Focus Areas

These courses are subject to change and may not be offered regularly. For full course descriptions and current schedules, use the Course Explorer.

Focus Area 1: Data Science and Applied Methods

FA 1 Fall Schedule: Core Courses

Applied Economic Theory – ACE 500

Provides an understanding of theory of the firm, consumer economics and various market models necessary to conduct applied professional economic research with special emphasis on applications relevant to agricultural, consumer, development, and resource economics. Multivariate calculus and optimization methods are used.
4 credit hours, 16 weeks

Applied Regression Models I – ACE 562

Application of simple regression methods to problems in agricultural and consumer economics with emphasis on foundational probability, random variable, and distribution concepts, development of the simple, two-variable regression model; estimation of model parameters; hypothesis testing; and prediction.
2 credit hours, first 8 weeks

Applied Regression Models II – ACE 564

Application of multiple regression methods to problems in agricultural and consumer economics with emphasis on extensions to the simple, two-variable regression model, development of the multiple regression model; and problems created by violations of basic model assumptions.
2 credit hours, second 8 weeks

Graduate Internship Experience – ACE 592 GIE

Students will complete a professional internship in their focus area of applied economics. The course can be completed after the internship has ended.
2 credit hours, first 8 weeks

Introduction to Programming Python for Data Science* – INFO 407

For students who want to learn about solving problems common in data sciences but have little or no programming experience. The class is asynchronous (students can access material on-line but within specified timeframes) and taught online. Data Science lies at the intersection of statistics and computer science and focuses on extracting information from data. This class will immerse students on topics of software construction, design, programming paradigms and the semantic and syntax of the Python language and then focus on some of the necessary workflows to move raw data into information. The class will explore common Python modules (libraries) used in data science, natural language processing, statistics, mathematics, data management (acquiring, cleaning, reshaping, organizing, persisting) and visualizations.
3 credit hours, 16 weeks

FA 1 Spring Schedule: Electives and Quantitative Reasoning

Data Science for Applied Economics – ACE 592 SAE*

This course will teach data science tools and workflow for analysis of questions in applied economics. Using the python programming language and git version control, we will cover obtaining data via scraping and APIs, processing and cleaning data using python, and analyzing data via data visualization and basic machine learning techniques. The course will broadly cover the basics of text, spatial, and numeric data with an emphasis on their uses in analyzing economic questions and conducting research.
4 credit hours, 16 weeks

Spatial Econometrics – ACE 532*

This course provides the statistical and econometric techniques required for spatial analysis and appropriate modeling of cross-sectional (and panel) datasets. While spatial statistics allow the students to identify the two spatial effects commonly found in geocoded samples (spatial autocorrelation and spatial heterogeneity), spatial econometrics is especially geared towards including these effects in a regression model. An important aspect of the course is to gain hands-on experience in applying the appropriate techniques and using state-of-the-art software (such as the spatial econometric toolboxes available in R).
4 credit hours, 16 weeks

Data, Machines, and Python* – INFO 427

A continuation to the introductory course on Data Science (INFO 407). This advanced course on Data Science is completely taught online and scheduled asynchronously (you decide where it best fits in your week). The course consists of several tracks including Machine learning and advanced Python skills. There will be lessons that guide you to learn advanced techniques in data science and you will also be introduced to machine learning algorithms. In addition, there will be a few lessons that help you advance your Python knowledge and software development skills. This course can mainly be considered as an applied course where you will learn by doing. In many cases, you will first write a reduced implementation before using an established library. The second half of the course will be focused on data driven individual projects along with weekly lessons.
3 credit hours

Math Program App Econ I – ACE 563*

Application of mathematical programming methods to discrete models in agricultural economics; Kuhn-Tucker theorem, Lagrange multipliers, duality, simplex method as applied to linear and quadratic programming, and input-output analysis models in agriculture.
2 credit hours

Or choose from “Data Science and Applied Methods Electives list” at the bottom of the page

*Fulfills quantitative reasoning requirement

Focus Area 2: Finance and Agribusiness Management

FA 2 Fall Schedule: Core Courses

Applied Economic Theory – ACE 500

Provides an understanding of theory of the firm, consumer economics and various market models necessary to conduct applied professional economic research with special emphasis on applications relevant to agricultural, consumer, development, and resource economics. Multivariate calculus and optimization methods are used.
4 credit hours, 16 weeks

Applied Regression Models I – ACE 562

Application of simple regression methods to problems in agricultural and consumer economics with emphasis on foundational probability, random variable, and distribution concepts, development of the simple, two-variable regression model; estimation of model parameters; hypothesis testing; and prediction. 2 graduate hours.
2 credit hours, first 8 weeks

Applied Regression Models II – ACE 564

Application of multiple regression methods to problems in agricultural and consumer economics with emphasis on extensions to the simple, two-variable regression model, development of the multiple regression model; and problems created by violations of basic model assumptions.
2 credit hours, second 8 weeks

Graduate Internship Experience – ACE 592 GIE

Students will complete a professional internship in their focus area of applied economics. The course can be completed after the internship has ended.
2 credit hours, first 8 weeks

Financial Services & Investment Plan – ACE 444

Advanced skills in and understanding of asset pricing, equity and debt investment, portfolio theory and diversification, asset allocation, financial risk management, and financial intermediation and regulation emphasizing applications in financial planning and agricultural finance.
4 credit hours, 16 weeks

FA 2 Spring Schedule: Electives and Quantitative Reasoning

Advanced Agricultural Finance – ACE 542

Theory of financial decision making as applied to farms and firms related to agriculture. Topics include asset pricing models, financial markets, capital structure, farmland control, term structure of interest rates, risk management and credit evaluation.
4 credit hours, 16 weeks

Entrepreneurship through Acquisition – FIN 580

Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) is the exciting career path where business professionals buy and grow existing small businesses. For individuals with business skills and a desire to make a meaningful impact, this path is significantly less risky than starting new businesses around unproven product or service ideas. The course will introduce ETA and cover how to search for, value, finance, and grow small business acquisitions. Invited speakers include entrepreneurs and acquisition professionals. No prior background in finance is required.
4 credit hours, 16 weeks

Modeling App’s Financial Planning – ACE 446

Improves ability to make effective financial plans and decisions. Involves development of decision tools that are applied to “real world” financial data sets and planning/decision-making circumstances. Topics include applied data management techniques (designing queries/storable forms), financial statement analysis, numeric optimization tools, leverage assessment, incorporating risk in decisions, capital budgeting and time value of money, term structure of interest rates, and currency exchange.
2 credit hours, second 8 weeks

Int Personal Finance & Estate Plan – ACE 445

Covers financial and estate planning philosophies, techniques, and procedures. Students will utilize case studies and problem-solving activities to construct financial plans for individuals and families in various life cycle stages and family structures.
4 credit hours, 16 weeks

Or choose from “Finance and Agribusiness Electives list” at the bottom of the page

*Fulfills quantitative reasoning requirement

Focus Area 3: International Trade and Development Electives

FA 3 Fall Schedule: Core Courses

Applied Economic Theory – ACE 500

Provides an understanding of theory of the firm, consumer economics and various market models necessary to conduct applied professional economic research with special emphasis on applications relevant to agricultural, consumer, development, and resource economics. Multivariate calculus and optimization methods are used.
4 credit hours, 16 weeks

Applied Regression Models I – ACE 562

Application of simple regression methods to problems in agricultural and consumer economics with emphasis on foundational probability, random variable, and distribution concepts, development of the simple, two-variable regression model; estimation of model parameters; hypothesis testing; and prediction.
2 credit hours, first 8 weeks

Applied Regression Models II – ACE 564

Application of multiple regression methods to problems in agricultural and consumer economics with emphasis on extensions to the simple, two-variable regression model, development of the multiple regression model; and problems created by violations of basic model assumptions.
2 credit hours, second 8 weeks

Graduate Internship Experience – ACE 592 GIE

Students will complete a professional internship in their focus area of applied economics. The course can be completed after the internship has ended.
2 credit hours, first 8 weeks

Food, Poverty, and Development – ACE 557

Economic theory and empirical analyses are used to study economic development, emphasizing the structural transformation of an economy, poverty alleviation among households, improvement in food security and public policies to support those processes. Topics include poverty measurement, poverty dynamics, growth theory, and impact evaluation. Special attention is paid to the role of the agricultural sector and rural development.
2 credit hours, 16 weeks

OR choose from “Other Electives” list, 2-4 credits

FA 3 Spring Schedule: Electives and Quantitative Reasoning

Agriculture in International Development – ACE 451

Economics of agricultural development and the relationships between agriculture and other sectors of the economy in developing nations; agricultural productivity and levels of living in the less developed areas of the world; and studies of agricultural development in different world regions including Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
4 credit hours, 16 weeks

Impact Evaluation – ACE 531*

The problem of identification. Methods for impact evaluation, including randomized field experiments, propensity score matching, differences in differences, instrumental variables, and regression discontinuity. Includes exercises using the econometric software program STATA.
2 or 4 credit hours

Supply Chain Management – ACE 592 AL1

Traceability, transparency, and fidelity are essential to sustainable agri-food supply chains. This course integrates blockchain into the study of agri-food supply chain management through 3 study modules. Module 1: Students gain an understanding of the economic theory underlying supply chain management and governance in order to provide a foundation for future scholarly or professional work in the field. Module 2: Students use the theoretical preparation to better understand sustainable supply chain management in emerging markets. Module 3: Students apply these newfound understandings to the field of blockchain and its application to agri-food supply chains. Students must register for the Lecture (asynchronous) and a lab (synchronous).
4 credit hours, 16 weeks

Global Agribusiness Management – ACE 435

Examination of the economic and strategic management of food, textile, and agribusiness firms within a global business environment; topics include the global business environment and its institutions, organizational strategies and policies, and business operations in global agricultural, food and textile industries.
3 credit hours, 16 weeks

OR choose an elective from “Other Electives” list at the bottom of the page

*Fulfills quantitative reasoning requirement

Focus Area 4: Commodity Markets

FA 4 Fall Schedule: Core Courses

Applied Economic Theory – ACE 500

Provides an understanding of theory of the firm, consumer economics and various market models necessary to conduct applied professional economic research with special emphasis on applications relevant to agricultural, consumer, development, and resource economics. Multivariate calculus and optimization methods are used.
4 credit hours, 16 weeks

Applied Regression Models I – ACE 562

Application of simple regression methods to problems in agricultural and consumer economics with emphasis on foundational probability, random variable, and distribution concepts, development of the simple, two-variable regression model; estimation of model parameters; hypothesis testing; and prediction.
2 credit hours, first 8 weeks

Applied Regression Models II – ACE 564

Application of multiple regression methods to problems in agricultural and consumer economics with emphasis on extensions to the simple, two-variable regression model, development of the multiple regression model; and problems created by violations of basic model assumptions.
2 credit hours, second 8 weeks

Graduate Internship Experience – ACE 592 GIE

Students will complete a professional internship in their focus area of applied economics. The course can be completed after the internship has ended.
2 credit hours, first 8 weeks

Commodity & Currency Risk Mgmt – ACE 499 CCR

Learn about the financial instruments used by commodity and currency market participants to hedge risk and how to measure / manage commodity and foreign exchange (FX) risk.
3 credit hours, 16 weeks

Food, Trade and Development – ACE 559

Economic theory and empirical analyses are used to study international trade, emphasizing food trade, agricultural policy and international development. Topics include theoretical models of international trade, regional agreements, and food trade. Special attention is given to the impact of trade in developing countries with large agricultural sectors and to issues relating to trade in food products.
2 credit hours, 16 weeks

FA 4 Spring Schedule: Electives and Quantitative Reasoning

Advanced Price Analysis – ACE 527

Study of methods used to analyze factors affecting agricultural prices; analysis of agricultural prices and price movements with respect to time, space, and form; and examination of methods of price forecasting and techniques of time series analysis.
4 credit hours, 16 weeks

Commodity Futures and Options – ACE 428

Development of futures trading; operation and governance of commodity exchanges; economic functions of futures trading; operational procedures and problems in using futures markets; public regulation of futures trading; evaluation of market performance.
3 credit hours, 16 weeks

Commodity Price Analysis – ACE 427

A comprehensive and in-depth survey of commodity price analysis with emphasis on the fundamental factors affecting prices of agricultural products; sources of information relating to production and demand factors; government activities as they relate to prices of agricultural products; technical analysis of agricultural product prices; and market efficiency and forecasting.
3 credit hours, 16 weeks

Supply Chain Mgmt – ACE 592 AL1

Traceability, transparency, and fidelity are essential to sustainable agri-food supply chains. This course integrates blockchain into the study of agri-food supply chain management through 3 study modules. Module 1: Students gain an understanding of the economic theory underlying supply chain management and governance in order to provide a foundation for future scholarly or professional work in the field. Module 2: Students use the theoretical preparation to better understand sustainable supply chain management in emerging markets. Module 3: Students apply these newfound understandings to the field of blockchain and its application to agri-food supply chains. Students must register for the Lecture (asynchronous) and a lab (synchronous).
4 credit hours, 16 weeks

Or choose from “Commodity Markets Electives” below

*Fulfills quantitative reasoning requirement

Focus Area 5: Environment and Sustainability Economics

FA 5 Fall Schedule: Core Courses

Applied Economic Theory – ACE 500

Provides an understanding of theory of the firm, consumer economics and various market models necessary to conduct applied professional economic research with special emphasis on applications relevant to agricultural, consumer, development, and resource economics. Multivariate calculus and optimization methods are used.
4 credit hours, 16 weeks

Applied Regression Models I – ACE 562

Application of simple regression methods to problems in agricultural and consumer economics with emphasis on foundational probability, random variable, and distribution concepts, development of the simple, two-variable regression model; estimation of model parameters; hypothesis testing; and prediction. 2 graduate hours. No professional credit. Prerequisite: ACE 262 or equivalent; one of MATH 220, MATH 221, MATH 234.
2 credit hours, first 8 weeks

Applied Regression Models II – ACE 564

Application of multiple regression methods to problems in agricultural and consumer economics with emphasis on extensions to the simple, two-variable regression model, development of the multiple regression model; and problems created by violations of basic model assumptions. Prerequisite: ACE 562 or equivalent.
2 credit hours, second 8 weeks

Graduate Internship Experience – ACE 592 GIE

Students will complete a professional internship in their focus area of applied economics. The course can be completed after the internship has ended.
2 credit hours, first 8 weeks

Environment and Development – ACE 411

Relationship between economic development and environmental sustainability through application of cost-benefit analysis and environmental economics. Developing and developed country issues are considered with an emphasis on hands-on applications of project appraisal, social benefit-cost analysis, green accounting, and non-market valuation.
4 credit hours, 16 weeks

Environmental Economics: Theory and Application – ACE 516

Examines both theory and policy applications in the environmental area; selectively reviews the literature to provide a framework for understanding the relevant economic relationships and the criteria appropriate for policy assessment; emphasizes the characteristics of major environmental problems and policy choices; and considers the valuation of environmental amenities and the conflict between environmental quality and growth.
4 credit hours, 16 weeks

FA 5 Spring Schedule: Electives and Quantitative Reasoning

Energy Economics – ACE 410

Use of economics tools to understand and evaluate public policy issues surrounding energy markets and related environmental markets. Focus is on the economic drivers of energy production and use, biofuel policy, transportation and storage of energy commodities, regulation of energy markets, and policies designed to mitigate the impact of energy production and consumption on the environment.
4 credit hours, 16 weeks

Advanced Natural Resource Economics – ACE 510*

Economic theory is used to examine the allocation of renewable and efficiency issues that arise from natural resource policy and management issues.
4 credit hours, 16 weeks

Applied GIS to Environmental Studies – GEOG 476*

Demonstrates how geographic information systems (GIS) have become a major technology ubiquitously applied to solve important problems encountered in geospatial and environmental applications.
3 graduate hours

Graduate Professional Development – ACE 592 GPD

This course provides a preview of professional development and career opportunities outside of academia in food and agribusiness, agricultural markets and finance, sustainability policy and management, trade and development, and related applied economics fields. Through an in-depth dialogue with industry professionals and professional development activities, masters students will develop an understanding of the skill sets needed to succeed in the different career paths discussed.
2 credit hours, 16 weeks

Electives List

FA 1: Data Science and Applied Methods

ACE 531 (2 or 4) – Impact Evaluation*
ACE 532 (2) – Spatial Econometrics*
ACE 592 SAE (4) – Data Science for Applied Economics*
ACE 563 (2) – Math Program App Econ I*
INFO 407 (3) – Introduction to Programming Python for Data Science*
INFO 427 (3) – Data, Machines, and Python*
GEOG 407 (4) – Foundations of CyberGIS & Geospatial Data Science*

FA 2: Finance and Agribusiness Electives

ACE 445 (4) – Int Personal Finance & Estate Plan
ACE 444 (4) – Financial Services & Investment Plan
ACE 446 (2) – Modeling App’s Financial Planning*
ACE 542 (4) – Advanced Agricultural Finance
ACE 592 (4) – Supply Chain Mgmt
FIN 580 (4) – Entrepreneurship through Acquisition

FA 3: International Trade and Development Electives

ACE 411 (4) – Environment and Development
ACE 435 (3) – Global Agribusiness Management
ACE 451 (4) – Agriculture in International Development
ACE 455 (4) – International Trade, Food, and Agriculture
ACE 531 (2 or 4) – Impact Evaluation*
ACE 557 (2) – Food, Poverty, and Development
ACE 559 (2) – Food, Trade and Development
ACE 592 AL1 (4) – Supply Chain Management

FA 4: Commodity Markets Electives

ACE 427 (3) – Commodity Price Analysis
ACE 428 (3) – Commodity Futures and Options
ACE 499 (3) – Commodity & Currency Risk Mgmt
ACE 527 (4) – Advanced Price Analysis
ACE 592 (4) – Supply Chain Mgmt

FA 5: Environment and Sustainability Economics Electives

ACE 410 (4) – Energy Economics
ACE 411 (4) – Environment and Development
NRES 455 (2) – Adv GIS for Nat Res Planning
ACE 510 (4) – Natural Resource Economics
ACE 516 (4) – Environmental Economics
Check course catalog

*Fulfills quantitative reasoning requirement

PhD Classes not intended for Masters Students

ACE 530 (4) – Microeconometrics
ACE 592 BD (4) – Big Data: Empirical Economics
ACE 502 (4) – Demand/Supply/Firms/Households*
ACE 503 (4) – Equilibrium and Welfare Econ
ACE 527 (4) – Advanced Price Analysis
ACE 431 (3) – Agri-food Strategic Management

Notes

592 courses may not be offered on a consistent schedule
Check with the Class Schedule to ensure course is available for the intended semester and you have met the prerequisite requirements

*Fulfills additional quantitative reasoning requirement

harvest — Harvest time south of the University (photo by J. Baltz)