Graduate Faculty

701-231-7441

Cheryl S. DeVuyst, Ph.D.
University of Illinois, 1999
Research Interests:
Agribusiness

Eric A. DeVuyst, Ph.D.
Purdue University, 1993
Research Interests:
Production and Resource Economics, Farm Management, Operations Research

George K. Flaskerud, Ph.D.
Oklahoma State University, 1970
Research Interests:
Grain Marketing

Justin Garosi, Ph.D.
University of Michigan, 2005
Research Interests:
Public Finance, Taxation Policy

Robert Hearne, Ph.D.
University of Minnesota, 1995
Research Interests:
Natural Resource and Environmental Economics

Robert S. Herren, Ph.D.
Duke University, 1975
Research Interests:
Economic History, Labor, Money and Banking

Siew Hoon Lim, Ph.D.
University of Georgia, 2005 Research Interests:
Production Economics, Transportation, Industrial Organization

Won W. Koo, Ph.D.
Iowa State University, 1974
Research Interests:
International Trade, Grain Marketing

David K. Lambert, Ph.D.
Oregon State University, 1985
Research Interests:
Production Economics

F. Larry Leistritz, Ph.D.
University of Nebraska, 1970
Research Interests:
Economic Development, Resource Economics

Gregory McKee, Ph.D.
University of California, Davis, 2006
Research Interests:
Industrial Organization, Agribusiness, Cooperatives

Dragan Miljkovic, Ph.D.
University of Illinois, 1996
Research Interests:
Agricultural Prices, International Trade, Agricultural and Food Marketing and Policy

William E. Nganje, Ph.D.
University of Illinois, 1998
Research Interests:
Agribusiness, Food Safety, Finance

David M. Saxowsky, J.D.
The Ohio State University, 1979
Research Interests:
Agricultural Law

Cheryl J. Wachenheim, Ph.D.
Michigan State University, 1994
Research Interests:
Agribusiness

William W. Wilson, Ph.D.
University of Manitoba, 1980
Research Interests:
Commodity Marketing, Agribusiness, Industrial Organization

Program Description

The Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics offers two Master of Science degrees:(1) Agribusiness and Applied Economics, and (2) International Agribusiness. Graduates of both programs are prepared to analyze important agricultural development, finance, marketing, policy, production, resource, international trade, and transportation and logistical issues facing society.

The Agribusiness and Applied Economics Master of Science degree include areas of specialization in applied economics, agribusiness, and transportation and logistics.

The Applied Economics area emphasizes course work in economic theory, research methods, and quantitative techniques. The option is designed to prepare students for careers in agricultural economics research in private and public sectors and for Ph.D. programs at other institutions.

The Agribusiness specialization is a broad-based program which combines training in agribusiness management, economic analysis, and agricultural sciences. Training may include biotechnology, processing, and food and environmental safety. Students in the Agribusiness Option must complete a thesis or a comprehensive study paper. Students are prepared for a variety of successful careers in agribusiness by fulfilling the requirements for expertise in quantitative methods and developing a rigorous background in economic theory and research.

The departments of Agribusiness and Applied Economics and Civil Engineering, in conjunction with the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, offer an interdisciplinary graduate program in multimodal transportation. The program includes rural and non-metropolitan planning, highway and railroad engineering, freight transportation operations and economics, and agribusiness logistics and distribution. Both thesis and comprehensive study options are available.

A Master of Science program in Natural Resource Management, with an emphasis in social science, is also available (see the section on Natural Resource Management).

Students of all options have complete access to well-equipped research facilities and to faculty supervision time. (A favorable faculty to student ratio is maintained.) The department has an excellent placement record with national and international agricultural and business firms as well as government agencies.

Admissions Requirements

The Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics graduate program is open to all qualified graduates of universities and colleges of recognized standing. To be admitted with full status to the program, an applicant must

Students who do not meet all requirements for admission or have deficiencies in prerequisite course work, but show potential for successful graduate study, may be admitted under a conditional status. Evidence must be provided showing that the applicant's potential is not adequately reflected by his/her record. After meeting the specified standards of performance set by the department, the student, in consultation with the major adviser, may request a change to full graduate standing.

It is desirable that students begin their program in the fall semester, although students may also begin their programs of study in January. The application for admission should be received by The Graduate School by February 1 if the student wishes to be considered for financial assistance. Application for admission to graduate school should be as far in advance as possible, in all cases at least one month prior to the next registration date. International students are advised to submit applications by no later than March 1st to ensure VISA documents will be completed for a fall matriculation.

Application information and forms are available at The Graduate School. Three letters of recommendation are generally required before action is taken on any application.

The TOEFL examination is required of international applicants. A minimum score of 550 (paper test) or 213 (computer test) must be achieved.

Financial Assistance

The Department offers assistantships on a competitive basis. Information about other forms of financial assistance may be obtained from the Financial Aid Office in Ceres Hall. Two types of assistantships are available: the Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA), and the Teaching Assistantship (TA).

The GRA and TA provide a monthly stipend plus tuition waiver. Regardless of the type of assistantship, the student must pay an activity fee each semester. An assistantship normally begins the first semester the student is both at full graduate standing and enrolled in courses that apply to the student's graduate program of study.

Application for financial assistance should be made to the department at the same time as application to the graduate school. Applicants to graduate school who are accepted in less than full standing will not be eligible for an assistantship until their status changes to full standing. Granting assistantships depends on academic performance, departmental needs, and availability of assistantships. Application forms may be obtained from the department.

Most assistantships are half time. Students on assistantships are expected to perform research and other duties in the department in return for their stipend. All half-time assistants are expected to be available for performing services related to research or other duties for an average of 20 hours per week. Time expended on the student's research project is recognized as partial fulfillment of this requirement.

Degree Requirements

Candidates meeting all prerequisites for the M.S. degree in Agribusiness and Applied Economics may complete their program in 15-18 months. The degree requires the completion of 30 credit hours of letter-graded course work with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. A faculty seminar and an oral defense of either a research-based thesis or paper are required. Each student chooses a thesis adviser during his/her first semester of graduate school. Plans of study are developed to meet both disciplinary requirements and special interests of the student.

Students pursuing a Master of Science in Agribusiness and Applied Economics (thesis option or comprehensive study option) must complete all core courses. Students select elective courses (with approval of their adviser and supervisory committee) to fulfill the remaining Graduate School credit requirements. The core requirements assure breadth and competence in key areas of knowledge and professional activity. It is required that students have competence in calculus, multiple regression, and intermediate economic theory before enrolling in core courses. The following courses, or their equivalent, constitute the core of the Master of Science program for each area of specialization:

M.S. in Agribusiness and Applied Economics

MS in Agribusiness and Applied Economics

Required:

AGEC 701 (1 credit) Research Philosophy
ECON 710 (3 credits) Advanced Econometrics
AGEC 739 (3 credits) Analytical Methods for Applied Economists
AGEC 741 (3 credits) Advanced Microeconomics
AGEC 797/798 Comprehensive Study or Thesis

Thesis Option:

• Minimum of 16 credits of approved graduate-level course work
• 6 to 10 credits of AGEC 798 (Thesis)
• Minimum of 30 credits of course work and thesis credits

Comprehensive Study Option:

• Minimum of 7 credits of quantitative courses (including ECON 610, ECON 710, AGEC 739, AGEC 711 or other approved quantitative courses)
• Minimum of 21 credits of approved graduate-level course work
• 2 to 4 credits of AGEC 797 (Comprehensive Study)
• Minimum of 30 credits of course work and comprehensive study credits

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Courses Offered