MAJOR FINDER

Filter by College

Filter by Subject

Environmental and Resource Economics

Student participate in an economic experiment using beans.

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Department of Applied Economics and Statistics

Apply Now >

MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Our environment is filled with scarce and finite resources — including clean air and water, fertile land, critical minerals, and energy resources — that are all impacted by human decisions. Environmental and resource economics students are trained to examine and understand relationships between producer and consumer decisions, environmental conditions, climate change, and resource availability in our changing world. Students work to answer key questions that help them identify sustainable solutions for global challenges facing society. How do human behavior and decisions affect the environment? How do resource scarcities, like water scarcity, affect our natural world and our communities? How are people responding to climate change? And how can we innovate and spearhead solutions to overcome those challenges? If you have an interest in solving these questions, building strong quantitative skills, a passion for the environment, and a curiosity to understand human decision making, our environmental and resource economics major is for you.

AREAS OF STUDY

Resource Economics
Environmental Economics
Environmental Law
Microeconomics and Macroeconomics
Economics of Biotechnology and New Technologies
Surveys and Economic Experiments
Statistical Research Methods
Agricultural and Natural Resource Policy
Geographic Information Systems
Community Economic Development
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Natural Sciences

CAREER OPTIONS

Economic Consultant
Environmental Consultant
Database Management
Environmental Lawyer
Public Policy Analyst
Geographic Information System Analyst
Peace Corps Volunteer
Economic Resource Service (and other U.S. government agencies)
Environmental Scientist
Environmental Protection Specialist
Natural Resource Educator
Natural Resource and Environmental Control

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Economics
Resource Economics
Environmental Law
Urban Affairs and Public Policy
Statistics
Economic Policy Analysis

What’s special about this program?

You can choose to concentrate in either 1) economics of sustainability and policy or 2) natural resource management. Opportunities abound for hands-on undergraduate research experience with UD’s Center for Experimental and Applied Economics. Here, you engage with faculty one on one to learn about their research and how it is affecting the environment. Our environmental and resource economics faculty specialize in experimental and behavioral economics. Our team aims to nurture a diverse and inclusive community to dig into environmental challenges and conduct research that can inform environmental and agricultural policy. After graduation, many of our environmental and resource economics majors choose to pursue graduate programs, including degrees in economics, business, environmental science, and law. Others immediately enter careers in consulting, non-profits, education and government.

“With the tools students learn in our program, they are well positioned to get a job immediately after graduation. Our graduates are ready to tackle important societal challenges, and they have the tools to identify solutions that will make a meaningful impact.” – Leah Palm-Forster, associate professor of applied economics and director of the Center for Experimental and Applied Economics

Get Involved

Ag Ambassadors

Agricultural College Council (AgCC)

Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity (AGR)

Alpha Zeta (AZ)

American Society of Landscape Architects Student Chapter

Animal Science Club

Beekeeping Club

Blue Hen Birding

Collegiate 4-H

Collegiate FFA

Entomology Club

Equestrian Team

Food Marketing Club

Food Recovery Network

Food Science Club

Horticulture Club

Hydroponics Club

Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANNRS)

Pre-Veterinary Club

Philadelphia Flower Show Club

Sigma Alpha Sorority (SA)

Students for the Environment

The Wildlife Society

Sample curriculum

FRESHMAN

UNIV101	First Year Experience
APEC100	Sustainable Development
APEC135	Introduction to Data Analysis
APEC150	Economics of Agriculture and Natural Resources
MATH221	Calculus I
ECON101	Introduction to Microeconomics
ENGL110	Seminar in Composition
ENWC201	Wildlife Conservation Ecology
	Foreign Language Course
	University and College Breadth Course

SOPHOMORE

ECON103	Introduction to Macroeconomics
COMM212	Oral Communications in Business
ENGL312	Written Communications in Business
ECON308	Banking and Monetary Policy
STAT200	Basic Statistical Practice
	Physical Science Requirement
	University Multicultural Requirement
	University and College Breadth Requirements

JUNIOR

APEC429	Community Economic Development OR
APEC406	Agriculture and Natural Resource Policy
APEC324	Introduction to Resource Economics
ECON300	Intermediate Microeconomic Theory OR
ECON301	Quantitative Microeconomic Theory
APEC343	Environmental Economics
	Course in the College of Business and Economics
	Physical Science Requirement
	University and College Breadth Requirements

SENIOR

APEC409	Research Methods II
ECON303	Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
APEC480	Geographical Information Systems in Natural Resources Management
	Course in the College of Business and Economics
	Electives

Sample curriculum - Natural Resource Management Concentration

FRESHMAN

APEC135

Introduction to Data Analysis

APEC150

Economics of Agriculture and Natural Resources

CHEM101/103 or 102/104

General Chemistry

ENGL110

Seminar in Composition

ENWC201

Wildlife Conservation and Ecology

MATH221

Calculus I

MATH222

Calculus II

UNIV101

First Year Experience

University and College Breadth Courses

SOPHOMORE

APEC100	Sustainable Development
BISC207	Introductory Biology I
BISC208	Introductory Biology II
ECON101	Introduction to Microeconomics
ECON103	Introduction to Macroeconomics
PLSC204/205	Introduction to Soil Science and lab
	Group Requirement
	University and College Breadth Courses

JUNIOR

APEC324	Resource Economics
APEC343	Environmental Economics
APEC480	Geographic Information Systems in Natural Resource Management
	Group Requirements
	University and College Breadth Courses