For highly motivated undergraduate students like Victoria Manrique, a Food and Resource Economics combined degree at UF provides a unique opportunity for them to accelerate the completion of their M.S. degree by starting graduate-level coursework in the final year of their undergraduate program. 

Manrique graduated with her B.S. in Food and Resource Economics last year and is completing her M.S. in Food and Resource Economics this semester. Dr. John Lai, assistant professor of Food and Resource Economics, was her advisor. 

Pursuing a Combined Degree in Food and Resource Economics 

Having enjoyed the coursework in her undergraduate program, Manrique chose to pursue the combined degree, knowing that she wanted to pursue a Master’s at some point in the future. The combined degree opportunity appealed to her as a way to maximize her opportunities while at UF, allowing her to further her education and double count some of her coursework. 

“I thought it was a little bit more challenging, but definitely doable,” Manrique said. “I thought it was great for me, I was looking for that challenge.  And the coursework was a little heavier than I was used to, but I did just fine. I was very determined. I was determined to get an A in all of my classes, just because I was like, ‘I’m a master student. I can do it. I can prove it to myself.’ And I did!” 

Through completing the two programs, she said she appreciated the opportunity to receive a more specialized education that was built upon the foundation of her undergraduate courses to further her career. 

One of her favorite courses was the first graduate level course she took – Public Policy and the Agribusiness Firms with Dr. Jaclyn Kropp, FRE Professor. 

“It was a lot of work, but it was all very purposeful, and I really enjoyed doing all of the work,” Manrique said. “So, it just assured me that I did want to do this program, and I did want to be in this master’s.” 

Professional Development Through Capstone Project 

Though the M.S. program offers a research track for students interested in pursuing a Ph.D., for those like Manrique looking to leap into a career in industry, the non-thesis M.S. with Concentration in Agribusiness offers the opportunity to complete your program through an equally valuable internship experience and capstone project.

For her capstone, Manrique completed an internship with the Quick Service Restaurant industry company Restaurant Brands International, the parent company of Burger King, Popeyes, Tim Hortons, and Firehouse Subs. In her internship. She focused on project management and for her capstone worked on consumer trends and understanding of how supply chain management applies to the quick service restaurant industry.

“I got a lot of insights into how supply chain and how the current industry reacts to market movements and economic challenges,” Manrique said. “Which was, I think, really good for my job that I’m going to start now because I just have a bigger picture of what they really do.

Having received a return offer, she will be working full-time for Restaurant Brands International following graduation.

“And I think the master’s really helped me prepare in that aspect, because I was working in supply chain, and there are a lot of things that we speak about in our classes that relate to supply chain,” Manrique said. “And I had like more of like a whole a big picture look of how it works. Then when I got to my job, I was really able to hone those roles and learn new things.”

She also credits her time in the program with developing her organization skills and teamwork, essential for her internship and now her career.

With two degrees in her pocket, Manrique is ready to take on new challenges and see what the real world has to offer.

“I’m very excited to go into a new world and really just in my job and new people, new teams, new everything, basically. And I’m very excited. I think I’m going to learn a lot, and I think I’m going to be able to take everything I learned here and apply it there and build on it and learn more. So, I am very excited for what the future holds.”

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