Students majoring in environmental and resource economics will normally concentrate in one of the following three areas: environmental and natural resource economics, agricultural economics, or community economics. One capstone experience, supervised and approved within the major, is required of all seniors. The capstone explores areas of interest based on the integration of prior learning. The capstone requirement may be satisfied through a course, created work or product, or some form of experiential learning (e.g., honors thesis, mentored research project, and other special student activity). In addition, students must satisfy University requirements, including those for the Discovery Program.
Upon graduation, students are qualified for a wide variety of opportunities. Private business, public institutions, and government agencies currently have a strong demand for specialists trained in natural resource development; land and water use policy; natural resource and small business management; agricultural, fisheries, and forestry marketing; and community development. In many cases, students may wish to improve their qualifications by pursuing more specialized graduate studies.
Students will be able to:
- Evaluate the validity and limitations of scientific theories and claims about the environment;
- Describe and explain the interactions among physical, biological, chemical, and human components of the environment;
- Formulate tests of environmental questions, acquire data, and apply scientific methods to answer these questions;
- Characterize the various social drivers of environmental problems and the relative attributes of policy instrument solutions;
- Locate, evaluate, and summarize print and electronic media including peer-reviewed literature and then compose and deliver informed positions on current environmental problems to the public.
- Describe and explain the ecological and societal value of biodiversity, sustainability, and environmental stewardship;
- Master mathematical, statistical, and study design knowledge and skills, and use state-of-the-art software, hardware, and analytical techniques relevant to environmental conservation and sustainability:
- Use principles of ecology, economics, sustainability, and policy science to solve real-world environmental problems;
- Communicate effectively to peers within the environmental community and with audiences outside of the discipline.
