The Agribusiness Management and Marketing track emphasizes preparation in management, marketing/sales, and finance. Employment opportunities range the gamut of the food and fiber system and careers involve such areas as management, sales, finance, government, public relations, and human resources.

The Community and Economic Development career track emphasizes the roles of public and private entities in the economic developmental process of communities. Public institutions which are entrusted with managing and safe guarding our natural resource endowment are primary employers in this area.

The Farm Management career track provides training in management and decision making at the farm level along with the technical aspects of production agriculture. Graduates can pursue careers in the farm sector as owner-operators or managers.

Learn more about agricultural business and rural sociology

Contact Patricia Duffy 334-844-5629 e-mail

Visit the departmental Web site

Back to the Top

Agricultural Communications

Auburn’s Agricultural Communication degree prepares students for careers in journalism, public relations, and radio or television. With emphasis on writing and communication courses, students learn to wield the power of the word.  To enhance their understanding of agricultural issues, students take basic agriculture classes as well as chemistry and biology. Agricultural Communication seniors are required to do an internship or a journalism workshop.

Learn more about agricultural communications

Contact Don Mulvaney 334-844-2345 e-mail

Back to the Top

Agronomy and Soils

Agronomy and Soils is the foundation for all agriculture. The department offers four educational tracks that allow students to tailor classes to fit specific interests: Production, Turf Management, Business, and Science.

In the Production track, students are able to study food, feed, fiber, oil, and forage crop production.Courses prepare graduates for careers with farm-advisory agencies such as soil testing laboratories and other private consultants.

The popular Turf Management track focuses more on turfgrass production, maintenance, and weed control. Students learn to work with customers and businesses such as golf courses in creating and maintaining healthy turf. 

Business incorporates management and agribusiness courses into the agronomy curriculum.Some graduates work with local, state, and federal government and others choose to further their education or work in fields of business or law.

The Science career track requires a scientific base that can include courses in soil morphology, systemic botany, or conservation. This track prepare graduates for careers in research agencies of corporations or chemical industries, or with producers of fertilizers, herbicides, and other agricultural chemicals.

Learn more about agronomy and soils

Contact Beth Guertal 334-844-3999 e-mail

Visit the departmental Web site

Back to the Top

Animal Sciences

Graduates of Auburn’s Animal Sciences program enter the workforce with hands-on experience and knowledge of many different areas related to animal production and care. The department offers three curriculum options: Pre-Veterinary/Pre-Professional, Production/Management, and Muscle Foods.

The Pre-Vet/Pre-Professional option provides students with a foundation in the biological and physical sciences for careers in emerging areas of animal biotechnology while satisfying requirements for application to Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine, other professional schools, or graduate school.

A greater breadth in animal production management and agribusiness can be found in the Production/Management option. Students have a greater flexibility in course selection since this option has more elective hours built into its curriculum.

The Equine Science option allows students to focus on the sciences and practical skills required for a successful career in the horse industry and, through the choice of appropriate elective courses, prepares students to apply to Auburn's College of Veterinary Medicine.

Students interested in entering careers related to food safety and quality assurance can follow the Muscle Foods track.  The courses in this option prepare students to work in a wide variety of careers that range from live animal management to research and development careers in the food industry.

Learn more about animal sciences

Contact Dale Coleman 334-844-1512 e-mail

Visit the departmental Web site

Back to the Top

Biosystems Engineering

The Department of Biosystems Engineering at Auburn University uses engineering expertise to solve problems in biological systems, natural resources, and the environment. Our goal is to educate students who are committed to enhancing the quality of life today and for future generations. Our major emphases include Biological and Food, Ecological, Production and Process, and Off-Highway Vehicle engineering.

Auburn is the only university in the state to offer majors in Biosystems Engineering and Forest Engineering. In our Biosystems Engineering degree program, students obtain a strong foundation in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and engineering mechanics that is common to all engineers. They combine that engineering knowledge with biological expertise to solve problems in production, processing and distribution of food and fiber, and protecting and enhancing the environment. Auburn’s Forest Engineering option—the only one of its kind in the South—provides students with engineering fundamentals along with teaching them to focus that knowledge on forest resources.

Learn more about biosystems engineering

Contact Steven Taylor 334-844-4180 e-mail

Visit the departmental Web site

Back to the Top

Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures

The Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures is recognized by peer institutions as a premier U.S. warm water fisheries program. By their junior year, students choose one of four areas for their emphasis. These four areas are Aquaculture, Aquatic Resource Management, Fisheries Management, and Fisheries Pre-Professional.

For students interested in the farming of aquatic animals, Aquaculture provides courses such as Hatchery Management, Aquaculture Production, Introduction to Fish Health, and Water Sciences.

Aquatic Resource Management prepares students in assessment and management of the flora and fauna of aquatic environments. Course offerings include Limnology, Ichthyology, Marine Ecology, and Wetland Biology.

Students wanting to study management of fish populations in reservoirs, rivers, and streams to improve recreational fishing can follow the Fisheries Management emphasis. Students take classes such as Management of Small Impoundments, Genetics, Hatchery Management, and Conservation Biology.

The Fisheries Pre-Professional option provides students with a strong foundation in the biological and physical sciences, as well as Fisheries Sciences, and satisfies requirements for Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine or other professional schools.

Learn more about fisheries and allied aquacultures

Contact David Rouse 334-844-476 e-mail

Visit the departmental Web site

Back to the Top

Horticulture

Auburn’s Horticulture department offers three areas of specialization: Landscape Horticulture, Nursery and Greenhouse Science, and Fruit and Vegetable Production.

In the Landscape Horticulture emphasis, students learn design and plant materials to create pleasing environments. Graduates with backgrounds in landscape horticulture are qualified to design, install, and maintain residential and commercial landscapes. Landscape horticulturists may also develop plans for interior landscapes and can do interior installations and maintenance.

Students interested in the operations of landscaping and plant production can choose to study the Nursery and Greenhouse option. Students learn the skills necessary to grow container and field grown ornamentals, florist crops, and bedding plants. Students trained for careers in this area have expertise in plant propagation, fertilization, pest management, and disease identification as well as marketing and shipping of plants.

Fruit and Vegetable Production prepares students for careers involving the propagation and management of fruits and vegetables. Many will work in the areas of research or extension or with commercial vegetable, fruit, and nut productions and related industries.

Learn more about horticulture

Contact Harry Ponder 334-844-4862 e-mail

Visit the departmental Web site

Back to the Top

Poultry Science

The Auburn University Poultry Science Department offers students a premiere educational experience. Poultry Science at Auburn has three degree tracks—Poultry Production, Poultry Pre-Vet and Poultry Processing and Products—which allow students to tailor their studies toward their own interests.

Students studying Poultry Production will be prepared for a rewarding career in any area of poultry production and the allied industries. The curriculum allows flexibility to develop expertise in an area of interest.

The Poultry Pre-Vet/Pre-Professional option provides the strong science background needed for graduate programs and veterinary school, as well as technical industry positions.

Poultry Processing and Products, the newest option, provides students with the technical background needed for excellent careers in food safety, microbiology, food processing, product quality assurance, and product development.

Learn more about poultry science

Contact Roger Lien 334-844-2609 e-mail

Visit the departmental Web site

Back to the Top

A Word about Minors

College of Agriculture students are encouraged to consider earning a minor in an area that complements their major. Minors are an easy way to utilize elective hours and strengthen employment opportunities.

Minors are offered in the following:

Agribusiness

Contact Robert Nelson 334-844-5621 e-mail

Agricultural Leadership

Contact Don Mulvaney 334-844-1514 e-mail

Agronomy and Soils

Contact David Weaver 334-844-3982 e-mail

Animal Sciences

Contact Dale Coleman 334-844-1512 e-mail

Entomology
Contact Wayne Brewer 334-844-2935 e-mail

Fisheries and Allied Aquaculture
Contact Yolanda Brady 334-844-9122 e-mail

Natural Resources Economics and Environmental Policy

Contact Robert Nelson 334-844-5621 e-mail

Plant Pathology

Contact Kathy Lawrence 334-844-1956 e-mail

Poultry Science
Contact Roger Lien 334-844-2609 e-mail

Rural and Community Development
Contact Joe Molnar 334-844-5615 e-mail
     or Conner Bailey 334-844-5632 e-mail

Back to the Top