University of Wyoming

Medicine Bow Peak – Medicine Bow Routt National Forest – 30 miles from Laramie

Few fields of study have horizons as broad or opportunities as great as agricultural and applied economics.
Recent graduates with a M.S. degree in Agricultural Economics have entered careers in farm and ranch positions, professional services, and public agencies. Recently we’ve had students enter careers in:

Banking,
Finance and insurance,
International business,
Diplomatic posts,
International development,
Federal and state agencies,
Community and economic development,
Energy industry.

Graduate Program
Poster (PDF format)

Furthermore, the Masters Program is very good preparation for students interested in pursuing degrees in Law or Ph.D. economics. Recent graduates pursuing a Ph.D. have secured assistantships at a number of well known programs:

University of Wyoming (Economics and Finance),
Oregon State University,
Washington State University,
Purdue University,
Kansas State University,
Virginia Tech University,
Colorado State University,
University of California at Davis

Students in our program have also pursued law degrees after completing the M.S. Economics is a valuable foundation for legal work for two reasons. First many legal issues have at least in part economic motivations, and understanding the details of transactions assists the framing of legal arguments. Secondly many argue that much of common law is based in part on efficiency issues. Students in our program have gone on to study water law, environmental law, and family law.

Master of Science in Agricultural and Applied Economics . . .

The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Wyoming offers several options for graduate work leading to the Master of Science degree. Completion of the traditional Master of Science degree requires a combination of course work and original research.
Most students are able to complete their course work for the traditional

Snowy Range in the Medicine Bow Routt
National Forest - 30 miles from Laramie

M.S. degree in three semesters, and all requirements including their thesis in four semesters. As an alternative for students who are interested in graduate-level training with less emphasis on research, the department also offers a non-thesis Master of Science degree with an Agricultural Business option. Most students are expected to complete the Masters in Agricultural Business degree requirements in a calendar year. Click here to view our Student Learning Outcomes page.

Inter-disciplinary options for a graduate degree in Agricultural Economics are also available in Environment and Natural Resources, and Water resources. A new dual major program is also in the process of being developed with Agricultural Economics and International Studies. These programs expose students the diverse technical, social, and political frameworks and issues that are interweaved with economic decision-making.

Click here to view the UW 2007-08 Graduate Bulletin.

Graduate Students in our department are involved in a diverse set of research topics as part of their assistantship work and thesis work while here. Topics include issues that are directly relevant to the Rocky Mountain West and the nation, using the latest economic tools. Areas of research include:

Agribusiness,
Production economics,
Experimental economics,
Natural resource economics,
Environmental economics,
Land economics,
Energy economics,
Community development.

The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics
new Experimental Economics Laboratory

Financial Assistance . . .

Several graduate assistantships are available each year for students pursuing the traditional thesis option. Stipends for assistantships for the academic year are $10,062 plus a tuition and fees reduction. It also includes one summer of summer assistantship.
Such employment brings your total stipend to approximately $11,268 for 12 months. If you are on an assistantship, you are expected to be involved with current faculty research and/or teaching opportunities for up to work 20 hours per week until you choose a thesis topic and advisor. It is expected that all students on assistantship plan for and have a meaningful teaching experience to be coordinated with faculty before completing the degree program. Assistantships are not available in the non-thesis agricultural business option.

Andrew and Connie Vanvig Graduate Fellowship: $5,000 given to a top agricultural economics graduate student to assist them in their scholarly endeavors for that year.
Plummer Scholarship: Available to full-time undergraduate and graduate students with a declared major or minor in the School of Environment and Natural Resources.
Minority and Women
Graduate Assistantships
Opportunities to encourage the recruitment and retention of minority and/or female graduate students. Department offers nominations for interested individuals.

A special opportunity . . .

The College of Agriculture, established in 1891, is one of seven UW colleges; Its graduate programs offer outstanding learning and research opportunities in specific disciplines and various multidisciplinary areas.

A special place . . .

Laramie, population 26,050 is a university and a ranching community. You will find the small-town quality of life and UW's enrollment of 13,000 students a pleasant contrast to the usual crowds at many other universities. In addition, quality campus research and classroom facilities are matched by superb recreational facilities as well as outstanding hiking, rock climbing, camping, fishing, skiing, and hunting in the nearby mountains.

To learn more about the University and the town please click on the following links:
University of Wyoming visitor page
Laramie, Wyoming Chamber of Commerce Page

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Please feel free to contact us for additional information.