Mar 28, 2024  
2010-2011 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2010-2011 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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


Advisors

Clark 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 course work 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. Course work 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.

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


   

First Year

Hours Credit

AGEC 110  1
FWF 250 * 3
1Biological Science Elective* 4
ESS 120 * and ESS 220 * 6
ENGL 101 *, ENGL 102 * 6
MATH 123 *, MATH 125 * 6
PSYC 110 * or POLS 102 * or SOCI 120 * 3
   

Second Year

 
ACCT 200  3
AGEC 212  3
AGEC 201 * 4
2Arts and Humanities  Elective* 3
AGNR 290  3
PHIL 245 * 3
3Physical Sciences Elective* 4
ESS 210  4
STAT 201 * 3
   

Third Year

 
AGEC 310 , AGEC 315 , AGEC 320 , AGEC 342  or AGEC 350 , AGEC 430  13
ECON 362  3
BSET 326  3
4Nondepartmental CASNR Electives 6
CMST 210 * or CMST 240 * 3
AGEC 324  3
   

Fourth Year

 
AGEC 410 , AGEC 470 , AGEC 472  7
ECON 463  3
5Agricultural Economics Electives 6
ALEC 440 * or ENGL 360 * 3
ECON 361  or ECON 371 , or GEOG 340  or GEOG 345  or GEOG 436 , or SOCI 360  3
Electives 8
   
 

Total 120

   
* Meets University General Education Requirement .
1 Selected from BIOL 101 , BIOL 102 , BIOL 111 , BIOL 112 , BIOL 130 .
2 Selected from any course on the University General Education list .
3 Selected from CHEM 100 , CHEM 110 , CHEM 120 , CHEM 130 , GEOG 131 , GEOG 132 , GEOL 101 , GEOL 102 , GEOL 103 .
4 Selected from ESS 324 , 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: AGEC 356 , AGEC 492  and AGEC 493 .