Undergraduate Course Offerings

Fall

This course describes the operational fundamentals of the global food system ranging from smaller-scale subsistence or organic production to the larger-scale commercial food trade.  Consumer food behavior, both local and international, represents a core analytical issue in this class. A consistent thread throughout the course is the evaluation of the role of markets to efficiently and effectively allocate food resources for individuals and societies.

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Course Attribute

Gen Ed: Building Connections; and Tier 1 Individuals & Societies

Production and consumption theory and techniques for the analysis of agricultural and resource economics issues.

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Commodity and financial futures market participants, evolution, functions, performance, price determination, and regulation with hedging and speculative applications of futures and futures-options contracts.

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Essential economic concepts and analytical tools for agribusiness managers are developed and applied to current business challenges and opportunities. Emphasis placed on decision tools, budgeting, entrepreneurship, strategy, organization and relationship management.

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Application and interpretation of statistical measures to problems in economics.

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This course familiarizes students with the food economy and its efficiencies while identifying where gaps occur as food flows from producers to consumers. These gaps frequently lead to food insecurity with a less healthy populous, as well as food waste, an issue in more developed societies. By examining 1) the food supply chain and markets, 2) food insecurity, 3) food loss and waste along the food supply chain and 4) food policies, students will gain insights into the economic forces that shape the food system. This course stimulates critical thinking and problem solving through economic and policy perspectives, which may lead to potential resolutions for those who struggle to afford and consume healthy, wholesome foods.

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Gen Ed: Building Connections; and Tier II Individuals & Societies

This course is designed to assist juniors and seniors as they prepare to enter the workplace on a full-time, professional basis. Using University and College career resources, guest speakers from the public and private sectors, classroom discussions, and a major out-of-class reading assignment and report, students are provided the opportunity to equip themselves with job search and critical thinking skills as well as reflect on the important character traits needed to be a valuable contributor to society. This course is designed so students, upon completion of the class, will be able to prepare a professional resume and cover letter customized to a particular opportunity, research career opportunities and understand the job market in their fields of interest, professionally interview for a job position, effectively communicate, both in writing and verbally, and, listening in a variety of settings, and reflect on the leadership and character qualities of a productive employee and citizen.

Course Attribute

Engagement: Professional Development, Engagement: Professionalism Success Course

Applied economic theory and method of policy analysis and public choice. Emphasis is on policies impacting agriculture and rural America-especially historical and continuing government intervention in agricultural markets.

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Course Attribute

Writing Emphasis Course

Additional Resources

Fall 2016 class site.

Spring

This course describes the operational fundamentals of the global food system ranging from smaller-scale subsistence or organic production to the larger-scale commercial food trade.  Consumer food behavior, both local and international, represents a core analytical issue in this class. A consistent thread throughout the course is the evaluation of the role of markets to efficiently and effectively allocate food resources for individuals and societies.

View course syllabus.

Course Attribute

Gen Ed: Building Connections; and Tier 1 Individuals & Societies

This course provides students with 1) a survey of business organizations as major institutions and the role of individuals as consumers, future entrepreneurs, and employees; 2) knowledge of the formal business and market structures that makes economies work; and 3) informed opinions about socio-cultural issues based on knowledge about economic theory. It offers an overview of entrepreneurial thinking and problem solving in the context of relations among the world of commerce and life sciences.

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Course Attribute

Cross Listed - Gen Ed: Tier 2 Individuals and Societies

Practical application of economic theory to understand and analyze issues surrounding food, resources, and the environment. Current policy debates and competing perspectives are used to illustrate the process of translating an economic problem into a researchable question.

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This is an introductory course in statistics and probability. This course deals with applied data analysis, probability concepts, and statistical inference including confidence intervals and hypothesis testing. Applications and examples will be drawn from life and social sciences.

Typical offering in Spring semesters. View course syllabus.

Approved as a Moderate strand math course for degree requirements.

Data can help us discover the facts and Excel is an effective means to explore data. In general, agricultural economics and management increasingly rely on quantitative analyses to understand the economy and make decisions. The main objective of this course is to help students develop basic skills in quantitative and statistical analysis with Excel to (1) present an agricultural issue with data, graphs, and charts; and (2) confidently interpret and use descriptive statistics encountered everyday as well as in upper-level classes.

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Exploration and analysis of the multi-dimensionality of hunger, poverty, and economic growth, with special emphasis on the cases of lower-income nations. Both microeconomic (e.g. technology, education) and macroeconomic (e.g. foreign aid, trade) factors are examined.

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Market functions, costs, price indices, seasonality, marketing margins, commodity market models, price determination and price forecasting.

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Application of financial management principals and tools to challenges and opportunities facing agribusiness firms. Emphasis is placed on the acquisition, allocation, control and transfer of capital resources.

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This course focuses on economic methods for designing and evaluating water, food and environmental policies. Topics include optimizing water as an input in producing food, energy, recreation, and other ecosystem services; water & environmental issues in food production; pricing and conservation incentives; managing shortage risks; and economic tools for addressing conflicts over water, food and the environment. Interactive seminar style course. Calculus proficiency is required.

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Course Attribute

Cross Listed

Are You a Current Student? Connect with an Advisor.

Danielle Pilar Buhrow, undergraduate senior academic advisor and graduate program coordinator for the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, is here to help! Schedule an appointment in CatCloud or send an email with your questions.