Department of Agricultural and
Applied Economics

Professors
NICOLE S. BALLENGER, B.A. University of California, Santa Cruz 1975; M.S. University of California, Davis 1980; Ph.D. 1984; Professor of Agricultural Economics 2004.

LARRY J. HELD, B.S. North Dakota State University 1971; M.S. 1973; Ph.D. University of Nebraska 1977; Professor of Agricultural Economics 1988, 1977.

JAMES J. JACOBS, B.S. North Dakota State University 1965; M.S. University of Arizona 1968; Ph.D. Iowa State University 1972; Professor of Agricultural Economics 1982, 1975.

DALE J. MENKHAUS, B.S. Purdue University 1967; M.S. Michigan State University 1970; Ph.D. Purdue University 1973; Professor of Agricultural Economics 1982, 1973.

DAVID T. TAYLOR, B.S. Montana State University 1972; M.S. 1973; Ph.D. Colorado State University 1987; Professor of Agricultural Economics 1994, 1985.

GLEN D. WHIPPLE, B.A. Brigham Young University 1974; M.S. Utah State University 1976; Ph.D. Washington State University 1980; Professor of Agricultural Economics 1990, 1985.

EDWARD B. BRADLEY, B.S. University of Wisconsin 1971; Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University 1978; Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics 1987, 1977.

ROGER COUPAL, B.S. Utah State University 1978; M.S. University of Arizona 1985; Ph.D. Washington State University 1997; Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics 2003, 1997.

DON MCLEOD, B.S. St. John’s College 1982; M.S. Oregon State University 1987; Ph.D. 1994; Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics 2003, 1995.

ALAN C. SCHROEDER, B.S. North Dakota State University 1971; M.S. University of Wisconsin 1974; J.D. 1974; Ph.D. 1982; Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics 1992, 1986.

Assistant Professors:

MATTHEW A. ANDERSEN, B.A. Colorado College 1991; M.S. Colorado School of Mines 2000; Ph.D. University of California, Davis 2005; Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics 2007.

CHRISTOPHER T. BASTIAN, B.S. University of Wyoming 1987; M.S. 1990; Ph.D. Colorado State University 2004; Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics 2005.

DANNELE E. PECK, B.S. University of Wyoming 2000; M.S. 2002; Ph.D. Oregon State University 2006; Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics 2006.

BENJAMIN S. RASHFORD, B.S. University of Wyoming 1999; M.S. 2001; Ph.D. Oregon State University 2006; Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics 2006.

MARIAH D. TANNER EHMKE, B.S. Kansas State University 1997; M.S. Ohio State University 2001; Ph.D. Purdue University 2005; Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics 2005.

The Department of Agricultural and Ap- plied Economics offers three options within the agricultural business bachelor of science degree program. They are agribusiness management, farm and ranch management, and international agriculture. All three options focus on the development of critical thinking, research, negotiation, and communication skills for students interested in agricultural operations, small rural businesses; community economics, financial institutions, agricultural and natural resources development; and other pursuits where applied economic tools will be useful. A brief description of minimum course requirements for each of the three options in agricultural business is given below. In addition, faculty advisers will work with students to tailor a curriculum to individual interests and goals.

Agribusiness Management Option
This curriculum is for students preparing for careers in the agribusiness field. Applied agricultural economics courses are supplemented with marketing, management, finance and other courses from the College of Business and production-oriented courses from other departments in the College of Agriculture.
 

#All majors are required to take MATH 1400 and MATH 2350.

*At least 18 of these hours must be in upper-level (3000 or above) courses. A maximum of 3 hours of AGEC 4910 and 4930 may be used to satisfy the agricultural economics credit hour requirement.
**Majors are subject to university studies requirements and must have a minimum of 48 hours of upper-level (3000 and 4000) course work.

Farm and Ranch Management Option
This curriculum is for students intending to become farm and/or ranch operators or professional managers of farms, ranches or feedlots. It is also well suited for students interested in the field of agricultural finance.

In this option, courses in farm and ranch management, finance, and marketing are supplemented by courses in crops, range management, veterinary sciences and animal science, with electives in other areas.
 

Minimum Course Requirements for Farm and Ranch Management (B.S.) Majors within the Farm and Ranch Management Option**	Hours
AGEC 1000	2
Writing ENGL 1010, WB-Writing course, AGEC 4950 and  AGEC 4960	9
Quantitative Reasoning (required for major#) MATH 1400 and 2350	6-7
Oral Communication COJO 1010	3
Biological sciences	8
Physical science CHEM 1000 or 1020 or 1050	4
Social science AGEC 1010	3
Humanities, Arts, Culture	6
US Constitution	3
Diversity	3
Global Awareness AGEC 3860 or 4880	3
Physical education	1
Agricultural economics 1020, 2020, 3400, 4640;  9 hours of AGEC electives	22*
Supporting agriculture SOIL 2010 (8 AG college hours other than Agricultural Economics)	12
Statistics	4
Computers	2-3
Supporting Economics ECON 3010 and 3020	6
Business ACCT 1010	3
Electives	19-20
TOTAL HOURS	121

#All majors are required to take MATH 1400 and MATH 2350.

*At least 18 of these hours must be in upper-level (3000 or above) courses. A maximum of three hours of AGEC 4910 and 4930 may be used to satisfy the agricultural economics credit hour requirement.
**Majors are subject to university studies requirements and must have a minimum of 48 hours of upper-level (3000 and 4000) course work.
 

International Agriculture Option
This curriculum is for students who desire training related to international agricultural business, and with agricultural and economic problems of developing nations. International trade and relations, world food production, agricultural and economic geography, economic development and comparative systems are emphasized in this program.  

#All majors are required to take MATH 1400 and MATH 2350.

*At least 18 of these hours must be in upper-level (3000 or above) courses. A maximum of three hours of AGEC 4910 and 4930 may be used to satisfy the agricultural economics credit hour requirement.
**Majors are subject to university studies requirements and must have a minimum of 48 hours of upper-level (3000 and 4000) course work.
***One course in each of political science, sociology and geography and recreation is required plus a minimum of two additional courses. A maximum of 3 hours of AGEC 4930 can be applied to this requirement. Six hours of international social science, business and economics can be waived if the student minors in a foreign language.

Environment and Natural Resources
Students interested in natural resource or environmental issues or careers may complete any of the three options within agricultural business offered by the department with an environment and natural resource emphasis. Inquiries about environment and natural resource concentrations in agricultural business should be directed to the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.

Minors Program
The department also offers five minor programs. These five minors are to give students majoring in other undergraduate curricula in the university a concentration of work in any of the four specialized undergraduate curricula offered by the department or in general agricultural economics. Each minor requires 27 hours in prescribed course work including 6 hours in supporting agriculture. Students need to plan their course work to meet course prerequisites.

Agricultural Business Minor. AGEC 1010, 1020, 4050 and 4060; Accounting 1010; 6 additional hours in upper-level agricultural economics courses; 6 hours in supporting agriculture courses.

Farm and Ranch Management Minor. AGEC 1010, 1020, 2020 and 4640; 9 additional hours in upper-level agricultural economics courses; 6 hours in supporting agriculture courses.

International Agriculture Minor. AGEC 1010, 1020, 4860 and 4880; 6 additional hours in upper-level agricultural economics courses; 3 or 4 hours in foreign culture or language; 6 hours in supporting agriculture courses.

Natural Resource Economics Minor. Required: AGEC 1020, 4700, 4720, and 4750; choose 9 additional hours from AGEC 4450, 4600, 4710; ECON 2400, 4400, 4410, 4520 (note: College of Business prerequisites); ENR 4500.

General Agricultural Economics Minor. AGEC 1010, 1020 and 15 additional hours in agricultural economics courses with 12 hours at the upper-level; 6 hours in supporting agriculture courses.

Graduate Study
The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics offers graduate work leading to the master of science degree. An agricultural business degree option is available, as well as the more traditional agricultural economics M.S. degree. Degree candidates may concentrate their work in one of the following areas: farm and ranch management, production economics, marketing and price analysis, agricultural policy, natural resource economics, agricultural finance, community development, or international agriculture. Degree candidates for the agricultural business degree may concentrate their work on management, marketing or finance. See the Graduate Bulletin for more details and information.

Agricultural Economics (ECON) Courses

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Last Change: 08/01/08