Interdisciplinary and regional research programs further expand the scope of research areas available to graduate students. In addition to the traditional programs in production, management, and marketing, departmental research includes agribusiness management, consumer economics, environmental and natural resource management, international marketing and trade, and rural development. Students entering the graduate program are expected to have adequate background in economics or business, agricultural economics, statistics, and calculus. A course in linear algebra is also strongly recommended. Students in the master's program may select either a thesis or nonthesis option.
Specialization is available in either agricultural economics or agribusiness.
Students in the M.S. program selecting the thesis option are required to take 27 hours of approved course work plus six hours of thesis credit, while students selecting the nonthesis option are required to take 36 hours of approved course work, including a graduate research problems course. Students in the Ph.D. program must complete 42 hours of core courses above the bachelor's degree and at least 12 hours of approved electives plus 12 hours of dissertation research. Ph.D. students are required to obtain a minor in economics. Additionally, Ph.D. students in this department take courses in the Department of Experimental Statistics, and Information Systems and Decision Sciences. Applicants must adhere to the application deadlines established by the Graduate School.