Agricultural Economics - Graduate

The department offers graduate work leading to the Master of Science, the Master of Agriculture and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Both thesis and non-thesis options are available at the M.S. level. Ph.D. students complete a teaching practicum in addition to the research thesis as a part of the degree requirements.

The graduate program stresses development of superior professional competence, suited to the demands of the modern business, academic, government and research environments. Advanced courses concentrate on economic analysis applied to problems of production, distribution and consumption of agricultural products. Courses in economic theory, econometrics, mathematical economics, statistics, and computer science are an integral part of the program. Problems of agricultural policy, natural resource use and rural area development and planning are also important topics. The faculty give direction and individual guidance to student research in marketing, production, management of agricultural enterprises, price analysis, land and water use and development, rural development and planning, agricultural finance, international trade, farm appraisal and agricultural policy. Specialization is achieved through course electives and research topics. An advisory committee guides each student in the preparation of the program of study to ensure that background or prerequisite work and the graduate plan will lead to the desired depth and breadth of proficiency.

Admission Requirements

Prerequisites to advanced training in agricultural economics are (1) the desire to understand and solve the complex and changing economic problems faced by agriculture and rural society, and (2) the desire and ability to learn methods of rigorous logical analysis.

In addition, differential calculus, three semester hours of statistical methods, and 15 semester hours of agricultural economics and economics, including intermediate micro- and macroeconomic theory, constitute a minimum background for advanced study in agricultural economics. In certain cases, a part of this work can be taken after admission but will not count toward a graduate degree.

Acceptance by an adviser in the department is not required prior to official admittance to the departmental graduate program.

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