Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture)

Summary

Combine professional commerce skills with a passion for agriculture and become a specialist in the industry.

As farming and related industries evolve and innovate, there will be an increasing need for highly educated managers who understand how land-based and primary production sector businesses interact and trade.

This degree is made up of academic study, real-world case examples, industry interactions, field trips and regional study tours.

How you’ll grow

• Study for a degree that has close links to our primary industries.
• Develop a broad, immediately applicable knowledge base in farm systems and farm management, agribusiness, animal, plant and soil production.
• Gain hands-on experience in the expanding business and entrepreneurial sides of land-based food production.

Career opportunities

Graduates in this programme are ready to flourish in a variety of professional roles right across the agricultural industry. These include farm management, farm services, agricultural consulting, rural finance or rural accounting.

Degrees that Work

After having his interest in agriculture sparked early on at his uncle’s sheep, beef and cropping farm, Connor enjoyed both agriculture and economics at school. He decided to combine these interests at Lincoln University and enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce in Agriculture. Now, he works as an Agribusiness Analyst with Rabobank.

Learn more about Connor's journey

Degrees that Work | Connor O'Toole

Practical work

In addition to your study, you’re required to complete at least 30 weeks of hands-on practical experience. This can be two farm placements of 15 weeks each OR two farm placements plus a further allied placement of 10 weeks.

The minimum placement period is 10 weeks per workplace, with a maximum term of 15 weeks. Two reports are required.

To complete the practical requirements successfully, you’ll need:

• Competence in driving vehicles (experience driving tractors or trucks is an advantage)

Some previous farming experience is preferred but not essential.

[Download the Practical Work Handbook [PDF 1.6MB]](/assets/Publications/Practical-Work-Handbook-Bachelor-of-Commerce-Agriculture.pdf?vid=99 "Practical Work Handbook BComAg")

Exchange opportunities

Students in this degree programme have the opportunity to spend a semester studying abroad. Popular destinations include the University of Reading in the UK, Oregon State University and Colorado State University in the US, and University College Dublin in Ireland.

For more information, please visit:

Lincoln students going on Exchange

Graduate Attributes

Graduate Attributes refer to the knowledge, skills, and values that you gain from completing your qualification. These high-level qualities will prepare you for career success, further study or research and making a valuable contribution to society in your chosen field.

Knowledge

• Develop a comprehensive understanding the knowledge fields relevant to the different stages of primary production system.
• Describe in-depth the multi- and inter-disciplinary nature of the bio-physical environment and biological production systems and the impact of these on agribusiness and food supply chains.
• Explain the characteristics of agricultural, horticultural and agribusiness industries and the theoretical concepts that underpin their formation, operation and management.
• Explain the risk associated with farming systems.
• Understanding the likely impacts of new technologies and innovative practices in the primary sector.
• Explain the different approaches and dimensions of sustainability relevant to different stakeholders in primary production systems.

Skills

• Apply appropriate approaches, methods and tools to analyse, evaluate and solve problems related to agricultural production management issues.
• Communicate, in both written and spoken forms, an understanding of agribusiness and food marketing issues clearly and fluently.
• Critically evaluate risks and implement mitigation and avoidance strategies.
• Integrate theory and practice from different disciplines to evaluate complex social, economic and technical aspects of bio-economic farming systems.

Values

• Appreciate appropriate professional and environmentally sound practice.
• Appreciate different cultural and socio-economic perspectives.