Mar 28, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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


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Advisors
Boyer, Clark, Lay, and Walton

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

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.

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 Volunteer Core  elective*
1Natural Sciences  Electives* 4  
ENGL 101 * or ENGL 118  3  
ESS 120  3  
MATH 123  3  
Term 2
ENGL 102  3 One additional Volunteer Core  elective*
ESS 220  3  
FWF 250  3  
MATH 125  3  
ECON 211  3  
Term 3
ACCT 200  or ACCT 207   3 ENGL 101 
PSYC 110 *, PSYC 117 *, POLS 102 *, SOCI 120 *, or SOCI 127  3  
ECON 213  3  
2Arts and Humanities  Elective* 3  
2Natural Sciences  Elective* 3  
Term 4
AREC 270 * 3 ECON 211 * or ECON 213 
CMST 210 *, CMST 217 *, CMST 240 *, or CMST 247 * or ALEC 240 * 3  
2Natural Sciences  Elective* 3  
STAT 201 * or STAT 207  3  
Term 5
AREC 310   1 AREC 270 *
AREC 314 * 2 MATH 119  or MATH 123 * or MATH 125 
ECON 311   3  
ECON 362   3  
3Directed Elective 2-3  
PHIL 346  3  
Term 6
AREC 324  or BAS 320  or ECON 381   3-4 ACCT 200  
AREC 342 * or AREC 350 * 3 300-level AREC elective
ESS 326  or FWF 430  or GEOG 311   3  
3Directed Electives 6  
2Engaged Inquiries  Elective* 3  
Term 7
AREC 333   2 Apply to graduate
AREC 345   2  
AREC 410   1  
3Directed Elective 3  
ESS 462 * 3  
4Experiential Learning 3  
Term 8
AREC 470   3 No milestones
3Directed Electives 4-6  
ECON 463   3  
5Unrestricted Electives 5-7  
2Non-AREC Engaged Inquiries  Elective* 3  
TOTAL 120  
1 Natural Science with Lab course chosen from Volunteer Core * list.
2 Chosen from the Volunteer Core * list. No more than one of the two Natural Sciences electives may be a Herbert College of Agriculture course.
3 Chosen from any 300-level or 400-level AREC course, ECON 313 , ECON 471 ; ESS 424 *, ESS 462 *; FORS 314 , FORS 321 *, FORS 335 , FORS 420 , FORS 422 ; FWF 420 *; GEOG 333 , GEOG 340 *, GEOG 345 , GEOG 409 , GEOG 411 , GEOG 436 , GEOG 443 ; GEOL 454 , GEOL 456 ; or SOCI 360 *, SOCI 363 *, SOCI 465 *. A maximum of three credit hours can be used from each of the following courses: AREC 356 AREC 492 , and AREC 493 .
4 Chosen from AGNR 491  or AREC 356  or AREC 395  or AREC 492  or AREC 499 .
5 Any courses not already required for the major.

* Meets Volunteer Core Requirements .

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