The Ph.D. offered by the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics consists of 72 credits plus a substantial work of original research in the form of a dissertation. Completion of the Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics generally signifies a mastery of advanced microeconomic theory and quantitative methods, with a particular expertise in either agricultural economics or environmental and natural resource economics. Ph.D. graduates are experts in applied economics and are trained to develop and execute innovative research programs, teach undergraduate and graduate level economics courses, and present theoretical and applied economic concepts and results to a wide variety of audiences. Graduates of this program have gone on to succeed in a variety of positions at universities, in the public sector (e.g. USDA, ERS), and private enterprises including consulting firms.

Effective Fall 2020

Core Courses
AREC 506/ECON 506Applied Microeconomic Theory3
AREC 570/ECON 530Methodology of Economic Research3
AREC 606/ECON 606Microeconomic Analysis I3
AREC 615Optimization Methods for Applied Economics3
AREC 635/ECON 635Econometric Theory I3
AREC 706/ECON 706Microeconomic Analysis II3
AREC 735/ECON 735Econometric Theory II2
AREC 770Advanced Methods in Applied Economics3
ECON 501Quantitative Methods for Economists3
Field Courses
Select one from the following:9-12
Group A:
Agricultural Production and Cost Analysis
Agricultural Marketing and Demand Analysis
Advanced Production and Technological Change
Advanced Agricultural Marketing Issues
Group B:
Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
Advanced Natural Resource Economics
Advanced Environmental Economics
Electives
Electives 1,222-25
Research and Dissertation
AREC 799Dissertation12
Exams
Exams 30
Program Total Credits:72

A minimum of 72 credits are required to complete this program.

1

Select courses with approval of advisor and committee.

2

Student may apply an earned Master’s degree for up to 30 credits toward the PhD requirements.  Specific course requirements will be substituted where evidence of equivalent learning outcomes is demonstrated.

3

Students must pass the written Ph.D. Qualifying Examinations in Quantitative Methods and in Microeconomics, the field Examination, the preliminary Oral Examination, and the final Oral Examination.