managerial skills to recommend courses of action. Most cases will be taken from manufacturing, but some will be service-oriented. Several of the cases will focus on international companies or issues.
PRE-FALL MODULE
C511: Pre-Fall Intensive: Organizational Development and Change
Pre-Fall 2026
COURSE TYPE: Residency UNIVERSITY: Indiana COURSE CREDITS: 1.5
Held in Bloomington, Ind.
Today’s business environment forces executives to use every tool at their disposal to create and maintain an effective and adaptable organization. A major source of effectiveness and adaptability is the way in which the company’s efforts are organized — its systems, structures, management process, rewards and strategies. The primary job of senior management today is to design, build and operate organizations that function effectively. What this means is that the organization is in a constant state of change. Understanding the change process is vital. Knowing the roadblocks to effective change is very important. The role of the manager as a change agent becomes critical. Often the problems arise not from the change itself, but the process of making the change. Individuals resist change. It is a natural phenomenon. How and why this change manifests itself is a central issue in this course. Developing the skills to move through the change process not knowing what roadblocks one might encounter is becoming incredibly valuable.
FALL MODULE
AGEC 685: Quantitative Managerial Decision-Making
Aug. 10 – Oct. 29, 2026
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Purdue COURSE CREDITS: 3
Students explore appropriate statistical techniques to analyze different types of economic data for managerial decision-making. Students will learn about the appropriate design, development, and implementation of surveys followed by an opportunity to put theory into practice with the creation of their own survey. Next, the appropriate analysis and interpretation of survey data is examined from a conceptual and practical perspective. Key areas of risk management for food and agricultural firms are also examined making use of tools, including decision trees, payoff matrices, and scenario analysis.
AGEC 682: The Macroeconomic, Trade, and Policy Environment of the Food System
Aug. 10 – Oct. 29, 2026
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Purdue COURSE CREDITS: 3
Objectives are to expose students to the nature and importance of linkages between agriculture, international markets and the macro-economy, which are key to the fortunes of U.S. farmers and agribusiness in the future. Examination of theories and methods that might allow students to establish or quantify these linkages and evaluate the consequences of alternative policies, demonstrates the usefulness of economic analysis as a tool for understanding these issues. Also explores current policy issues facing the food and agribusiness industries, including international trade agreements, farm legislation, environmental regulations, and food safety and nutrition labeling rules, among other policy topics.
Purdue Residency
TBA
COURSE TYPE: Residency UNIVERSITY: Purdue (West Lafayette, Ind.)
Purdue residency session to be held in West Lafayette, Ind. This residency is a continuation of the distance education courses above.
WINTER MODULE
C555: Global Talent Management
Nov. 2, 2026 – Feb. 16, 2027
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Indiana COURSE CREDITS: 3
Recent surveys of senior corporate leaders reveal that finding, growing and retaining top talent is among the very top challenges in leading a contemporary organization. Effective talent management is certainly strategic—how an organization invests in and allocates resources to the attraction, retention and development of its talent pipeline. But talent management is also intensely individual—how effectively members of the organization identify and pursue personal development and are coached to effectively acquire the skill-set they will need to function effectively as a senior leader.
With that in mind, this course is designed to mirror the multi-dimensional nature of talent management in organizations. The first segment of the course will focus on your course text and some of the best writing and cases associated with effective talent management practices in organizations. The second segment will ask you to specifically assess how to integrate talent management processes into an effective management structure.
Thanksgiving & Winter Break
TBD
SPRING MODULE
AGEC 688: Business Analysis Capstone Course
Feb. 15 – May 9, 2027
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Purdue COURSE CREDITS: 3
Capstone experience where students will work on team and individual projects focused on a comprehensive detailed analysis of an issue facing their employer or an issue of general interest to the student. It is expected that this project will draw on tools and concepts developed throughout the MS-MBA program. In addition, it is expected that the project will lead to an analysis that can be delivered to an appropriate audience of decision-makers upon completion.
AGEC 686: Strategic Food and Agribusiness Management
Feb. 15 – May 9, 2027
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Purdue COURSE CREDITS: 3
This course explores the integration of the functional areas of business at the corporate level. Heavy emphasis is on analysis of the business environment, setting strategic direction, assessing core competencies, choosing a market position and developing competitive advantage, and organizational implementation and control in the context of the food and agricultural markets. The course makes heavy use of case studies based on firms in the food and agricultural marketplace.
International Residency
May 9 – 15, 2027 (not confirmed)
COURSE TYPE: Residency UNIVERSITY: Purdue
International residency to be held at an international partner school. This residency is a continuation of the distance education courses above.
Purdue Sessions Complete and Commencement
Aug. 7, 2027
UNIVERSITY: Purdue (West Lafayette, Ind.)
Purdue University Sessions Complete, M.S. Awarded
Credits Earned: 36 (Kelley: 15, Purdue: 21)
Attend the commencement ceremony at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.
C511: Pre-Fall Intensive: Organizational Development and Change
Pre-Fall 2026
COURSE TYPE: Residency UNIVERSITY: Indiana COURSE CREDITS: 1.5
Held in Bloomington, Ind.
Today’s business environment forces executives to use every tool at their disposal to create and maintain an effective and adaptable organization. A major source of effectiveness and adaptability is the way in which the company’s efforts are organized — its systems, structures, management process, rewards and strategies. The primary job of senior management today is to design, build and operate organizations that function effectively. What this means is that the organization is in a constant state of change. Understanding the change process is vital. Knowing the roadblocks to effective change is very important. The role of the manager as a change agent becomes critical. Often the problems arise not from the change itself, but the process of making the change. Individuals resist change. It is a natural phenomenon. How and why this change manifests itself is a central issue in this course. Developing the skills to move through the change process not knowing what roadblocks one might encounter is becoming incredibly valuable.
AGEC 685: Quantitative Managerial Decision-Making
Aug. 10 – Oct. 29, 2026
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Purdue COURSE CREDITS: 3
Students explore appropriate statistical techniques to analyze different types of economic data for managerial decision-making. Students will learn about the appropriate design, development, and implementation of surveys followed by an opportunity to put theory into practice with the creation of their own survey. Next, the appropriate analysis and interpretation of survey data is examined from a conceptual and practical perspective. Key areas of risk management for food and agricultural firms are also examined making use of tools, including decision trees, payoff matrices, and scenario analysis.
AGEC 682: The Macroeconomic, Trade, and Policy Environment of the Food System
Aug. 10 – Oct. 29, 2026
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Purdue COURSE CREDITS: 3
Objectives are to expose students to the nature and importance of linkages between agriculture, international markets and the macro-economy, which are key to the fortunes of U.S. farmers and agribusiness in the future. Examination of theories and methods that might allow students to establish or quantify these linkages and evaluate the consequences of alternative policies, demonstrates the usefulness of economic analysis as a tool for understanding these issues. Also explores current policy issues facing the food and agribusiness industries, including international trade agreements, farm legislation, environmental regulations, and food safety and nutrition labeling rules, among other policy topics.
Purdue Residency
TBA
COURSE TYPE: Residency UNIVERSITY: Purdue (West Lafayette, Ind.)
Purdue residency session to be held in West Lafayette, Ind. This residency is a continuation of the distance education courses above.
C555: Global Talent Management
Nov. 2, 2026 – Feb. 16, 2027
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Indiana COURSE CREDITS: 3
Recent surveys of senior corporate leaders reveal that finding, growing and retaining top talent is among the very top challenges in leading a contemporary organization. Effective talent management is certainly strategic—how an organization invests in and allocates resources to the attraction, retention and development of its talent pipeline. But talent management is also intensely individual—how effectively members of the organization identify and pursue personal development and are coached to effectively acquire the skill-set they will need to function effectively as a senior leader.
With that in mind, this course is designed to mirror the multi-dimensional nature of talent management in organizations. The first segment of the course will focus on your course text and some of the best writing and cases associated with effective talent management practices in organizations. The second segment will ask you to specifically assess how to integrate talent management processes into an effective management structure.
Thanksgiving & Winter Break
TBD
AGEC 688: Business Analysis Capstone Course
Feb. 15 – May 9, 2027
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Purdue COURSE CREDITS: 3
Capstone experience where students will work on team and individual projects focused on a comprehensive detailed analysis of an issue facing their employer or an issue of general interest to the student. It is expected that this project will draw on tools and concepts developed throughout the MS-MBA program. In addition, it is expected that the project will lead to an analysis that can be delivered to an appropriate audience of decision-makers upon completion.
AGEC 686: Strategic Food and Agribusiness Management
Feb. 15 – May 9, 2027
COURSE TYPE: Online UNIVERSITY: Purdue COURSE CREDITS: 3
This course explores the integration of the functional areas of business at the corporate level. Heavy emphasis is on analysis of the business environment, setting strategic direction, assessing core competencies, choosing a market position and developing competitive advantage, and organizational implementation and control in the context of the food and agricultural markets. The course makes heavy use of case studies based on firms in the food and agricultural marketplace.
International Residency
May 9 – 15, 2027 (not confirmed)
COURSE TYPE: Residency UNIVERSITY: Purdue
International residency to be held at an international partner school. This residency is a continuation of the distance education courses above.
Purdue Sessions Complete and Commencement
Aug. 7, 2027
UNIVERSITY: Purdue (West Lafayette, Ind.)
Purdue University Sessions Complete, M.S. Awarded
Credits Earned: 36 (Kelley: 15, Purdue: 21)
Attend the commencement ceremony at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.
PROGRAM
RESIDENCIES
Over the course of the 27-month program, there are five (5) separate one-week residencies. The first four residencies alternate between Indiana University’s Bloomington, IN campus (once each year in August) and Purdue University’s West Lafayette, IN campus (once each year in October). The fifth residency is a one-week international residency in May of the second year of the program.
Although the residencies allow faculty to cover course material that is more difficult to teach in an online environment, the primary benefit of the residencies is the networking/camaraderie that takes place between the cohort.
Hotel accommodations, breakfast, lunch and some dinners are included in the tuition cost. Transportation to the residency is not provided.
INTERNATIONAL
RESIDENCY
The international residency provides an opportunity for you to focus heavily on business strategy in an international setting. It is a graded activity and associated with the strategy class. Strategy, by the nature of the topic, is a culmination of the topics you will have studied throughout the program and therefore, naturally lends itself to the course that would include the international experience. Transportation to the international residency is not provided but once you are “in-country” Purdue provides all transportation until you are transported to the airport for the flight out of the country.
Capstone Project
This program requires completion of a capstone project, instead of a master’s thesis. The capstone project topic should be useful to you and your firm. It will help you better understand structured problem solving and expand your ability to use literature research, frameworks, and data in problem solving. You should include your supervisor in the topic selection process.
The capstone project is a six-credit project that unfolds in three phases. During phase one, you will select a topic and create a problem statement and development plan with proposed methods and sources of data. During phase two, you will collect and analyze the data if needed.
During phase three, you will be assigned a faculty advisor who has experience with the topic you are working with. You will hold regular meetings with your advisor as you complete your project. The faculty mentor will assign the final project grade.
Capstone projects can be kept confidential and do not become the property of Purdue University.
REQUEST INFORMATION
Complete the form to receive detailed information about the MS-MBA in Food and Agricultural Business, including insights into how the program is managed and the style of course lectures.
