Areas Of Study - Lake Area Technical Institute

Success Starts Here
As a leading industry in South Dakota, agriculture
provides premium career opportunities. In particualar,
the area of commodity merchandising - which unites
buyers and sellers of grain, manages investments, and
offers financial advice - is gleaming with new hire
potential. As grain markets evolve with technology
and globalization, there is an ever increasing demand
for field experts who can build and manage profitable
local grain business.
As a agriculture commodity merchandiser, you’ll set
prices and do purchasing for grain elevators on a local
level. If you think you would enjoy working with a
diverse range of people, making frequent decisions,
and offering financial guidance, then look no further
for a great career!
What can I expect?
As a student in the Commodity Merchandising
Option, you’ll get plenty of interactive, practical
experience. You can expect courses in: Accounting,
Seed and Grain Technology, Financial Management,
Commodity Marketing and Merchandising, Co-op
Principles, and more!
To make sure you are as ready as possible for a great
career - we also require two business interships.
Careers
As a graduate of this program you can expect
outstanding opportunities and a great income!
Strong employment growth is expected to
result from increasing investment in securities
and commodities, along with the growing
need for investment advice. Job growth will
be fueled primarily by the increasing levels of
investment in securities and commodities in the
global marketplace. Though most commodity
merchandisers will work for local grain elevators,
ethanol plants nationwide are also hiring buyers/
merchandisers.
A laptop is required
for this option.
Learn more at www.lakeareatech.edu
Credits Required
for Graduation: 87.5
Associate of Applied
Science (A.A.S.)
Degree
20
Months
Agriculture – Commodity Merchandising Option Courses
AED 100 Automated External Defibrillator .. . . . . . 1/2 credit
AG 100 Soil Science.......................... 3 credits
AG 102 Crop Science .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 credits
AG 122 Fertilizers............................. 3 credits
AG 124 Ag Chemicals........................ 3 credits
AG 226 Commodity Marketing. ............... 3 credits
AG 247 Internship............................ 5 credits
AGR 105 Ag Safety. ...........................1 credit
AGR 110 Animal Science. ..................... 3 credits
AGR 118 Soil and Water Management.. . . . . . . . . . 3 credits
AGR 120 Seed and Grain Technology............ 3 credits
AGR 162 Co-op Principles...................... 3 credits
AGR 165 Business Supervised Occupational
Experience I (S.O.E.)................... 5 credits
AGR 167 Business Supervised Occupational
Experience II (S.O.E.) .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 credits
AGR 233 Commodity Futures and Options........ 3 credits
AGR 235 Commodity Merchandising .. . . . . . . . . . . 3 credits
AGR 236 Business Management I................ 3 credits
AGR 237 Business Law/Supervision.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 credits
AGR 239 Microsoft Excel for Ag...................1 credit
ACCT 210 Principles of Accounting I.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 credits
ACCT 226 Financial Statement Analysis for Ag...... 3 credits
BUS 158 Principles of Selling.................... 3 credits
BUS 236 Financial Mangagment................ 3 credits
CIS 102 Windows Applications for Technicians.... 3 credits
CSS 100 Career Search Strategies.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1/2 credit
ECON 201 Principles of Microeconomics I.......... 3 credits
SPCM 101 Fundamentals of Speech .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 credits
HAZ 100 Hazardous Materials Safety. .......... 1/2 credit
Electives
AGR 142 Commercial Pesticide Certification..... 1/2 credit
AGR 150 Commercial Drivers License Preparation... 1/2 credit
AG 200 Animal Nutrition .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 credits
AGR 202 Livestock Nutrition Problems.. . . . . . . . . . . 3 credits
AGR 262 Precision Agriculture. ................. 3 credits
Students must select one course in each of the areas
listed. See page 96 for a complete explanation.
Selected Behavioral Science Course ............ 3 credits
Selected Communications Course .............. 3 credits
Selected Mathematics Course. ................. 3 credits
AGRICULTURE
Commodity Merchandising Option
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