The Black Hills State University College of Business is adding two new specializations to their Business Administration degree, Agribusiness/Ranch Management and Finance, to be offered starting this fall. The new offerings will join the rest of the college’s programs in being accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)—a distinction held by fewer than six percent of business schools worldwide, signifying the highest standard of excellence in business education.
The Agribusiness/Ranch Management specialization applies core business principles, such as accounting, finance, marketing, and operations management, to the unique challenges of agriculture and ranching. Students will gain hands-on experience through a required internship and upper-level coursework tailored to the agricultural sector. The program will also leverage a partnership with South Dakota State University, which will provide specialized online agricultural economics courses for portions of the degree.
“Given our location in western South Dakota and this region's agricultural heritage, Black Hills State University is uniquely positioned to offer this program,” said Dr. Matt Dobra, dean of the College of Business at BHSU. “We're excited to partner with South Dakota State University to bring our cutting-edge business foundation together with their specialized agricultural expertise, giving students the best of both worlds.”
The Agribusiness/Ranch Management specialization will be available on campus in Spearfish, at BHSU-Rapid City or completely online to serve working ranchers and rural students.
The Finance specialization equips students with a deep understanding of financial management, investment analysis, and risk assessment, skills that are essential in today’s global economy. This program responds directly to a growing demand for finance professionals in South Dakota and beyond.
BHSU introduced a Finance minor in 2022, but due to increasing student interest and workforce demand, the university is now expanding this offering into a full specialization.
"The Finance specialization at BHSU is grounded in a rigorous academic framework that integrates theory, data-driven analysis, and applied learning,” said Chanho Cho, associate professor of finance at BHSU. “Our curriculum is designed to cultivate critical thinking and technical skills that are essential for navigating today’s complex financial environment. Through experiential resources like the Finance Lab and Investment Club, we enable students to bridge the gap between academic inquiry and professional practice."
For more information about the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at BHSU, visit BHSU.edu/Business.