Michigan State University College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

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Careers in Agriculture and Natural Resources

Companies that hire MSU Agriculture and Natural Resources graduates are the best and the most respected. They are Fortune 500 firms and successful commercial agricultural operations. They are government agencies and small, private research firms. They are involved with environmental consulting and resource recovery. They are the world in which you live, work and play. They are looking for creative, talented, well-educated professionals.

Jobs held by MSU Agriculture and Natural Resources graduates are dynamic, fulfilling and exciting. They reach from coast to coast, border to border and around the world.

Salary range: Limited only by your ability, drive and initiative.

Salary information list below is based on graduates’ self reports to MSU Career Services and Placement and to individual departments. Companies and job titles are shown as examples only. MSU graduates are employed by thousands of firms world-wide.

Office of Academic and Student Affairs
Michigan State University
121 Agriculture Hall
East Lansing, MI 48824-1039
517-355-0234
800-810-0MSU

Careers in Agribusiness Management

Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics
1 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 355-1692 http://www.aec.msu.edu/agecon

This major develops students’ knowledge and skills for management careers in agricultural input supply, production, processing, and marketing organizations. The curriculum focuses on the managerial functions performed by organizations throughout the food system.

Selected companies that hire after graduation:

Sample job titles:

Average Starting Salary:

$33,000

Salary Range:

$27,000-$45,000

Careers in Environmental Studies & Agriscience

Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies
409 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 355-6580 http://www.canr.msu.edu/aee

This major provides a foundation for students seeking careers in teaching and the dynamic agricultural and natural resources industries. Organizing workshops and seminars; developing leadership programs for business and government agencies; teaching agriscience at the high school level; and representing new product lines and services for industry are just a few of the careers available to Environmental Studies & Agriscience majors.

Selected companies that hire after graduation:

Sample job titles:

Average Starting Salary:

$37,000

Salary Range:

$28,000-$48,000

Careers in Animal Science

Department of Animal Science
1250 Anthony Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 353-9227 http://www.canr.msu.edu/dept/ans

Animal Science prepares students for a variety of career options in animal agriculture dealing with beef cattle, dairy cattle, horses, poultry, sheep and swine. Graduates may become employed in marketing, agribusiness, finance, manufacturing, research and public relations.

Selected companies that hire after graduation:

Sample job titles:

Average Starting Salary:

$25,000

Salary Range:

$18,000-$40,000

Careers in Construction Management

School of Planning, Design, and Construction
230 Farrall Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 432-2096 http://www.canr.msu.edu/cm

The construction industry is a trillion-dollar industry representing approximately 12% of the GNP. The Construction Management major focuses on the business aspects of commercial and residential construction, heavy highway and process manufacturing creating a wide variety of career opportunities.

Our students take classes in management, contracts, finance, estimating, scheduling, real estate, structural design, accounting, building codes, business law, safety, and materials. Our internship program provides first class opportunities for our students to receive "hands on" real world experiences.

Selected companies that hire after graduation:

Sample job titles:

Average Starting Salary:

$50,000

Salary Range:

$46,000-64,000

Careers in Biosystems Engineering

Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
215 Farrall Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 355-4722 http://www.egr.msu.edu/age

Biosystems engineering combines biology, engineering and systems management principles to optimize our natural resources in a responsible manner to preserve the environment and food supply for future generations. Biosystems engineering students can specialize their studies in ecosystems engineering, food engineering, or a variety of other application areas (e.g. biomedical).

Selected companies that hire after graduation:

Sample job titles:

Average Starting Salary:

$46,000

Salary Range:

$40,000-$52,000

Careers in Crop & Soil Sciences

Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
154A Plant and Soil Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 353-3271 http://www.css.msu.edu/

Students study the biological and physical sciences to prepare for professional careers in diverse employment opportunities such as consulting, golf course management, sales, environmental clean-up, marketing, lawn care, waste management, technology, and production agriculture.

Selected companies that hire after graduation:

Sample job titles:

Average Starting Salary:

$30,000

Salary Range:

$26,000 - $55,000

Careers in Environmental Economics & Policy

Department of Agricultural Economics
1 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 355-1692 http://www.aec.msu.edu/agecon

This program prepares students for careers that require balancing environmental sustainability and economic development goals. This major is a broad, integrated study of environmental economics, public finance, economic development, community and regional studies and environmental science.

Selected companies that hire after graduation:

Sample job titles:

Average Starting Salary:

$30,000

Salary Range:

$25,000-$38,000

Careers in Food Industry Management

Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics

1 Agriculture Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 355-1692 http://www.aec.msu.edu/agecon

This major is for people considering a career in food and consumer products marketing. These jobs include positions with food wholesalers-distributors and retailers as well as sales, acount management, and production supervisor positions with food manufacturers. There will continue to be a demand for professionally trained executives to manage the increasingly complex business functions of firms in the food and consumer product industry.

Selected companies that hire after graduation:

Sample job titles:

Average Starting Salary:

$36,000

Salary Range:

$30,000-$50,000

Careers in Forestry

Department of Forestry
126 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 355-0091 http://www.for.msu.edu/

Forestry is the science and art of managing the natural resources that occur on and in association with forest lands to benefit society. Forestry includes management of land for timber production, recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat, forage, water regulation, preservation for scientific studies, urban environmental, amenity and special uses.

Selected companies that hire after graduation:

Sample job titles:

Average Starting Salary:

$28,000

Salary Range:

$22,000-$34,000

Careers in Food Science

Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition
204 GM Trout Food Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 355-8474 http://www.msu.edu/unit/fshn/

Food Science is a multi-disciplinary science that applies chemistry, microbiology, engineering, nutrition, toxicology and other basic and applied sciences to problems related to the production, preservation, processing, distribution, evaluation, safety and utilization of food.

Selected companies that hire after graduation:

Sample job titles:

Average Starting Salary:

$40,000

Salary Range:

$28,000-$51,000

Careers in Fisheries & Wildlife

Department of Fisheries & Wildlife
40 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 353-9091 http://www.fw.msu.edu/

This program prepares students to become applied ecologists, biologists, naturalists, environmental educators, and conservation officers. Students also become consultants, managers and administrators with public and private agencies concerned with environmental management.

Selected companies that hire after graduation:

Sample job titles:

Average Starting Salary:

$22,000

Salary Range:

$18,000-$26,000

Careers in Horticulture

Department of Horticulture
164A Plant and Soil Science Building, East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 353-5191 http://www.hrt.msu.edu/

Horticulture is the science and art concerned with the culture, marketing and utilization of high value, intensively cultivated fruits, flowers, vegetables and ornamental plants. The study of horticulture combines scientific knowledge, technology and environmental stewardship for application in commercial practice and home gardening and landscaping.

Selected companies that hire after graduation:

Sample job titles:

Average Starting Salary:

$40,000

Salary Range:

$25,000-$60,000

Careers in Packaging

School of Packaging
115 Packaging, East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 353-4439 http://www.packaging.msu.edu/

Packaging is involved in the production and movement to market of nearly every item in today’s economy. The packaging curriculum at MSU allows broad, general preparation and specialized study in such areas as food packaging, health care or pharmaceutical packaging, industrial packaging, consumer goods, and automotive or electronics packaging.

Selected companies that hire after graduation:

Sample job titles:

Average Starting Salary:

$45,000

Salary Range:

$35,000-$50,000

Careers in Natural Resources Recreation and Tourism

Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies
131 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 353-5190 http://www.msu.edu/user/prtr

Students in this major are prepared for professional positions in park, recreation, tourism and leisure services. People who hold such positions plan, administer and manage programs, areas, facilities and natural resources that are designed to meet people’s leisure needs and ultimately enhance one’s quality of life.

Selected companies that hire after graduation:

Sample job titles:

Average Starting Salary:

$27,000

Salary Range:

$25,000-$35,000