Agricultural and Applied Economics MS

About

The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics offers three 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, community economics, and more recently, resource and energy demand analysis.

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 approximately 60 graduate students. The TaylorHibbard 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 three master's degree programs in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics: the M.S. named option Agricultural and Applied Economics (A A E), the M.S. named option Resource and Energy Demand Analysis (REDA), and the M.S. named option Professional Option.

M.S. Named Option in AGRICULTURAL AND APPLIED ECONOMICS

The AAE-MS program is a 30-credit masters degree program intended for students with research and academic interests, especially students who might want to go on for a Ph.D. 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.

M.S. Named Option in RESOURCE AND ENERGY DEMAND ANALYSIS (REDA)

This one-year program is designed to prepare students for jobs in economics and data analytics for a sustainable future. Industry professionals deliver seminars about their research, supply data for classroom activities, and mentor students via research projects. Our small class size means students get plenty of individual attention from faculty and staff. The cohort nature of our program fosters peer-to-peer learning and a culture of intellectual curiosity. Completion of this fast track master's program requires 31 credits and does not include a thesis.Learn more.

M.S. Named Option in Professional Option

This full-time, 15-month, on-campus professional master's program 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. The curriculum features three semesters and one summer term of core course offerings in econometrics, micro-economic theory, and professional development, along with a capstone practicum class leading to a final professional report. Students take electives to pursue specific interests in AAE's focus areas of agricultural, development, and environmental and natural resource economics. Learn more.

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.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or a comparable degree from an international institution is required. International applicants must have a degree comparable to a regionally accredited U.S. bachelor’s degree. You must have completed your undergraduate degree, or similar, before starting graduate school.

A minimum undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 on the equivalent of the last 60 semester hours (approximately two years of work) or a master’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required. Applicants from an international institution must demonstrate strong academic achievement comparable to a 3.00 for an undergraduate or master’s degree. The Graduate School will use your institution’s grading scale. Do not convert your grades to a 4.00 scale.

English Requirements

IELTSMin 7
TOEFLMin 93

English Program Requirements

Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must provide an English proficiency test score. TOEFL scores must be submitted electronically via ETS. IELTS scores can be submitted electronically or by paper. Our office address is: UW-Madison Graduate School, Office of Admissions, 232 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI 53706. Your score will not be accepted if it is more than two years old from the start of your admission term. Country of citizenship does not exempt applicants from this requirement. Language of instruction at the college or university level and how recent the language instruction was taken are the determining factors in meeting this requirement.

Applicants are exempt if:

Fee Information

Application Fee 60