Master of Science in Agricultural Resource Economics
Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Consumer Sciences
The Master of Science in Agricultural Resource Economics educates students for careers in
environmental and natural resource policy, agribusiness or agricultural policy,
or regional and rural development. It also is an excellent preparation for
doctoral studies. Most students engage
in research, either as graduate research assistants or working on their own
projects.
The program encourages the integration of rural, regional and international development with environmental and natural resource policy, and the curriculum emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of agricultural, environmental, and natural resource economics. We therefore admit students from various academic backgrounds, including biology, economics, agricultural economics, engineering, environmental studies, geography, or political science. Students lacking prerequisite skills in economics make up deficiencies after being admitted.
Students with degrees in disciplines other than economics or agricultural economics experience benefits from having additional skills and expertise. Employment opportunities are also enhanced by strong quantitative research skills taught in the program.
The Davis College supports the program with instructional computing laboratories with capabilities to conduct research using GIS, spatial statistics, econometrics, project evaluation, and mathematical programming. The program offers a limited number of graduate research assistantships. Awards are based on academic merit. Students choose between a thesis and a course work option. Graduate research assistants must choose the thesis option.
For more information, contact:
Dr. Tim
Phipps, Graduate Coordinator
(304)
293-4832 ext. 4474
The Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry, and
Consumer Sciences
The Davis College is WVU’s oldest academic unit. The West Virginia Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, established in 1888, has an annual research budget of more than $9 million of research each year. Outstanding faculty and extensive facilities offer students a wide variety of opportunities and hands-on experience. Students gain knowledge and skills outside the classroom using 3,425 acres of farmland and 8,134 acres of forest for teaching and research, or by participating in outreach activities. The Davis College awards more than $250,000 in scholarships every year.
Division of Resource Management
The Program in Agricultural and Resource Economics is part of the Division of Resource Management, an interdisciplinary academic unit. Division faculty members combine expertise in agricultural and environmental education, agricultural, natural resource, and environmental economics, agribusiness, rural, regional, and international development, and land use policy. The Division of Resource Management offers MS degrees in Agricultural and Resource Economics, Agriculture and Environmental Education, and the PhD in Natural Resource Economics.
Admission
For the Master of Science degree a student must possess a BS or BA degree with an overall GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Students must also have completed twelve hours of credit in economics or agricultural economics or closely allied field, which should include intermediate microeconomics. The student must also have taken a minimum of three hours of calculus and completed the Graduate Record Exam. International students whose native language is not English must take the TOEFL and achieve a score of at least 550. Applicants who do not meet all requirements may be admitted on a provisional basis and given the opportunity to correct deficiencies.
Core Courses in the M.S. Program
Students should take a minimum of six (6) hours each to satisfy the theory and quantitative requirements. The theory requirement must include ARE 500 (Applied Microeconomics) or equivalent. The other three hours can include either another microeconomics course or a macro-oriented course. Quantitative courses (6 hours required) include ECON 425, STAT 511, or ARE 524. ARE 521 (Quantitative Methods) and ARE 524 (Econometric Methods) are recommended for those intending to pursue a Ph.D.
Structure of Typical M.S. Program
|
M.S.
Program by year (assuming ECON 301 and 421 or equivalent pre-requites have
been completed) |
|
|
Year One (Fall Term) |
Year One (Spring Term) |
|
ARE 500 Applied
Microeconomics Additional Core and/or elective courses ARE 696 Graduate
Seminar |
Core and/or elective courses ARE 696 Graduate
Seminar |
Summer Term I |
Summer Term II |
ARE 697 Research
or coursework for non-thesis option |
ARE 697 Research
or coursework for non-thesis option |
Year Two (Fall Term) |
Year Two (Spring Term) |
Core and/or electives
ARE 696 Graduate
Seminar ARE 697 Research
(thesis option) |
ARE 697 Research (thesis option)
Or additional course work (non-thesis option) ARE 696 Graduate
Seminar |