M.S. Program Plans
Plan Options
Our graduate program currently offers two types of master's degrees, thesis (Plan A) and non-thesis (Plan B). The thesis option is a research Master's degree and is designed for students who aim to contribute to their respective fields through original research or scholarly work. Under this option, students are required to conduct an extensive study on a specific topic and produce a written thesis that demonstrates their ability to conduct independent research and critically analyze data. This option is particularly beneficial for those planning to pursue a doctoral degree or aiming for research-oriented careers. On the other hand, the non-thesis option is in Applied Agricultural Economics and provides students with an opportunity to gain extensive theoretical knowledge in their field without the requirement of conducting original research. This option is typically pursued by individuals seeking advanced knowledge and skills in their discipline or those aiming for career advancement in non-research roles. By offering both options, our graduate program ensures flexibility and caters to the needs and goals of our student body.
Ready to Apply?
Check out our Graduate Admissions page for information on the requirements, application process, and admissions FAQ.
Graduate Admissions
Thesis (Plan A)
This program is designed to meet the needs of students who have a strong interest in a specific topic and wish to fully develop their understanding of it by preparing a major research paper. Students in this program will be expected to complete a thesis plus a minimum of 24 hours of coursework, 12 hours of which must be at the 600 level and 12 hours of which must be in agricultural economics courses.
The MS thesis research will be conducted under the supervision of the student's major professor and advisory committee. In addition to the oral examination, students are encouraged to present seminars based on their work. They are also encouraged to write papers for presentation at professional meetings and for submission to professional journals.
General Requirements:
- [pre-enrollment] completion of pre-requisite courses
- 24 total graduate course credit hours
- 18 credit hours of required courses
- 6 credit hours of elective courses
- writing of thesis
- oral defense of thesis
Non-thesis (Plan B)
There exists a continuing need for a Master's degree program that produces personnel skilled in the applied aspects of agricultural economics to fill jobs as farm managers, farm finance, futures market analysts, etc. Academic work in this program concentrates on applied agricultural economics courses directed toward the special needs of the individual student.
This program is not recommended for students who have any aspirations of pursuing a Ph.D. Since students in this program are not engaged in research, graduate research assistantships are not available. This program does not require a thesis, but it does require 36 credit hours of graduate coursework, at least 15 hours of which must be at the 600 or higher level, and 18 hours of which must be in agricultural economics courses.
General Requirements:
- [pre-enrollment] completion of pre-requisite courses
- 36 total graduate course credit hours
- 18 credit hours of required courses
- 18 credit hours of elective courses
- oral examination based on coursework
Pre-requisite Courses
These are courses that students should have completed before starting their graduate studies. Please consult with the Director of Graduate Studies regarding the applicability of classes taken at other institutions.
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ECO 391 | Business and Economic Statistics | 3 |
| ECO 401 | Intermediate Microeconomic Theory | 3 |
| MA 113 | Calculus | 3 |
Required Courses
These are core courses that all MS students will complete, regardless of the choice of plan.
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AEC 503 | Price Theory and Applications | 3 |
| AEC 601 & 602 | MS Graduate Seminar (fall & spring) | 1 & 1 |
| AEC 603 | Extension Methodology | 1 |
| AEC 605 | Advanced Quantitative Tools | 3 |
| AEC 624 | Advanced Quantitative Methods | 3 |
| AEC 625 | Applied Consumer Economics | 3 |
| AEC 724 | Applied Econometrics | 3 |
Elective Courses
Students will choose graduate-level courses to fulfill their elective credit hour requirements (6 credit hours for Plan A; 18 credit hours for Plan B). Elective graduate courses offered by Agricultural Economics are listed below. Not listed are those offered by other departments, such as Economics and Public Policy.
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AEC 523 | Agricultural and Food Policy | 3 |
| AEC 620 | Advanced Production Economics | 3 |
| AEC 622 | Advanced Agribusiness Management Strategies | 3 |
| AEC 653 | Local Economic Development | 3 |
Thesis & Oral Defense
Oral examinations are the concluding event of each Master's program. These examinations are conducted by the student's advisory committee. Oral examinations for Plan A programs normally concentrate on the student's thesis. The student is expected to "defend" the thesis. This entails being able to answer questions about how and why certain things were done in the thesis and to be able to interpret the results.
Oral examinations for Plan B programs are normally conducted in such a way as to determine if the student has been able to integrate the materials learned in courses so as to apply them to economic problems. Such questions may also be posed to Plan A students.
