Department of Applied Economics and Statistics

Telephone: (302) 831-1318
E-mail: Applied@udel.edu
http://canr.udel.edu
Faculty Listing: http://canr.udel.edu/our-faculty/apec/

Applied Economics and Statistics is concerned with agribusiness management, food marketing, and the economics of environmental and resource management. Courses are designed to provide a thorough background in the principles of organization and management of agribusiness firms, and includes study of financing agricultural business firms, marketing and international trade of agricultural products, price analysis, environmental economics, economics of land use, and agricultural and environmental policies. The use and analysis of data is the focus of the statistics courses offered in the Department.

Undergraduate majors are offered in Food and Agribusiness Marketing and Management (BS) , Environmental and Resource Economics (BS) , and Statistics (BS) . The curricula differ in the amount of emphasis given to agricultural production, business, and economics. All the curricula may qualify the student for graduate work. The department also co-offers Natural Resource Management (BS) , an interdisciplinary major. Minors in Food and Agribusiness Marketing and Management , Resource Economics , Statistics , and Statistical Data Analytics are also available.

The major in Food and Agribusiness Marketing and Management is offered cooperatively with the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics. This curriculum prepares the student for a career in agribusiness sales and marketing, food wholesaling and retailing, international trade, resource management, market analysis, finance and banking, or commodity marketing (futures and options).

Natural Resource Management, an interdisciplinary major, emphasizes an understanding of the economic, physical, legal, and political problems of managing and protecting the environment and related natural resources in today’s world. It teaches the skills and capabilities to address those problems in public or private forums. It combines education in economics, and basic and applied biological and physical sciences with the fundamentals of public policy formulation. This major is co-offered by the Departments of Applied Economics and Statistics, Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, and Plant and Soil Sciences. The curriculum includes courses to help students understand the natural sciences, mathematics and statistics, economics, and public policy; appreciate the world’s biodiversity; communicate effectively; use computers to manage information; and solve “real world” problems. Students also will have a broad interdisciplinary education in the arts, humanities, social science, and environmental ethics. Graduates can continue their education in a variety of graduate areas or seek employment in engineering and environmental consulting firms, and state and federal agencies responsible for environmental protection and natural resource use.

The major in Environmental and Resource Economics emphasizes theory, quantitative methods, and policy, providing a solid foundation in economics. It prepares the student to work in the fields of environmental economics, government, teaching, extension, and research. A concentration in sustainable development is offered as an option in the major.

The Statistics major teaches the collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of data. Statistical methodology is used in virtually every professional field as a way to conduct research and make important decisions. These include the pure sciences, such as biology, chemistry, and physics, as well as engineering, business, medicine, and the social sciences (economics, political science, psychology, and sociology).

Programs

Major

Honors Degree

Minor

4+1

Statistics 4 +1 (BS/MS)