MSU Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics  Graduate Education > Degree Requirements

Overview of Degree Requirements

M.S. Degree

  • Two M.S. degrees are offered: Plan A--minimum 30 credits with a 6-credit thesis and no minor field, and Plan B--minimum 33 credits with a 3-credit research paper and a 6-credit minor field.
  • Both Plan A and Plan B students must pass a final oral exam, typically based largely on the thesis or research paper.
  • Typical degree completion time for the M.S. degree is two calendar years, though earlier completion is quite feasible.
  • For details, see the M.S. program section of the Graduate Policy and Program Handbook.

Ph.D. Degree

  • The Ph.D. degree requires four fields: economics (courses in the Economics Department), a major field in agricultural economics (agribusiness strategy and management, agricultural markets and price analysis, environmental and resource economics, finance and productivity analysis, or international agricultural development), and two minor fields. Each student works with his/her guidance committee to develop a course program that supports the student's long-term career goals and meets degree requirements.
  • Students must pass three written comprehensive examinations: microeconomic theory, statistics/econometrics, and the major field in agricultural economics. The first two exams are prepared and graded by the Economics Department. Students have two tries in which to complete each of these exams.
  • Students must gain formal approval for their research proposal, must complete the dissertation and defend it satisfactorily at a final oral examination, and must prepare a research paper suitable for publication.
  • Typical degree completion time for the Ph.D. degree is five years (three after the M.S. degree).
  • For details, see the doctoral program section of the Graduate Policy and Program Handbook.

Dual Degree Options

Opportunities exist to obtain a second graduate degree along with the M.S. or Ph.D. degree in agricultural economics. Most commonly, agricultural economics Ph.D. students obtain an M.A. degree in economics or, less often, a Ph.D. in economics, along with their agricultural economics degree.