Illinois expands undergraduate majors in agricultural economics, agribusiness, financial planning, and more

Students interested in careers in agribusiness, financial planning, applied economics, environmental policy, consumer finance, and law will have new undergraduate degree options in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Beginning this fall, incoming ACE students can choose from six majors and two concentrations, providing more focused areas of study and tailored programs from the classroom to their future careers.

“ACE students learn to apply business and economics tools to solve critical challenges in food, agriculture, consumer finance, energy, and the environment,” said Sarah Low, ACE department head. “These new majors give students clearer pathways to specialize in areas such as agribusiness, financial planning, environmental economics, and public policy while building the hands-on experience they need to launch their careers.”

The new undergraduate options include: Agricultural & Consumer Economics, Consumer Economics & Finance, Environmental & Resource Economics & Policy, Financial Planning, Food & Agribusiness Management, and Public Policy & Law. The Agricultural & Consumer Economics major also includes concentrations in Agri-Accounting and Agricultural & Applied Economics.

The department’s previous structure, which will be phased out as current students graduate, featured one major with nine concentrations. The new majors elevate several of those areas of study into stand-alone degrees, making it easier for students and employers to understand the specialized knowledge and skills ACE graduates bring to the workforce.

U. of I. applications opened Sept. 1; apply by Nov. 1 for early action or Jan. 5 for regular admission.

What can students study in ACE?

• Agricultural & Consumer Economics: Apply economics and business principles to challenges involving food, agriculture, finance, and global markets. Students can specialize through two concentrations: 
  • Agri-Accounting: Build core accounting skills for careers with agricultural businesses, accounting firms, and other organizations while preparing to meet educational requirements associated with the Certified Public Accountant exam.
  • Agricultural & Applied Economics: Apply business and economics principles to solve global issues in food, agriculture, and finance.
• Consumer Economics & Finance: Explore consumer economics, personal finance, behavioral economics, and the factors that shape financial decision-making. Students prepare for careers across financial services, consumer research, banking, insurance, and related fields.
• Environmental & Resource Economics & Policy: Examine the economic dimensions of environmental, natural resource, and energy challenges. Students learn to evaluate economic impacts and develop policy and management solutions for issues affecting communities, businesses, and natural resources.
• Financial Planning: Study the financial and economic decisions facing individuals, households, and small businesses, including coursework in investments, insurance, retirement planning, and financial planning. Graduates may meet the educational requirements to sit for the Certified Financial Planner™ exam.
• Food & Agribusiness Management: Learn how business, agricultural technology, supply chains, finance, marketing, and management come together across the food and agriculture industry. Students prepare for careers with agribusinesses, food companies, financial institutions, commodity organizations, and other employers throughout the global food and agricultural system.
• Public Policy & Law: Explore law and public policy related to food, agriculture, the environment, natural resources, consumers, and international relations. Students develop skills to analyze policy, understand legal and regulatory systems, and address complex issues affecting people, businesses, and communities.

What hands-on experiences are available to ACE students?

Students majoring in agricultural and consumer economics at Illinois can put what they learn into practice through internships, undergraduate research, study abroad, student organizations, competitions, and other experiential learning opportunities.

Students connect their coursework to real-world challenges in many ways, from engaging directly with policymakers in Springfield and building financial skills through hands-on classroom projects to exploring the connections among agriculture, the environment, and public policy, and gaining international business experience through study abroad.

“Employers are looking for graduates who can think critically, analyze complex problems, and apply what they’ve learned in real-world settings,” Low said. “Our students have always developed those skills. These new majors make their areas of expertise more visible while giving students a clearer way to connect what they study at Illinois with where they want to go next.”

Students considering a degree in agricultural and consumer economics can explore the undergraduate degree options to compare programs, coursework, career opportunities, and experiential learning options.

For more information, contact Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Advising Caroline Helton at chelton@illinois.edu, or email aceundergrad@illinois.edu.