| |
Resource Economics
Economics with an Edge
Every day, economic issues affect our lives and our world. Resource allocation and environmental impacts. Supply and demand. Trade deficits and surpluses. Inflation, unemployment, labor shortages, and national debt. Stocks and bonds, dollars and cents. Some of the most powerful and interesting applications of economic principles are found in agriculture and the management of natural resources.
Understanding A Complex Relationship
The way in which the economy, agriculture and natural resources impact one another is at the heart of Resource Economics. This interrelationship is complex, and our program is designed to analyze and integrate many facets of the economic system. Our students take courses in quantitative analysis, environmental law, statistical methods, policy, micro- and macro-economics, international trade, banking, marketing, and economic development. An optional concentration in Environmental Economics is available for those who wish to focus on the ways natural resources can be managed to minimize conflicts between economic growth and environmental quality. A second optional concentration in Sustainable Development is available for students who wish to help society manage natural resources and the environment in the present so as to not diminish the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
While the major is designed to develop students’ skills in analytical decision-making
along with encouraging an understanding of economic systems, it is also geared toward general education. In addition to economics and business, students take courses in math; computer applications; literature and arts; social sciences and humanities; and agricultural, biological and physical sciences. A faculty advisor works with each student to plan his or her degree program.
A Place to Learn
Our program is housed in Townsend Hall, the center of our 350-acre teaching and research complex. Newly renovated, Townsend Hall houses classrooms, offices, and one of the most technologically advanced computer centers on campus. With
e-mail, web and mainframe access; word processing software; GIS; statistics; and modern database systems, the Townsend site is used frequently by Resource Economics students. We also house the Agriculture Library and a student commons, two great study places right down the hall from faculty offices. But your classes won’t just be in our building. Our students take courses all over campus, including many in the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics.
Enriching the Experience
There’s more to learning than just lectures and bookwork. With that in mind, we encourage students to develop their skills outside the classroom. Some do extensive research projects that lead to a senior thesis. Others work part-time or do internships in government agencies, banking firms, universities, or local industries. We also encourage students to develop leadership and communication skills through extracurricular activities like Greek life, student government, and clubs. All of these experiences are key in shaping the undergraduate experience and making students marketable upon graduation.
Because of the international relevance of Resource Economics, we encourage our students to spend time abroad. A semester in Peru, Antarctica, Tanzania, New Zealand, Morocco or Ecuador—or in any of UD’s many programs—contributes greatly to students’ global perspectives and ultimately enriches their undergraduate experience.
Life After College
Career opportunities for Resource Economics graduates lie in government agencies, universities, corporations and banks. Alumni of the program are working in careers such as foreign service, land use planning, market analysis, investment banking, agrichemical sales, economic forecasting, stock brokering and database management. Some have gone on to graduate school to work on an MS or MBA or to focus on fields like environmental economics, urban planning, international trade and agricultural economics. |
|
|
