Program Overview

The Resource Economics Department offers Ph.D. and M.S. with thesis or field essay degrees. The primary objective of the graduate program in Resource Economics is to provide graduate students with the advanced economic principles and quantitative tools necessary to function effectively as applied economists. Major fields of study included in the department’s program are: (a) Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, (b) Empirical Industrial Organization, (c) Experimental and Behavioral Economics.

The doctoral degree requirements of the Graduate School apply to the Ph.D. program. The department requires a minimum of 45 credits beyond the B.S. degree. The student’s program of study is developed in accordance with his or her individual objectives. Coursework and Ph.D. qualifying exams in microeconomic theory and quantitative methods are required along with coursework in major and related fields. The Ph.D. student is required to demonstrate research competency by completing a Ph.D. dissertation. No foreign language competency is required.

The general requirements established by the Graduate School apply to the M.S. degree program. The M.S. degree requires 28 course credits plus 3 credits of research field essay or 25 course credits plus 6 credits of thesis work. Two semesters each of microeconomic theory and quantitative methods are required. No foreign language competency is required. An accelerated 4+1 Master’s option is also available.