AREC 217 Economics of Food and Agriculture: Sustainable Solutions for a Changing World
Practical application of economic theory to understand and analyze current issues and events surrounding food, natural resources, the environment, and sustainable solutions to rising problems. Current policy debates and diverse perspectives are used to demonstrate the process of translating economic problems and social science methods into researchable questions, using quantitative methods and tools.
Course Syllabus: AREC 217 Spring 2025
AREC 239 Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis
This is an introductory course in statistics and probability. This course deals with applied data analysis, probability concepts, and statistical inference including confidence intervals and hypothesis testing. Applications and examples will be drawn from life and social sciences.
Course Syllabus: AREC 239 Spring 2025
AREC 297 Excel Applications for Economic Analysis
Data can help us discover the facts and Excel is an effective means to explore data. In general, agricultural economics and management increasingly rely on quantitative analyses to understand the economy and make decisions. The main objective of this course is to help students develop basic skills in quantitative and statistical analysis with Excel to (1) present an agricultural issue with data, graphs, and charts; and (2) confidently interpret and use descriptive statistics encountered everyday as well as in upper-level classes.
Course Syllabus: AREC 297 Spring 2025
AREC 360 The Poverty and Development of Nations
Exploration and analysis of the multi-dimensionality of hunger, poverty, and economic growth, with special emphasis on the cases of lower-income nations. Both microeconomic (e.g. technology, education) and macroeconomic (e.g. foreign aid, trade) factors are examined.
Course Syllabus: AREC 360 Spring 2025
AREC 479 Economic Analysis of Water, Food & Environmental Policies
This course focuses on economic methods for designing and evaluating water, food and environmental policies. Topics include optimizing water as an input in producing food, energy, recreation, and other ecosystem services; water & environmental issues in food production; pricing and conservation incentives; managing shortage risks; and economic tools for addressing conflicts over water, food and the environment. Interactive seminar style course. Calculus proficiency is required.
Course Syllabus: AREC 479/479 Spring 2025