Overview
The Applied Economics Accelerated Master's Platform (AMP) provides the training necessary for success in analytical, policy, or management positions or as preparation for further graduate education. The program allows students to complete an undergraduate degree in Agricultural and Food Business Management (AFBM), Environmental Economics and Policy (EEP), or related undergraduate degrees and an M.S./M.A. in Applied Economics in 5 years of study (known as a 4+1 degree program).
The focus is on applied economics, policy, and quantitative analysis of natural resources management, environmental policy, sustainable development, agricultural markets, and related areas. Our students develop strong economic skills and analytical methods – such as econometric and spatial analytic tools – essential for applying their expertise to real-world concerns and issues. Coursework centers on microeconomics and science-based policy analysis, drawing on courses both within the program and from other University departments and colleges.
Eligibility
Outstanding undergraduate OSU students who have completed 105 of their required 180 credits toward their undergraduate degree with an overall GPA of 3.25 or better are eligible to apply to the AMP in Applied Economics. Eligible students will be identified for the AMP in the fall of their junior year. Students then apply during the winter term of their junior year. In addition to students in the EEP program, undergraduate students seeking degrees in the College of Forestry, Agricultural Sciences, Liberal Arts, Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, and the School of Public Health, will be the focus of the program.
Admission to the AMP will be competitive with students applying directly to the graduate program. The master’s program will notify applicants of admissions decisions during spring term of their junior year. Accepted students will begin taking master’s level classes during the fall term of their senior year. With careful planning, students can then complete a master’s degree within 1 year after completing their bachelor’s degree. Susan Capalbo will advise EEP students entering the AMP in Applied Economics.
How the AMP in Applied Economics Works
During their undergraduate senior year, successful applicants are allowed to apply a maximum of nine graduate credits (taken for a letter grade and not including blanket-numbered courses), to both their undergraduate and master’s degrees. Only credits with letter grades of B (3.00) or better may be counted for graduate credit. In addition, students in the Honors College or in other undergraduate programs that require a thesis may use the undergraduate thesis as a step toward the master’s research paper. Students admitted to the AMP program must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better throughout their undergraduate and master’s degree programs or they will be subject to dismissal from the AMP.
Students in the AMP will complete the same requirements as all MS students in Applied Economics, including choosing an area of concentration. Students will be advised to take classes in their concentration area during the senior year of their undergraduate term, when they can apply nine of their unrestricted credits toward both their undergraduate and MS degrees. Students will also be advised to complete any prerequisites for their MS classes during their senior year.
Environmental Economics and Policy undergraduate majors can choose any area of concentration in the AEC MS program. The following areas of concentration may be of most interest to students from the Environmental Economics and Policy major:
- Resource and Environmental Economics
- Marine Resource Economics and Policy
- Applied Economic Policy Analysis
- Forest Resource Economics
- Bioenergy and Climate Change Economics
- Risk Analysis
Students enrolled in the AMP are expected to complete the Research Paper option to meet the supervised research portion of the program. Research credits will be completed in the final term of their program.
Degree Requirements and Course of Study
An MS in Applied Economics requires 45 master’s level credits. The AMP program consists of four components: (1) core courses (13 credits), (2) restricted electives (minimum 8 credits), (3) unrestricted electives (9 credits of which may be applied to both undergraduate and MS degrees), and (4) supervised research. Each component is discussed in detail below.
1. Core Courses (13 credits)
The core courses consist of microeconomic theory, econometrics, and professional ethics.
- AEC 512 -- Microeconomic Theory I (fall, 1st five weeks) (4)
- AEC 513 -- Microeconomic Theory II (fall, 2nd five weeks) (4)
- AEC 525 -- Applied Econometrics (fall) (4)
- GRAD 520 -- Responsible Conduct of Research (fall, winter, or spring) (1)
2. Restricted Electives (minimum 8 credits)
At least two of the electives must be chosen from a designated list that reflects the program’s emphases and faculty expertise. In Academic Year 2014-2015, the designated list includes:
- AREC 550 -- Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (4)
- AREC 551 -- Applications of Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (4)
- AREC 543 -- International Trade (4)
3. Unrestricted Electives (9 credits may be applied to both undergraduate and MS degrees)
The student’s remaining electives will come from other courses, including those in Applied Economics, in closely associated departments, and elsewhere on campus. Consistent with Graduate School requirements, 400/500 level courses may be used as unrestricted electives but may comprise no more than 50% of the student’s coursework on the program of study.
Students in the AMP will complete 9 of their unrestricted electives during the senior year of their undergraduate degree. Unrestricted electives will be chosen in consultation with the student’s advisory committee to best support the student’s concentration area. Students will also be encouraged to complete pre-requisite courses for their MS level courses in their desired area of concentration. Classes for each area of concentration may include, but are not limited to:
Resource and Environmental Economics
- AREC 432/532 -- Environmental Law (4)
- AREC 452/552 -- Marine Economics (3)
- FOR 538 -- Valuation of Non-market Resources (3)
- FOR 462/562 -- Natural Resource Policy and Law (3)
Marine Resource Economics and Policy
- AREC 452/552 -- Marine Economics (3)
- MRM 520 -- Coastal Law (3)
- MRM 521 -- Ocean Law (3)
- MRM 535 -- Rights-Based Fisheries Management (3)
Applied Economic Policy Analysis
- AREC 432/532 -- Environmental Law (4)
- AREC 454/554 -- Rural Development Economics and Policy (3)
- ECON 539 -- Pubic Policy Analysis (4)
- FOR 561 -- Forest Policy Analysis (3)
Forest Resource Economics
- FOR 534 -- Economics of Forest Resources (3)
- FOR 538 -- Valuation of Non-market Resources (3)
- FOR 421/521 -- Spatial Analysis Of Forested Landscapes (3)
- FOR 550 -- Sustainable Forest Management (3)
- FOR 462/562 -- Natural Resource Policy and Law (3)
Bioenergy and Climate Change Economics
- AREC 432/532 -- Environmental Law (4)
- ECON 466/566 -- Energy Economics (4)
- GEO 465/565 -- Geographic Information Systems And Science (4)
Risk Assessment
- AREC 432/532 -- Environmental Law (4)
- TOX 411/511 -- Fundamentals of Toxicology (3) (prerequisites apply)
- TOX 413/513 -- Environmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment (3)
Graduate-level classes as prerequisites for future MS courses, for example:
- ST 421/521 -- Introduction to Mathematical Statistics I (4)
- ST 422/522 -- Introduction of Mathematical Statistics II (4)
- GEO 465/565 -- Geographic Information Systems And Science (4)
4. Supervised Research
AMP Master’s students are expected to satisfy the supervised research requirement by completing a Research Paper (Option 1). A Master’s Research Paper, completed under the supervision of the student’s advisory committee, normally requires about three months of full-time-equivalent work. A Master’s Research Paper requires an oral defense presentation before the student’s advisory committee at the end of the student’s program.
Sample Accelerated Master's Platform Schedule
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Option 1 |
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Core courses |
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13 |
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Elective courses (restricted + unrestricted) |
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26 |
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Masters research paper |
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6 |
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45 |
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Option 1: Research Paper |
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Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
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Senior year undergraduate |
3 credits |
3 credits |
3 credits |
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Before start of 5th year |
Math Bootcamp (offered in September) |
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Year 5 |
AEC 512 (4 credits) |
11 credits electives (restricted or unrest.) |
6 credits electives (restricted or unrest.) |
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AEC 513 (4 credits) |
GRAD 520 (1 credit) |
6 credits research paper |
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AEC 525 (4 credits) |
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