Ph.D. Electives Requirement

The Ph.D. program in agricultural, food, and resource economics requires 9 semester credits of elective courses. Students work together with their major professor and committee to choose a set of electives that best meets the needs and career objectives of the student. There is wide scope in the choice of electives, including courses taught outside of the Department.

Some students will choose their electives to deepen knowledge in their chosen major fields by taking additional courses in the field. Others will use the electives to broaden their knowledge base into a second major field within agricultural, food and resource economics. Another option is to use the electives to gain specialized knowledge in other areas of potential interest, such as agricultural policy, institutional economics, or regional economic development. Students may also use the elective requirement to gain specialized knowledge in an area outside of the Department, such as field courses in economics, finance, natural resource management, or business management. Students may also use electives to strengthen skills in quantitative or qualitative methods or in research methodology, including philosophy of science.

While there is wide latitude in student choice of elective courses, it is expected that the electives will constitute a coherent program of courses that helps students meet their degree and career objectives. The choice of electives is a part of a student’s course program that must be approved by the student’s major professor and the Department Chairperson.