Head of the Department: David L. Chicoine
Correspondence and Information: Head, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 305 Mumford Hall , 1301 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801; (217) 333-1810
Associate Professors: J. E. Allen, K. Cloud, R. L. Farnsworth, R. H. Hornbaker, C. H. Nelson, G. C. Nelson, S. R. Thompson, L. J. Unnevehr
Assistant Professors: R. J. Brazee, D. S. Bullock, J. B. Crihfield, E. A. DeVuyst, R. J. Garcia, M. A. Mazzocco, H. Onal, D. R. Purnell, B. J. Sherrick, A. E. Winter-Nelson
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
The Department of Agricultural Economics offers courses leading to the master
of science and doctor of philosophy degrees. Areas of concentration and
specialization are offered in agricultural finance; agricultural marketing;
farm and agribusiness management; international and policy economics; natural
resource, production, and environmental economics. Courses are also offered in
agricultural law, quantitative methods, and rural sociology. The department
also recognizes specializations involving substantial course work in other
departments, such as a specialization in econometrics based on courses offered
by the Department of Economics. Students interested in rural sociology usually
enroll in the Department of Sociology and take classes and conduct research
with rural sociology faculty.
MASTER OF SCIENCE
Graduate College admission requirements apply. The department considers the
applicant's previous program of study, scholastic record, and professional
experience. The Graduate Record Examination is not required for admission, but
is strongly recommended. It is required of applicants seeking financial aid.
Students having inadequate quantitative skills or less than 12 semester hours
of agricultural economics or economics may be required to take additional
courses to prepare adequately for graduate studies. Students who desire to
specialize in rural community development with the rural sociology emphasis
should have had a minimum of 6 semester hours of rural sociology or sociology.
The minimal 8-unit program must include 1 unit of economic theory; 4 units of agricultural economics or rural sociology, including 2 units of thesis credit, 1 unit in quantitative methods and research methodology, and at least 1 unit at the 400 level; and 2 units of open electives. No more than 2 units of thesis credit can be included in the 8-unit program. The required thesis may be waived under certain circumstances. Each student is required to present an oral research seminar open to all faculty and students. Students must earn a 4.0 (A = 5.0) in all graded courses and must complete the requirements within five years of initial registration.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Graduate College admission requirements apply. An applicant with a master's
degree in agricultural economics or a closely related discipline and with an
outstanding scholastic record is favorably considered for admission. The
Graduate Record Examination is strongly recommended but not required for
admission. It is required of applicants seeking financial aid.
The doctoral candidate must complete 8 units of nonthesis courses beyond the master's degree. The student must complete within three semesters and a summer following initial enrollment a core of five courses made up of 3 courses in economic theory and one course each in econometrics, mathematical programming, and risk and information theory or applied welfare analysis. Students complete elective courses in their areas of specialization and at least 6 and up to 8 units of dissertation research. The student must pass one oral and two written preliminary examinations, submit an acceptable thesis, and pass a final oral examination. A minimum of 16 units beyond the master's degree, including thesis credits, is required with a grade-point average of 4.0 (A = 5.0) on all graded courses. Requirements must be completed within seven years of initial enrollment in the master of science program at the University of Illinois (six years from initial enrollment in the Ph.D. program for those who completed an M.S. at another institution).
FINANCIAL AID
University fellowships and tuition and fee waivers are awarded by the Graduate
College. Several fellowships are also awarded on the basis of competition among
graduate students studying in departments in the College of Agriculture. In
addition, the Department of Agricultural Economics awards several fellowships
and maintains a number of part-time positions for graduate students, most of
them in research. These assistantships are offered on a competitive basis. For
further information and a copy of the graduate program brochure, write to the
address above.
Go to Graduate Programs Index
Go to Programs of Study Table of Contents
Go to Graduate College Home Page
Go to University of Illinois Home Page