2002-2003 UAF Catalog

Degrees and Programs

Economics, Resource and Applied

School of Management
Department of Economics
(907) 474-7119

Degree: M.S.

Minimum Requirements for Degree: 30-33 credits

Economics is the study of social activities concerned with the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. In today's complex world, nearly all social phenomena and problems have economic aspects. Organized knowledge of the functioning of our economy and its relations with other economic systems is therefore essential to an understanding of the world in which we live.

The economics department offers study leading to the M.S. degree in resource and applied economics. The resource economics program offers a specialization in the economics of natural resources with emphasis in a variety of specific fields possible through interdisciplinary elective courses and thesis research, e.g., fisheries, wildlife management, land resources management, agriculture, oil and minerals, water resources and forest management.

The program consists of core coursework in micro- and macro-economic theory, mathematical economics, economic methods and courses in the economic theory and public policy of natural resources. Master's candidates may select a thesis or non-thesis option. Thesis topics, consistent with students' interest and project requirements, may be selected from current research projects of the department or from one of the several research institutes on campus. Most research projects deal with issues pertinent to the development and management of Alaska's renewable and nonrenewable resources.

Graduate Program

Resource and Applied Economics -- M.S. Degree

  1. Complete the general university requirements.
  2. Complete the master's degree requirements.
  3. Students may be accepted into the program subject to identified deficiencies being rectified. Unconditional acceptance into the program requires completion of intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics, basic statistics and 1 semester of calculus.
  4. Complete the following:
    ECON 601 -- Microeconomic Theory I (3 credits)
    ECON 603 -- Macroeconomic Theory (3 credits)
    ECON 623 -- Mathematical Economics (3 credits)
    ECON 626 -- Econometrics (3 credits)
    ECON 635 -- Resource Economics I (3 credits)
    ECON 636 -- Resource Economics II (3 credits)
    ECON 670 -- Seminar in Research Methodology (1 credit)
  5. Complete the thesis or non-thesis requirements:

    Thesis*

    1. Complete the following:
      ECON 699 -- Thesis (6 credits)
      Electives (6 credits)
    2. Minimum credits required (31 credits)

    Non-Thesis*

    1. Complete the following:
      ECON 698 -- Project (3 credits)
      Electives at the 600-level (6 credits)
      Electives (6 credits)
    2. Minimum credits required (34 credits)

* Complete at least 25 credits at the 600-level.