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Head of the Department: Robert J. Hauser
326 Mumford Hall
1301 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-1810
Fax: (217) 333-5538
E-mail: ace-grad@uiuc.edu
Graduate Degree Programs
The Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics (ACE) offers
courses of study that lead to the master of science and the doctor
of philosophy degrees. Applicants with a baccalaureate degree are
initially admitted to the M.S. program. Students who perform extremely
well in the first year of the M.S. program may request transfer into
the Ph.D. program.
Admission
Graduate College requirements apply, including a 3.0 (A = 4.0) GPA
for the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate coursework and any
graduate work completed. International applicants must have a Test
of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 570 (230
on the computer-based TOEFL). Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general
test scores are required for candidates seeking financial aid and
are requested for all applicants. Applicants to the Ph.D. program
are requested to provide a sample of their academic writing. Students
having an inadequate background in theory or quantitative methods
will be asked to take additional coursework to prepare for graduate
study. An applicant with a master’s degree in an appropriate
discipline will be considered for the Ph.D. degree. Students may commence
study in either semester, but fall semester initial enrollment is
preferable for Ph.D. students.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience
in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience
in this program and is strongly recommended for those intending to
pursue an academic career.
Master of Science
The M.S. offers considerable flexibility, including choice of an option
in Agricultural and Consumer Economics or in Consumer and Textile
Marketing. In both options, students using the degree as a foundation
for a doctorate emphasize economic theory and analytical research
tools. Students seeking the terminal master’s degree focus their
study on the concepts and analytical techniques used by analysts and
managers in industries, governments, and other organizations.
Students must earn a 3.0 (A = 4.0) GPA for a minimum of 32 graduate
hours of coursework. Eight graduate hours of ACE 500-level coursework,
not including independent study and thesis credit, are required. Students
earn 8 graduate hours of credit for their preparation of a thesis
under the supervision of a faculty advisory committee. The thesis
is defended in a formal oral examination, which usually coincides
with an open departmental seminar, administered by the thesis advisory
committee. Courses in theory, research methods, and quantitative methods
are also required.
Doctor of Philosophy
The doctor of philosophy is a research-oriented degree that prepares
successful candidates for positions in higher education, governmental
agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the research and management
functions of the private sector. In consultation with a faculty mentoring
committee, students develop an area of specialization to fit their
career aspirations. Typical areas of specialization include agricultural
finance; consumer and textile marketing; family and consumer economics;
price analysis and agricultural marketing; farm and agribusiness management;
international and policy economics; and natural resource, production,
and environmental economics.
Students pursue coursework in theory, quantitative methods, and their
area of specialization; pass written and oral preliminary examinations;
and complete and defend a dissertation. The core courses cover the
theory and quantitative methods upon which advanced research, teaching,
and service in ACE are based. The specialty courses build on the knowledge
gained in the core courses and provide an understanding of the application
of economic theory and the tools of economic analysis. Students are
encouraged to complete substantial coursework in other departments,
such as economics, finance, and business administration.
Course Credit and Examination Requirements. The doctoral
degree candidate must complete a minimum of 64 graduate hours beyond
the master’s degree with at least 32 of these hours being nonthesis
courses. A 3.0 (A = 4.0) GPA is required in core courses and in all
courses completed in the program. Sixteen graduate hours of 500-level
coursework are required, excluding the core courses, independent study,
and thesis credit. A written preliminary examination is taken in the
student’s area of specialization. An oral preliminary examination
assesses preparation and plans for independent research. This examination
includes, but is not limited to, the student’s formal proposal
for dissertation research. Finally, prior to submitting an acceptable
dissertation to the Graduate College, students are required to pass
an oral final examination that evaluates the dissertation research.
Minor in the Department of ACE. A doctoral student
enrolled in another department of the University may obtain a minor
in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics. A candidate
for a minor must apply to the head of the department for the appointment
of a faculty member who will supervise the minor field. The student
is required to complete 8 graduate hours of ACE courses, at least
four of which must be at the 500 level.
Research Interests
The mission of the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics
is to improve the economic and environmental well being of producers,
consumers, and families. Drawing on economics, business, and law,
the department analyzes issues related to individuals and families,
agriculture and natural resources, and food and textiles — all
ranging in scope from local to global. The department pursues its
mission through rigorous baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral
curricula, through research that advances knowledge and solves problems,
and through public service.
Centers, Programs, and Offices
Departmental research is conducted through the auspices of the Center
for Farm and Rural Business Finance, the Consumer and Family Finance
Center, the Farm and Resource Management (FaRM) Laboratory, the Food
and Agribusiness Management (FAM) Program (with the Department of
Business Administration), the Illinois World Food and Sustainable
Agriculture Program, the Office for Futures and Options Research (OFOR),
and the program in Environmental and Resource Economics (pERE). Funding
for some of the research conducted in the department is provided on
a competitive basis from the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural
Research (C-FAR).
Financial Aid
Graduate fellowships, assistantships, and tuition and fee waivers
are awarded on a competitive basis.
Fellowships. The department offers fellowships from
internal resources and by nominating students for college and campus
fellowships. These fellowships, often combined with assistantship
support, provide monetary stipends and, in most cases, exemptions
from tuition and some student fees. Recipients must register for the
equivalent of at least three units of graduate credit in each semester
and one unit in the summer session. Fellowship holders are encouraged
to involve themselves with research and teaching in the department.
Assistantships. Research and teaching assistantships
provide an opportunity for graduate students to work with faculty.
Most research assistantships are funded by grants and contracts involving
the analysis of contemporary issues.
Tuition and Fee Waivers. Waivers may be awarded. In most cases they
are awarded to students with fellowship support from certain external
programs.
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