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Course: Agricultural Economics
How does government policy affect the price of apples? The answer to this question is surprisingly complex. It involves everything from oversized apple crops in China to water conservation laws in Washington State.
In a rapidly changing field, agricultural economics majors look at the big picture. Whether learning about international trade, resource management, or environmental policy, students learn how to apply economic theory to real-life situations that affect how food is grown, bought, and sold.
Agricultural economics students learn economic theory and how to analyze productivity, investment, and trends in national and international agricultural markets.
Are You Ready To...?
- Attend a job fair to learn about careers in agricultural economics
- Write a senior thesis (long research paper) on, for example, the effect of lowering milk tariffs on dairy profits
- Decide on a focus, such as international development or environmental economics
It Helps To Be...
Interested in learning a foreign language and working in different cultures. Since agriculture is a global business, chances are good that you will be working with people from many different countries.
College Checklist
- Does the college combine agricultural business and agricultural economics into one major? If not, how are the two majors different?
- Does the department offer classes in the agricultural technical sciences?
- Will the program help you find an internship?
- Will the program require you to declare a minor?
- How much emphasis does the program put on math and quantitative analysis?
- Is a senior capstone project required? What projects have past seniors completed?
Did You Know?
Most agricultural economics majors don’t farm after graduation. Fewer than 3 percent of employees in food and fiber industries actually work on a farm.
Course Spotlight
In a course on environmental or natural-resources economics, you’ll learn how to apply the laws of supply and demand to our seemingly priceless natural resources, like water and soil. This is a lively topic, and students typically discuss, debate, and analyze hot environmental issues, such as deforestation and water rights.
You’ll be graded on your class participation, but it’s likely that at least half of your final course grade will be based on exams you’ll take throughout the course.