2004-2006 University of Guelph Graduate Calendar

VIII. Graduate Programs

Agricultural Economics and Business

MSc Program

The MSc program emphasizes the economics of agricultural markets, food business economics and resource and environmental economics.

The aim of the MSc program is to develop in students a fundamental understanding of economic principles and their application in identifying and solving relevant problems related to agriculture, food and related fields. The program also strives to develop appropriate analytical, methodological, and communication skills to enable students to analyze agriculture and resource problems effectively and explain their findings.

Admission Requirements

The minimum requirement is an honours baccalaureate with a minimum B- standing. All students entering the MSc program in agricultural economics will have already taken, or be expected to take at the initiation of the program, the following basic courses:

  1. Intermediate level micro- and macro-economic theory (ECON*2310 and ECON*2410, or equivalent).

  2. Calculus and matrix algebra with applications to economics (ECON*2770, or equivalent).

  3. Intermediate level statistics (ECON*3740, or equivalent).

These make-up courses, if needed, do not carry graduate credit and, in some instances, may be supplemented with other undergraduate courses at the discretion of the Graduate Advisory Committee.

Degree Requirements

The MSc program consists of a set of core courses plus other courses of the student's choice in the areas of concentration and supporting fields. Graduate students are expected to select the courses they want to pursue before the beginning of their second semester. In addition to course work requirements, the student must prepare a thesis on a topic approved by his/her advisory committee. With an appropriate undergraduate background, a student should be able to complete the MSc program with thesis in five or six full-time semesters (18 to 24 months).

The minimum course work requirements (assuming all undergraduate background requirements have been met) are:

  1. Microeconomic Theory (ECON*3710 or ECON*6000) and Macroeconomic Theory (ECON*4810 or ECON*6020);

  2. one graduate course in quantitative methods selected from AGEC*6360, ECON*6050,or COST*6060;

  3. two graduate courses in agricultural economics;

  4. one additional graduate course; and

  5. a seminar course (AGEC*6800).

Students interested in emphasizing one of the three fields emphasized by the Master's program are advised to take the following courses:

Economics of Agricultural Markets:

  • Microeconomic Theory (ECON*3710 or ECON*6000)

  • Macroeconomic Theory (ECON*4810 or ECON*6020)

  • One of the three graduate course in quantitative methods selected from:

  • Two graduate courses in agricultural economics

  • One additional graduate course

  • One-credit seminar course (AGEC*6800)

Natural Resource and Environmental Economics:

  • Microeconomic Theory (ECON*3710 or ECON*6000)

  • Macroeconomic Theory (ECON*4810 or ECON*6020)

  • One of the three graduate course in quantitative methods selected from:

Food Business Economics:

Note that students electing to take certain courses that are offered to MBA students in the department may be required to successfully complete more than six taught courses.