Applied Economics

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Interim Department Head: Ryan Bosworth
Location: AGRS 220B
Phone: (435) 797-0594
FAX: (435) 797-0402
WWW: http://apec.usu.edu/

Graduate Program Director:

Man-Keun Kim, AGRS 229, (435) 797-2359, mk.kim@usu.edu

Undergraduate Advisor:

Lisa Allen, Agricultural Science 416, (435) 797-0454, lisa.allen@usu.edu

Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science (BS) in Agribusiness; BS in Applied Economics; Master of Science (MS) in Applied Economics; MS in Economics and Statistics; MS in Agribusiness; Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Economics. Students can also obtain the following Minors: Agribusiness; Agricultural Economics; Agriculture and Natural Resources Pre-Law; Applied Economics/Small Firm Management; and Environmental and Natural Resource Economics.

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

Full details of the learning objectives, assessment plan, student outcomes, and evidence of continuous improvement for these programs of study can be found at apec.usu.edu/assessment.

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 who may want to change to a departmental major should contact the Undergraduate Advisor in the Department of Applied Economics. 

Graduation Requirements

To receive a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness or Agricultural Economics, 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.

University Honors Program

The University Honors Program offers students in all colleges and majors the unique opportunity to deepen their educational experience with hands-on practical applications of their academic knowledge. The Honors Program admits incoming, transfer, and existing USU students based on application. High achieving students with at least one year remaining are encouraged to apply.  See the University Honors Program catalog entry and website (honors.usu.edu) for more information.

Financial Support

The Department of Applied Economics and the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences 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 sheets, available from the Undergraduate Advisor.

Graduate Programs

The MS in Applied Economics, the MS in Economics and Statistics, the MS in Agribusiness and the PhD in Economics are offered by the Department of Applied Economics.

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 and the MS in Agribusiness are terminal degrees that prepare 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 MS in Economics and Statistics is a degree that would prepare student to pursue a PhD degree.  The Doctor of Philosophy in Economics is intended to prepare students for faculty and research positions.

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) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). 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 and Applied Sciences, the Office of the Vice President for Research, and by a combination of public and private extramural sources. 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.
 

FACULTY - College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences  
 

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