Career Opportunities

Resource Economics prepares students to assist in public and private decisions about environmental and natural resource issues. Population and income growth are increasing the pressure on our resources, making allocation, management, and protection decisions among our top priorities. Water quality and supply, land use, climate change, energy use, pesticide policy, recycling, waste disposal, and marine fisheries management are some of the issues studied. Students learn to apply decision-making tools such as benefit-cost, risk-benefit, and cost-effectiveness analysis. This training prepares students for careers in research, planning, education, and administration with federal, state, or community governments, as well as in private businesses that provide services in various sustainability, environmental and natural resource areas. Many students also pursue graduate school in Resource Economics, Economics, or Public Policy.