Business - Agriculture

Description

Agriculture is an increasingly complex industry, with sophisticated agribusiness managers required to make decisions about crop/herd selection and improvement, pest and soil management, farm safety, and agricultural production. In Georgian’s Business - Agriculture Diploma program, you explore both the business and science behind the industry. A combination of outdoor learning with time in classrooms and modern labs provides practical agricultural knowledge, as well as the business training necessary to successfully manage or provide services to agricultural businesses. This program connects you to the agribusiness industry and includes a co-operative work placement between first and second year, giving you hands-on experience and networking opportunities with others in the field. You’ll graduate with a competitive edge – with the ability to examine agricultural techniques through a business lens, and the skills to evaluate farm production methodologies, technologies and systems to inform financial and operational decisions.

Career Opportunities

Graduates may seek employment in entry-level farming positions or as entrepreneurs. Graduates may also seek entry-level employment in a variety of companies and organizations that provide services in the agricultural sector, including, 

• agricultural supplies
• feed
• banking, accounting or logistical services
• process improvement or animal care support
• equipment and maintenance sales and services

Program Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

1. identify and discuss the impact of global issues on an organization’s business opportunities by using an environmental scan;
2. apply principles of corporate sustainability, corporate social responsibility and ethics to support an organization’s business initiatives;
3. use current concepts/systems and technologies to support an organization's business initiatives;
4. apply basic research skills to support business decision making;
5. support the planning, implementation and monitoring of projects;
6. perform work in compliance with relevant statutes, regulations and business practices;
7. explain the role of the human resource function and its impact on an organization;
8. use accounting and financial principles to support the operations of an organization;
9. describe and apply marketing and sales concepts used to support the operations of an organization;
10. outline principles of supply chain management and operations management;
11. outline and assess the components of a business plan;
12. develop strategies for ongoing personal and professional development to enhance work performance in the business field;
13. evaluate and employ traditional and alternative agricultural methods to improve sustainability practices, efficiency measures, and the profitability and quantity of production;
14. analyze procedures, guidelines and best practices to protect agricultural assets, such as land, soil, water and animals, in order to maximize their lifespan and return on investment;
15. plan the operations of an agricultural enterprise according to the standards, laws and trade agreements governing the agricultural sector.

Practical Experience

All co-operative education programs at Georgian contain mandatory work term experiences aligned with program learning outcomes.  Co-op work terms are designed to integrate academic learning with work experience, supporting the development of industry specific competencies and employability skills.

Georgian College holds membership with, and endeavours to follow, the co-operative education guidelines set out by the Co-operative Education and Work Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL) and Experiential and Work-Integrated Ontario (EWO) as supported by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

Co-op is facilitated as a supported, competitive job search process. Students are required to complete a Co-op and Career Preparation course scheduled prior to their first co-op work term. Students engage in an active co-op job search that includes applying to positions posted by Co-op Consultants, and personal networking.  Co-op work terms are scheduled according to a formal sequence that alternates academic and co-op semesters as shown in the program progression below.

Programs may have additional requirements such as a valid driver’s license, strong communication skills, industry specific certifications, and ability to travel. Under exceptional circumstances, a student may be unable to complete the program progression as shown below. Please refer to Georgian College Academic Regulations for details.   

International co-op work terms are supported and encouraged, when aligned with program requirements.

Further information on co-op services can be found at www.GeorgianCollege.ca/co-op

Program Progression

The following reflects the planned progression for full-time offerings of the program.

Fall Intake

• Sem 1: Fall 2025
• Sem 2: Winter 2026
• Work Term 1: Summer 2026
• Sem 3: Fall 2026
• Sem 4: Winter 2027

Admission Requirements

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status 
• Grade 12 English (C or U)
• Grade 11 or 12 Biology (C or U)
• any Grade 11¹ or 12 Mathematics (C, M, or U)

¹

Minimum of 60% in Grade 11 College or University level Mathematics (MBF3C or MCF3M) 

Mature students, non-secondary school applicants (19 years or older), and home school applicants may also be considered for admission. Eligibility may be met by applicants who have taken equivalent courses, upgrading, completed their GED, and equivalency testing. For complete details refer to: www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/academic-regulations/

Applicants who have taken courses from a recognized and accredited post-secondary institution and/or have relevant life/learning experience may also be considered for admission; refer to the Credit for Prior Learning website for details:
www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/

Graduation Requirements

21 Program Courses
2 Communications Courses
3 General Education Courses
1 Co-op Work Term

Graduation Eligibility

To graduate from this program, the passing weighted average for promotion through each semester, from year to year, and to graduate is 60%. Additionally, a student must attain a minimum of 50% or a letter grade of P (Pass) or S (Satisfactory) in each course in each semester unless otherwise stated on the course outline.

Program Tracking

The following reflects the planned course sequence for full-time offerings of the Fall intake of the program. Where more  than one intake is offered  contact the program co-ordinator for the program tracking.

Plan of Study Grid

Semester 1		Hours
Program Courses
ACCT 1000	Financial Accounting Principles 1	42
AGRI 1000	Introduction to Agricultural Business	42
COMP 1003	Microcomputer Applications	42
MATH 1002	Mathematics of Finance	42
REAS 1000	Research Concepts and Applications	42
MKTG 1000	Introduction to Marketing	42
Communications Course
Select 1 course from the communications list during registration.		42
	Hours	294
Semester 2
Program Courses
AGRI 1001	Soil Science and Management	70
AGRI 1002	Crop Production Systems	42
ECON 1000	Microeconomics	42
FNCE 2000	Business Finance	42
Communications Course
Select 1 course from the communications list during registration.		42
General Education Course
Select 1 course from the general education list during registration.		42
	Hours	280
Semester 3
Program Courses
AGRI 2000	Food And Agriculture Regulations And Policies	42
AGRI 2001	Pest Management and Biosecurity	42
BUSI 1001	Introduction to Organizational Behaviour	42
ECON 2000	Macroeconomics	42
MGMT 2012	Introduction to Project Management	42
MGMT 2001	Principles of Management	42
General Education Course
Select 1 course from the general education list during registration.		42
	Hours	294
Semester 4
Program Courses
AGRI 2002	Livestock Production and Management	42
AGRI 2003	Sustainable Practices in Agriculture	42
AGRI 2004	Food Supply Chain and Logistics	42
AGRI 2005	Food Safety and Traceability	42
MGMT 2000	Production and Operations Management	42
General Education Course
Select 1 course from the general education list during registration.		42
	Hours	252
	Total Hours	1120

Plan of Study Grid

Co-op Work Term		Hours
COOP 1061	Business - Agriculture Work Term 1	560
	Hours	560
	Total Hours	560

Graduation Window

Students unable to adhere to the program duration of two years (as stated above) may take a maximum of four years to complete their credential. After this time, students must be re-admitted into the program, and follow the curriculum in place at the time of re-admission.

Disclaimer: The information in this document is correct at the time of publication. Academic content of programs and courses is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational objectives and employment market needs. 

Program outlines may be subject to change in response to emerging situations, in order to facilitate student achievement of the learning outcomes required for graduation. Components such as courses, progression, coop work terms, placements, internships and other requirements may be delivered differently than published.