Departmental core courses have been selected to provide the basic tools of economic theory and quantitative analysis and a perception of how our economic system works. They provide a base of understanding on which to build an applied economics specialization. Departmental option requirements enable students to focus coursework on particular career specialties within the food, natural resource, environmental or agricultural areas. Students are allowed considerable flexibility within the options. By careful selection of courses, it is possible to design a program which prepares a student for employment in a specific career or which provides a good foundation for graduate study.
Some students also prepare for international careers.
Each option requires an additional set of courses, with some flexibility in each to com plete a particular career emphasis. For the Departmental Honors track, a student must, in addition to meeting the above major requirements, meet the requirements of the University Honors Program, take four honors courses of which at least three must be departmental honors courses, and complete a senior honors thesis or project. Some major career opportunities in each option are identified below. Also, it should be noted that many of our students continue their education in graduate school. The managerial economics option concentrates on the application of economic principles to problems faced by managers in business decision making.