Agricultural and Resource Economics, Master of Science (M.S.)

Non-thesis only (scholarly paper required): 33 credits    

Course Title Credits
Required courses:
ECON603Microeconomic Analysis I3
AREC623Applied Econometrics I4
AREC624Applied Econometrics II4
AREC620Optimization in Agricultural and Resource Economics3
AREC610Microeconomic Applications in Agricultural and Resource Markets3
Select 16 credits of electives 116
Defense of a scholarly paper
Total Credits33
1

Elective courses are normally selected from M.S. level courses (600 level or above) in AREC or ECON but may be taken in other disciplines with adviser approval

The M.S. program trains students to conduct economic research in the fields of environmental and resource economics, agricultural economics, and development economics. It provides rigorous training in microeconomic theory and econometrics and in the application of microeconomics and econometrics to policy issues. Students completing their MS degrees go on to work in U.S. government agencies and international organizations.

Required courses for the M.S. program consist of basic coursework in microeconomic theory and econometrics:

  • The first semester of the sequence in microeconomic theory (ECON603).
  • A two-semester sequence in applied econometrics (AREC623 and AREC624).
  • A one-semester course on mathematical optimization (AREC620).
  • A one-semester course on applications of microeconomic theory to agricultural and resource economics (AREC610).

The first-year coursework normally includes these 17 credits (3 credits each for ECON603, AREC620, AREC610 plus 4 credits each for AREC623 and AREC624).

M.S. students fulfill additional coursework requirements by taking electives to suit their own interests during their second year. Elective courses are normally selected from M.S. level courses (600 level or above) in AREC or ECON but may be taken in other disciplines with adviser approval. For detailed information on the scholarly paper, see the 'MS Scholarly Paper Requirement' at http://www.arec.umd.edu/graduate/ms/ms-scholarly-paper-requirement