Mar 28, 2024  
2011-2012 General Catalog 
    
2011-2012 General Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: To search archives, MUST use search box to left. Current catalog: catalog.usu.edu.

Applied Economics


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Department Head: Paul M. Jakus
Location: Business 615
Phone: (435) 797-2310
FAX: (435) 797-2701
WWW: http://apec.usu.edu/

Graduate Program Director:

Arthur J. Caplan, Business 620, (435) 797-0775, arthur.caplan@usu.edu

Undergraduate Advisor:

Lisa Allen, Agricultural Science 225, (435) 797-0454, lisa.allen@usu.edu

Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science (BS) in Agribusiness; Bachelor of Arts (BA) in International Agribusiness; BS in Agricultural Economics; Master of Science (MS) in Applied Economics; Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Economics; the department also participates in the International MBA in Food and Agribusiness (offered through the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester, England). The Agribusiness major is structured to facilitate a dual major with companion majors with the Huntsman School of Business.

Graduate specializations: MS in Applied Economics—Agricultural Economics, Natural Resource Economics, and Regional Economic Development

Undergraduate Programs

Objectives

Economics is the study of allocating our scarce resources among humankind’s seemingly endless variety of needs and wants. This places economists and economic analysis at the center of virtually every important discussion and debate about how nations, firms, and people should organize resources to address these needs and wants. As a result, economics offers an exciting and dynamic field of study and research for students, preparing them well to become tomorrow’s decision makers.

Undergraduate economics provides students with the basic intellectual framework to understand and analyze economic problems and to make informed decisions. A basic understanding of economics is essential to becoming a well-informed citizen, as well as a successful business or public leader.

Admission Requirements

Freshmen who meet the admission requirements and are accepted in good standing by the University are eligible for admission to the Department of Applied Economics. All transfer students, whether transferring from within Utah State University or from other colleges and universities, must have an overall minimum GPA of 2.5 to be accepted as majors in the department. Additional requirements may apply for students who seek to be admitted to a dual major.

New students wishing to major in the Department of Applied Economics may do so by listing one of the departmental majors on their application when they apply for admission to USU. Students enrolled at USU may change to a departmental major by applying directly to the Department of Applied Economics.

Graduation Requirements

To receive a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, or International Agribusiness, students must complete all University requirements and the college and departmental requirements for their specific major.

Four-year Degree Plans (8 semesters)

Four-year degree plans for majors offered by the Department of Applied Economics are available in the department.

Students will need to meet with their advisor periodically to ensure all requirements are being met.

Departmental Honors

Students who would like to experience greater academic depth within their major are encouraged to enroll in departmental honors. Through original, independent work, Honors students enjoy the benefits of close supervision and mentoring, as they work one-on-one with faculty in select upper-division departmental courses. Honors students also complete a senior project, which provides another opportunity to collaborate with faculty on a problem that is significant, both personally and in the student’s discipline. Participating in departmental honors enhances students’ chances for obtaining fellowships and admission to graduate school. Minimum GPA requirements for participation in departmental honors vary by department, but usually fall within the range of 3.30-3.50. Students may enter the Honors Program at almost any stage in their academic career, including at the junior (and sometimes senior) level. The campus-wide Honors Program, which is open to all qualified students regardless of major, offers a rich array of cultural and social activities, special classes, and the benefit of Honors early registration. Interested students should contact the Honors Program, Main 15, (435) 797-2715, honors@usu.edu. Additional information can be found online at: http://honors.usu.edu/

Financial Support

The Department of Applied Economics and the College of Agriculture award scholarships in addition to those available through the University Financial Aid Office. Information and application forms may be obtained from the college or departmental offices.

Additional Information

For more information about undergraduate programs in the Department of Applied Economics, see the major requirement sheet, available from the department.

Graduate Programs

The MS in Applied Economics and the PhD in Economics are offered by the Department of Applied Economics. The International MBA in Food and Agribusiness is offered through the Royal Agricultural College (RAC), Cirencester, England.

Objectives

Graduate training in the Department of Applied Economics emphasizes economic theory, critical thinking, and quantitative analysis. This foundation is a means to an end, not an end in itself: theory and quantitative methods are tools used in applied courses, in theses and dissertations, and in other research and extension activities carried out in the department.

The MS in Applied Economics is a terminal degree that prepares students for positions in industry; private consulting firms; local, regional, and national policy-making agencies; private not-for-profit organizations; and community/regional economic planning and development agencies. The Doctor of Philosophy in Economics is intended to prepare students for faculty and research positions with dual fields in Trade and Development and Natural Resource and Environmental Economics. All PhD students are required to complete these “field” sequences.  Students interested in other specialties are discouraged from applying.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, maintained a grade point average of at least 3.0 for the last 60 semester credits earned, and score in at least the 40th percentile on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is required for the International MBA in Food and Agribusiness. In addition, international applicants from non-English-speaking countries must score at least 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Satisfaction of these minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission. Applications for graduate study from students trained in disciplines other than economics are welcomed. However, all applicants are expected to have: (1) an understanding of intermediate microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, (2) preparation in mathematical economics, and (3) preparation in probability and statistics. In addition, applicants are expected to have strong written and oral communications skills.

Research

The Department of Applied Economics maintains an active and productive research program. The results of this research are published in professional journals, books, and technical reports. Financial support for the departmental research program is provided by the Utah Agricultural  Experiment Station, the College of Agriculture, the Office of the Vice President for Research, and by a combination of public and private extramural sources. The Economics Research Institute provides support and coordination for some of the department’s research activities. Graduate students are an integral part of departmental research programs.

Financial Assistance and Assistantships

The Department of Applied Economics offers teaching and research assistantships to qualified graduate students. These are awarded on a competitive basis, and all accepted students are considered eligible. However, while the department makes every effort to assist students in obtaining financial assistance, acceptance into department programs does not guarantee financial assistance.

Financial assistance is not provided to PhD students who fail to pass the written qualifying exam nor to graduate students who fail to make satisfactory progress toward  completion of their degrees.

Applied Economics Faculty

Professors
DeeVon Bailey, agricultural economics
Dillon M. Feuz, production and finance, marketing and price analysis
Paul M. Jakus, Department Head; natural resource and environmental economics, nonmarket valuation
Donald L. Snyder, agricultural and resource economics

Associate Professors
Arthur J. Caplan, environmental economics and applied microeconomic theory
Kynda Curtis, agribusiness management
Gholamreza Oladi, international economics, econometrics
Ruby A. Ward, agribusiness management and operations research

Adjunct Associate Professor
John P. Gilbert, international trade theory and policy, applied general equilibrium modeling, development economics

Assistant Professors
Ryan Bosworth, environmental economics and econometrics
Charles B. Sims, natural resource economics

Human Resources Specialist
Marion T. Bentley, manpower economics

Professors Emeritus
Roice H. Anderson
Larry K. Bond
Rondo A. Christensen
Lynn H. Davis
Reed R. Durtschi
Herbert H. Fullerton
E. Bruce Godfrey
Gary B. Hansen
John E. Keith
Allen D. LeBaron
Kenneth S. Lyon
Darwin B. Nielsen
Morris D. Whitaker

Associate Professor Emeritus
Glenn F. Marston

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