Business (Food Industry Management), BA
Trace how food travels from farm to table. In this program, you tackle real business challenges for food companies and retailers, attend major industry events, and prepare to shape the future of the food industry.
Quick facts
Locations
Courses
or MAT 117 College Algebra
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
The W.P. Carey School of Business and all its programs are accredited ...
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Business (Food Industry Management) degree description
In the Bachelor of Arts program in business with a concentration in food industry management, you acquire the knowledge and skills needed for leadership roles in the global food industry.
The program has been developed in close coordination with partners in the food industry and provides you with the full business core plus 21 credit hours of food industry coursework.
Why specialize in food industry management at ASU?
You see how business principles apply across the entire food value chain, from producers to consumers, as you study food marketing, retailing, distribution, product innovation and pricing. Through elective courses, you can attend the National Grocers Association's annual trade show, and compete in the National Grocers Association Foundation Student Case Study Competition, where you develop solutions to real challenges facing grocery retailers.
You might also join the International Fresh Produce Association's Career Pathways Program, with the opportunity to attend the Global Produce and Floral Show to explore careers and trends in the fresh produce industry. In another popular elective, The Business of Beer, you meet entrepreneurs who have built successful craft breweries alongside professionals across the brewing supply chain, grain producers, maltsters, distributors and restaurateurs, for a close look at a growing food and beverage sector.
Additional details
Outside the classroom, you might get involved with Young Farmers & Ranchers or the Global Agribusiness Student Association. Experiences like the W. P. Carey Leaders Academy; Barrett, The Honors College; and Business Ambassadors can further deepen your time as a student.
Courses
Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.
| Sample courses |
|---|
| WPC 148 First-Year Introduction to Career Development |
| WPC 248 Sophomore Career Narrative Design |
| WPC 348 Junior Networking Foundations |
| WPC 448 Senior Career Transition Management |
| FIN 300 Fundamentals of Finance |
| LES 305 Business Law and Ethics for Managers |
Course checksheet and curriculum archive
The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.
Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).
Already completed some college courses? Build on your success.
If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.
See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)
First-year admission requirements for this program are the same as the university's first-year admission requirements. Readmission requirements: Students must have a transfer GPA of 3.00 (if applicable; scale is 4.00 = "A") and a cumulative ASU GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A").
Transfer admission requirements:
Transfer applicants must have a GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") for all transfer work and meet university transfer admission requirements. Transfer students should select an additional major, which must be outside the W. P. Carey School of Business, when applying for admission. Students who are admissible to the university but do not meet admission requirements for this program and did not select a second major or are not admissible to their second major choice will be placed in the BA program in applied business and technology solutions in W. P. Carey School of Business, which is offered via ASU Online as well as at the Polytechnic and West Valley campus locations. Students not interested in that program or campus location may reach out to wpcareyug@asu.edu for assistance in selecting another degree program.
Students should visit the W. P. Carey School of Business website to determine whether they meet change of major requirements. Students who are ready to change their major should submit their request through the advising website.
Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
As globalization and growing populations continue to impact the way the world lives and works, international experiences have become vital to success in food industry management. Through international study and internships, students can gain valuable skills that employers are looking for: communication and interpersonal skills, flexibility, motivation and a contemporary perspective on business applications worldwide. Understanding global trends as consumer tastes and needs change helps students be more prepared and competitive leaders in a variety of food industry firms and organizations. Through participation in a Global Education program, students improve their language skills while they broaden their understandings of international business practices.
The W. P. Carey School of Business recommends these programs for students majoring business with a concentration in food industry management.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimate
Build the career and future you want
Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:
| Career | Growth | Median Salary | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Supervisor | 3.8% | $59,320 | Learn more |
| Business Analyst | 10.1% | $101,860 | Learn more |
| Buyer | 6.0% | $77,710 | Learn more |
| Food Scientist | 6.2% | $88,720 | Learn more |
| General Manager (GM) | 5.0% | $105,770 | Learn more |
| Inside Sales Representative | 1.2% | $104,920 | Learn more |
| Marketing Associate | -3.7% | $133,660 | Learn more |
| Restaurant Manager | 5.8% | $69,390 | Learn more |
| Sales Manager | 4.5% | $148,270 | Learn more |
Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
More about careers
Careers this food industry management concentration prepares you for
Graduates are prepared for business careers in the food industry, which is defined as the group of firms and organizations involved with manufacturing, marketing and distributing food beyond the farm to retail stores, restaurants and institutions such as schools and hospitals. The industry is becoming increasingly competitive, sophisticated and global, and it shows a growing demand for professional management: One in six people are employed in the food industry nationwide, with 100,000 in Arizona.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Morrison School of Agribusiness
|
SANTN 230
wpcareyug@asu.edu
480-727-5183
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.

