Mar 28, 2024  
2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Natural Resource and Environmental Economics Major, BS in Agricultural and Resource Economics


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Advisors
Clark, Jensen, and Park

Students majoring in natural resource and environmental economics are prepared for a variety of careers in both the private and public sectors. With increasing competition for limited land, water, and other natural resources in the U.S. and throughout the world, as well as growing concern about environmental degradation of various sorts, there is a growing need for professionals who can assist in the process of balancing economic and environmental tradeoffs. Private firms face serious challenges in meeting stricter environmental regulations and achieving self-imposed environmental goals. Public agencies must continually seek to design policies so that society’s resource conservation or environmental quality goals are achieved in a cost-effective manner.

The curriculum builds upon the university-wide general education requirements with a set of core courses in business and economics. Students then take advanced and specialized coursework that focuses on the economic foundations for policies designed to foster natural resource conservation or enhance environmental quality. The curriculum is highly interdisciplinary. Courses are required in the physical and environmental sciences covering subject matter such as conservation, ecology, and forestry, as well as soil and water resource issues. Coursework is required in environmental ethics, environmental law, and other social science disciplines such as sociology. Students gain skills using tools such as geographic information systems for analysis of spatially-referenced data.

Students graduating with this major may find employment in private firms with environmental compliance activities or conservation initiatives directed toward energy or other natural resources. Opportunities also exist with consulting firms that assist clients in meeting environmental objectives. Many nonprofit environmental organizations seek to employ staff with economic training. Several federal government agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the departments of Agriculture, Interior, and Energy, employ natural resource and environmental economists. State and local government agencies also provide opportunities for employment. The major provides a strong background for graduate studies in natural resource and environmental economics, leading to career opportunities in teaching and/or research, as well as high-level policy positions. Students would also be well prepared to pursue a professional program in environmental law.

uTrack Requirements (for students entering Fall 2013 or later)

Universal Tracking (uTrack) is an academic monitoring system designed to help students stay on track for timely graduation. In order to remain on track, students must complete the minimum requirements for each tracking semester, known as milestones. Milestones include successful completion of specified courses and/or attainment of a minimum GPA. uTrack requirements only affect full-time, degree-seeking students who first entered Fall 2013 or later. uTrack does not apply to transfer students who enter prior to Fall 2015.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Resource Economics • Natural Resource and Environmental Economics Major


Term 1 Hours Milestone Notes
AREC 110   1 One general education elective*
1Biological Sciences Electives* 4  
ENGL 101 * or ENGL 118 * 3  
ESS 120 * 3  
MATH 123 * 3  
Term 2
ENGL 102 * 3 One additional general education elective*
ESS 220 * 3  
FWF 250 * 3  
MATH 125 * 3  
PSYC 110 *, PSYC 117 *, POLS 102 *, SOCI 120 *, or SOCI 127 * 3  
Term 3
ACCT 200  or ACCT 207   3 ENGL 101 *
AGNR 291   1  
AREC 201 * 4  
CMST 210 *, CMST 217 , CMST 240 *, or CMST 247 * 3  
3Physical Science Electives* 4  
Term 4
AGNR 292   1 AREC 201 * or ECON 201 * or ECON 207 *
AREC 212   3  
2Arts and Humanities Elective * 3  
ESS 210   4  
STAT 201 * or STAT 207 * 3  
Term 5
AREC 310 , AREC 315 , AREC 320   7 AREC 212  
ECON 362   3 MATH 119  or MATH 123 * or MATH 125 *
4Nondepartmental CASNR Elective 3  
PHIL 346 * 3  
Term 6
AREC 324   3 ACCT 200  
AREC 342  or AREC 350   3 300-level AREC elective
2Arts and Humanities Elective * 3  
BSET 326   3  
4Nondepartmental CASNR Elective 3  
Term 7
ALEC 440 * or ENGL 360 * 3 Apply to graduate
AREC 410 , AREC 430 , AREC 472   7  
5AREC Elective 3  
ECON 361 , ECON 471 , GEOG 340 , GEOG 345 , GEOG 436 , or SOCI 360   3  
Term 8
AREC 470   3  
5AREC Elective 3 No milestones
ECON 463   3  
6Unrestricted Electives 6  
TOTAL 120  
* Meets University General Education Requirement .
1 Chosen from BIOL 101 *, BIOL 102 *, BIOL 111 *, BIOL 112 *.
2 Chosen from the University General Education list .
3 Chosen from CHEM 100 *, CHEM 110 *, CHEM 120 *, CHEM 128 *, CHEM 130 *, CHEM 138 *; GEOG 131 *, GEOG 132 *, GEOG 137 *; GEOL 101 *, GEOL 102 *, GEOL 103 *, GEOL 107 *, GEOL 108 *.
4 Chosen from ESS 424 , ESS 462 ; FORS 314 , FORS 321 *, FORS 420 , FORS 422 ; FWF 420 .
5 A maximum of three credit hours can be used from each of the following courses: AREC 356 AREC 492  and AREC 493 .
6 Any courses not already required for the major.

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