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Program Details

Graduate Program: Agricultural & Resource Econ (MS) - Applied Economics and Policy Analysis

General Information

Request Information
Program/Degree
Agricultural & Resource Econ (MS) - Applied Economics and Policy Analysis  
Program Description

The Agricultural and Resource Economics- Applied Economics and Policy, Master of Science (MS) degree requires 30 units to be completed, 24 units from approved graduate courses and 6 units from thesis research.  A thesis is required for this plan.  Students that complete the program typically move on to a Ph.D. program and the thesis research will assist students in their pursuit of a doctoral degree.

Please review the program's frequently asked questions at https://economics.arizona.edu/graduate/admissionsFAQs

 
Department/Academic Unit(s)

Agricultural & Resource Economics

The Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics (AREC) offers a program leading to the Master of Science degree with a major in Agricultural & Resource Economics.  Applicants may choose one of two plans to follow within this Master's degree: Applied Econometrics & Data Analytics, and Applied Economics & Policy Analysis.  A broad spectrum of agricultural economics subject matter is presented, with emphasis in natural resources, international business, and agribusiness. The Master's program provides training in the theory and methods of applied agricultural and resource economics. Graduating students are qualified for positions in the private sector with agribusiness, financial, farm management, and consulting firms, and in state and federal government agencies. Some students choose to follow the master's degree with enrollment in a Ph.D. program, either at the University of Arizona or elsewhere. Many AREC graduates have excelled in premier doctoral programs throughout the United States. We also offer an Agricultural & Resource Economics minor for PhD seeking students.  We have a strong and consistent history of Peace Corps Fellows in our Master's program and we proudly invite all Returning Peace Corps Volunteers to apply for this graduate program.  Interested in a Peace Corps Fellowship?  See https://grad.arizona.edu/peacecorps/welcome for more information.

See the Department sponsored interactive Returning Peace Corps Volunteer Mapping Project to view our program's connections with Peace Corps Volunteers: https://economics.arizona.edu/graduate-programs/peace-corps-alumni 

See past placements of our alums going into industry careers and PhD programs https://economics.arizona.edu/graduate/past-placements

 
College

College of Agriculture & Life Sciences

 
Campus where offered

University of Arizona - Main - Tucson

 
Contacts
Admissions Contact
Danielle Pilar Buhrow
520-621-2421
Graduate Program Coordinator
Danielle Pilar Buhrow
520-621-2421
Director of Graduate Studies
George B Frisvold
520-621-6269
Graduate College Degree Counselor
Hayley Jean Kral
520-621-3484
 
Tuition and Fees
Please refer to the UA Bursar's Office Tuition and Fees Calculator for up-to-date information about tuition and fees. 
Please refer to the UA Registrar's's Office Special Course Fees for up-to-date information about special course fees. 

Admissions Information

Admissions Requirements
  • GPA 3.0 in Bachelor's Degree Program or Master's Program
  • GRE-effective Fall 2023, GRE is optional for this program Effective Fall 2023, GRE is optional for AREC MS: AMP, AEDA & AEPA.
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation PDF format
  • Statement of Purpose PDF format
  • CV or Resume  PDF format
 
Standardized Tests

Required test(s):

Effective Fall 2023, GRE is optional for AREC MS: AMP, AEDA & AEPA.
GRE
Recommended Minimum GRE Quantitative score of 70th percentile or higher.

International students (of non-English speaking countries):  See the University's Acceptable English Proficiency credentials here
Minimum TOEFL (Paper-based) Score: 550
Minimum TOEFL (Internet-based) Score: 80

Minimum IELTS (overall band score): 7


 

 
Funding Opportunities

Graduate assistantships

A majority of students in the M.S. program receive financial assistance, usually in the form of research and teaching assistantships. In view of the reasonable cost of living in Tucson, the real income offered by these stipends is relatively high and covers basic costs of living. The assistantships also carry waivers of out-of-state tuition and health insurance (exclusive of dental and vision).  All applicants that submit a completed admission application as of the annual priority deadline (Feb. 1) are reviewed for possible assistantships on a competitive basis.

Tuition waivers

A small number of in-state tuition waivers are available to students with a GPA above 3.4.

Scholarships

Several scholarships are available for academically qualified students. Frequently, a student not awarded an assistantship may be employed by the Department to aid in research work. Students who do not receive assistantships may also hold part-time jobs in other departments or jobs outside the University.

 
Admissions Deadlines

Domestic applicants:

  • Fall:  Annual priority application submission deadline for all applicants is February 1, applications are accepted after this date but for those seeking graduate assistantships, February 1st is the recommended deadline.  Due to the competitive nature of graduate assistantships, applications received after the priority deadline may not be eligible for a graduate assistantship or other departmental funding.  There is not a separate application for departmental funding and graduate assistantships.

  • Spring: Typically not open, contact department for admissions information. (danielleb@arizona.edu)

International applicants:  

  • Fall: Priority deadline February 1, applications are accepted after this date but for those seeking graduate assistantships February 1st is the recommended deadline.  Due to the competitive nature of graduate assistantships, applications received after the priority deadline may not be eligible for a graduate assistantship or other departmental funding.  There is not a separate application for departmental funding and graduate assistantships.  For Visa reasons, the firm deadline for international application submission is May 15th each year for Fall admission.
  • Spring: Typically not open, contact department for admissions information. (danielleb@arizona.edu)
 
International Conditional Admission

International applicants may be considered for conditional admission to this program at the department's discretion.

Other Information
The GRE Institution Code for The University of Arizona is 4832

Completion Requirements

Minimum Credit Units

30 

Core Coursework Requirements

Degree Requirements

General program requirements
The AEPA master's program requires four semesters of coursework and 30 total units to be completed. Students complete 15-units from required core courses, including two courses in economic theory and two courses in econometrics. All M.S. students are required to take an intensive three-week review course in mathematics (AREC 580) before the start of the fall semester.  AEPA students will complete 6 thesis units as well.  Each semester that the degree is in progress, students will enroll in AREC 596A, the program's seminar course.  This course is 1 unit and will be completed 4 times for a total of 4 seminar units for those seeking AEPA.

Students may select remaining coursework according to their interests. To add depth to their program, students are encouraged (but not required) to focus their efforts in an area of specialization. Students choose specific courses in consultation with their advisor or Director of Graduate Studies.

Thesis and examinations
Students pursue research after discussion with their faculty advisor.  Students will write a thesis and take up to six units of research credit.

All AREC AEPA MS candidates must successfully complete a thesis defense. In the event of failure, students may repeat the defense once.

Grade requirements
Students are required to earn a 3.0 (B) grade or better in each of their core courses and a 3.0 (B) average GPA in all graduate coursework. Students failing to maintain a 3.0 grade average will be placed on academic probation and possibly dropped from the program. If this occurs, the student must petition the Graduate Advisory Committee for permission to re-enter the program.

Core courses

AREC 504 Production Economics (3 units)
AREC 513 Consumption Economics & Price Analysis (3 units)
AREC 548 Introduction to Statistical Methods in Economics (4 units)
AREC 549 Applied Econometric Analysis (3 units)
AREC 580 Math for Economists (2 units)
AREC 596A Seminar (taken each semester for 4 total units for those seeking AREC AEPA MS)

 

Language requirements

There are no language requirements for this degree.

 
Elective Coursework

Any courses not required core courses may be elective course options in this Master's program, relevant courses outside of the below list may be elective options as well, with approval from the Department prior to enrolling in them.  Each course listed is 3 units unless otherwise noted.

Fall course offerings:

AREC 512 – Development Economics

AREC 516 – Microeconomics of Agricultural Development

AREC 559 – Advanced Applied Econometrics  (4 units)

AREC 575 – Economics of Water & Environ. Markets & Incentive-based Policies

AREC 910 – Thesis (variable units)

 

Spring semester course offerings:

AREC 550/450 – Financial Management for Agribusiness

AREC 577 – Adv. Topics in Water Resource Economics & Policy

AREC 579/479 – Economic Analysis of Water, Food & Environmental Policies

AREC 910 – Thesis (variable units)

 
Additional Requirements

This Master's degree, Applied Economics and Policy Analysis (AEPA) requires completing a thesis, which is worth 6 units of credit from AREC 910.  Successful completion of a thesis defense is also required.

 
Student Handbook

Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.

 

Persistent link: https://grad.arizona.edu/catalog/programinfo/ARECMSAEPA
Last revised 19 Dec 2022
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