Program Information

The Food and Resource Economics Department offers the Master of Agribusiness (M.AB.) (non-thesis), Master of Science with Concentration in Agribusiness (M.S.AB.) (non-thesis), Master of Science (thesis), and Doctor of Philosophy.

The Ph.D. in Food and Resource Economics is designed to provide the student with rigorous training in economics, statistics, and applied quantitative techniques. Each student is exposed to core theory and to fields of specialization with the purpose to prepare the candidate for a professional career in post-secondary education, government, non-governmental organizations, private business, and international agencies.

The Master of Agribusiness is designed for students with no academic background in economics. Students who come from diverse academic backgrounds including Accounting, Agricultural Education and Communication, Agricultural Operations Management, Agronomy, Animal Science, Business Administration, Finance, English, Food Science, History, Horticulture, Management, Marketing, Soil and Water Science, Turfgrass, and Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. The graduate coursework prepares students for careers in banking, investing, financial analysis, sales, management, marketing, human resources, policy, production, and entrepreneurial pursuits working in private industry, international firms, non-profit organizations and government.

The Master of Science in the Food and Resource Economics Department provides broad training in applied economics as it relates to food production, policy, marketing and trade, regional economics, and natural resource issues. Students are taught to use economic principles and quantitative methods to address empirical problems. The core consists of courses in microeconomics, policy, econometrics, statistics and survey research methods. Many students continue their education with a Ph.D. while others opt for employment with government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, foreign agencies, private consulting firms, or corporations.

The Master of Science with Concentration in Agribusiness is designed for students with an academic background in economics. The quantitative courses include microeconomics, policy, econometrics and survey research methods and provide solid economic theory and prepares students for careers in banking, investing, financial analysis, sales, management, marketing, human resources, policy, production, and entrepreneurial pursuits working in private industry, international firms, non-profit organizations and government.

For more information, please see our website: http://www.fred.ifas.ufl.edu.

Degrees Offered with a Major in Food and Resource Economics

• Doctor of Philosophy
  • without a concentration
  • with a concentration in Tropical Conservation and Development
• Master of Agribusiness
  • without a concentration
  • with a concentration in Tropical Conservation and Development
• Master of Science
  • without a concentration
  • with a concentration in Agribusiness
  • with a concentration in Tropical Conservation and Development

Requirements for these degrees are given in the Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.

Food and Resource Economics Departmental Courses

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Courses

Food and resources economics (PHD)

SLO 1     Knowledge        
Explain relevant economic principles and apply economic theory to address problems relevant to agriculture and natural resources

SLO 2     Skills     
Identify relevant economic problem, propose and complete an original research project, and effectively communicate results to appropriate audiences (including off campus)

SLO 3     Professional Behavior   
Display honesty and integrity in research, the classroom and professional activities

Food and resources economics (MAB)

SLO 1     Principles Relating to Food and Agribusiness Firms           
Explain principles of economics, management, marketing, finance, quantitative analysis and policy as they apply to food and agribusiness firms

SLO 2     Solve Management Problems    
Apply, analyze and synthesize content knowledge to solve management problems faced by food and agribusiness firms

SLO 3     Display Honesty and Integrity    
Display honesty and integrity in research, the classroom, and professional activities

Food and resources economics (MS)

SLO 1     Explain Relevant Economic Principles     
Explain relevant economic principles and apply economic theory and tools to address problems relevant to agriculture and natural resources

SLO 2     Develop, Complete and Present Research Project             
Identify relevant economic problem, complete research project, and effectively communicate results to an appropriate audience

SLO 3     Professional Behavior   
Display honesty and integrity in the classroom, research and professional activities