The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics offers graduate degree programs leading to the master of science and doctor of philosophy. Long recognized as one of the top programs in the nation, the department is an active center of research and graduate training in environmental and natural resource economics, the economic development of low-income countries, agricultural economics and community economics.
Department faculty are affiliated with a broad range of institutes and centers across the campus, including the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, the University Center for Cooperatives, the Renk Agribusiness Institute, Center for Community Economic Development, and the area studies programs. Each program has its own rich intellectual life of seminars and other activities.
The department provides office space, a lounge, and IT support for its MS graduate students and PhD students. The Taylor–Hibbard Club, the department's graduate student organization, serves as a link between graduate students and the faculty, elects student representatives to department committees, and promotes academic and social activities for its members.
There are two master's degree programs in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics: the MS Professional Option and the MS Agricultural and Applied Economics (A A E).
MS AAE Professional Option
This full-time, 15-month, on-campus professional master's option is designed to prepare students to fill the growing private sector demand for quantitatively-skilled analysts and managers. Students will learn skills in economic reasoning, data management, empirical analysis, and technical communication in order to find analytical positions in governmental, or non-governmental sectors. Students take electives to pursue specific interests in AAE's focus areas of agriculture, development, and environmental and natural resource economics. Learn more.
MS Agricultural and Applied Economics
The AAE-MS option is a master’s degree program intended for students with research and specific academic interests, especially students who might want to pursue a double or dual degree with another department, or go on for a PhD program in economics of development, agriculture, energy and natural resources, and community development. This program normally takes four semesters to complete. For more information please visit the AAE department website.
Admissions
Students apply to the MS in Agricultural and Applied Economics through one of the named options:
Funding
Graduate School Resources
Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
Program Resources
MS students in agricultural and applied economics can apply for graduate positions listed under student jobs.
Students in the MS Professional Option are not permitted to accept assistantships or seek dual degrees. Scholarships are available for Wisconsin citizens and U.S. Peace Corps participants who graduated with a 3.4.
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Major Requirements
Curricular Requirements
| Minimum Credit Requirement | 30 credits |
| Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 16 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | See Named Option for requirement information. |
| Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.00 GPA required. Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203. |
| Other Grade Requirements | See Named Option for requirement information. |
| Assessments and Examinations | See Named Option for requirement information. |
| Language Requirements | No language requirements. |
Required Courses
Select a Named Option for courses required.
Named Options
A named option is a formally documented sub-major within an academic major program. Named options appear on the transcript with degree conferral. Students pursuing the Master of Science in Agricultural and Applied Economics must select one of the following named options:
Professional Development
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.
Learning Outcomes
- Articulates and critiques theories and empirical methods for quantitative analysis relevant to agricultural, environmental, international development, or community economics.
- Identifies data sources, applies appropriate econometric methodologies, and evaluates quantitative evidence relevant to questions in agricultural, environmental, international development, or community economics.
- Clearly communicates applied economics issues, methods, and empirical analysis using both written and oral strategies.
- Recognizes and applies principles of ethical, collegial and professional conduct.
People
Professors
Deller, Steven
Foltz, Jeremy
Mitchell, Paul
Phaneuf, Daniel
Rutherford, Thomas
Schechter, Laura
Shi, Guanming (Chair)
Associate Professors
Conroy, Tessa
Dower, Paul
Du, Sheldon
Grainger, Corbett
Nicholson, Charles
Parker, Dominic
Assistant Professors
Frye, Dustin
Hadachek, Jeff
Jerch, Rhiannon
Johnston, Sarah
Mukherjee, Priya
Stevens, Andrew
van Rijn, Jordan
Wiseman, Eleanor
Faculty Associates
Beach, Jeremy
Berner, Courtney
Yi, Jing
Affiliate Faculty
Fletcher, Jason
Kagy, Gisella
Raynor, Jennifer
Timmins, Christopher
Lecturers
Roth, Kevin
Schmidt, Silke
Graduate Advisor
Mary Treleven