Environmental and Resource Economics at MSU image
Home  |  Apply  |  Programs  |  Core Faculty  |  Financial Assistance  |  Specialization  |  Questions
Image bar of nature scenes on the Evironmental and Resources Economics at MSU Courses page

Course Requirements
Specialization in Environmental and Resource Economics
Required Courses
The minimum course requirements for the Graduate Specialization in Environmental and Resource Economics address three areas:
  1. Microeconomics:
    1. EC 805: Microeconomic Analysis
      2. or
    2. EC 812A: Microeconomics I
  2. Environmental and Resource Economics Cognate
    3. A student in a Masters degree program takes 3 courses from the following list.  A Ph.D. student takes 4 courses from the following list.  The listed courses vary greatly in their economic, policy, and natural resources content.  Students should be careful to select courses that provide a sufficient level of expertise relative to their career goals.
    1. AEC 810: Institutional and Behavioral Economics
    2. AEC 829: The Economics of Environmental Resources
    3. FOR 866: Economics of Renewable Resources
    4. PRR 840: Recreation and Tourism Economics
    5. RD 823: Community-Based Natural Resource Management
    6. AEC 923: Advanced Environmental and Resource Economics
    7. AEC 925: Environmental and Resource Economics Research
    Additional Electives
    Courses offered by the participating departments are reviewed biannually for inclusion in the list of cognate electives. Courses may be added to the list when they contain substantial resource economics content.
  3. Empirical Methods Cognate
    4. A M.Sc. student takes 6 credits and a Ph.D. student takes 9 credits to satisfy the requirement in empirical methods. The objective is for students to gain a working knowledge of the techniques and methods of empirical analysis.  Courses selected to satisfy this requirement should give a student exposure to research design, survey and experimental methods, statistics, econometrics, benefit cost analysis, mathematical programming, input-output analysis, or systems analysis.
Course Substitutions
The Coordinating Committee may approve the substitution of courses not listed above for one or more of the listed requirements.  Written requests for such substitutions or modifications should be submitted to the current faculty chairperson of the specialization.   The Coordinating Committee will review the request and the chairperson will notify the student of the decision.
 

Plan of Study
It is essential that a student works closely with a faculty advisor and advisory committee to develop a graduate program.  To qualify a student for the Specialization, an advisory committee must include one member from the core faculty in environmental and resource economics. Students should take care to select courses that meet their specific educational and career objectives.  Many students will find it very appropriate to take additional courses in economic concepts (microeconomics, macroeconomics, institutional economics, international trade) and empirical methods.

Upon completion of the requirements for the degree program and of the interdepartmental graduate specialization in environmental and resource economics, the student should contact the chairperson of his or her major Department and request certification for the completion of the specialization. After the certification is approved by the chairperson of the Specialization, the chairperson of the department and the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Office of the Registrar will enter on the student's academic record the name of the specialization and the date that it was completed. This certification will appear on the student's transcript.

Qualifying Examinations
Ph.D. students are required to pass a qualifying examination in Environmental and Resource Economics.  The chairperson will appoint the examining committee and schedule the examination.

Copyright 2003 MSU Board of Trustees
Last Updated: 04/25/2006