Agricultural Economics
Degree Offered: M.Sc., M.F.R.E.
Members
Professors
R. Barichello, S. Gulati, C. McAusland, J. A. Vercammen.
Assistant Professor
M. Margulis, F. Noack.
Program Overview
The Food and Resource Economics (FRE) graduate program offers both a research master's degree, the Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Agricultural Economics, and a professional master's degree, the Master of Food and Resource Economics (M.F.R.E.). The M.Sc. is designed for careers where research is a main component, while the M.F.R.E. is designed for careers in industry or government.
In both degrees, coursework provides students with rigorous training in applied economics and quantitative methods. In the M.Sc., students develop specialized research skills by working with faculty throughout UBC on important real-world issues. In the M.F.R.E., students combine applied economics with policy analysis and agribusiness management, enabling them to analyze issues in the food and resource sectors.
FRE faculty members have direct experience working in the food and resource sectors, both domestically and internationally in Europe and Asia, particularly with developing countries.
Master of Science
Admission Requirements
Students admitted to the M.Sc. degree program will normally possess a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics or a related area, and are expected to meet the admission requirements of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
Program Requirements
The M.Sc. program can normally be completed in 18 to 20 months. After completing at least 18 credits of coursework, a thesis is written under the guidance of a UBC-wide committee that is chaired by a FRE faculty member. On occasion a course-based option is pursued. With the thesis option, students with an adequate undergraduate background in economic theory, mathematical economics, and quantitative methods must complete FRE 501, ECON 500, 526, 527, and two field courses, which may be at the senior undergraduate level. Students without an adequate background must take additional preparatory courses.
The thesis normally involves identifying a research topic mutually agreed upon by the student and supervising faculty, undertaking an extensive review of the literature, developing the appropriate theoretical framework, and then performing some form of empirical analysis.
Master of Food and Resource Economics
Admission Requirements
Students admitted to the M.F.R.E. degree program will normally possess a bachelor's degree in economics, agricultural economics or a related area, and are expected to meet the admission requirements of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
Program Requirements
The M.F.R.E. program requires 30 credits of coursework over 12 months of intensive study, beginning in September. In Winter Session, students complete 18 credits of required graduate courses (or approved alternatives) and 6 credits of restricted electives. The required graduate courses are normally selected from the following list:
- FRE 501 (3): Commodity Markets and Price Analysis
- FRE 502 (3): Food Market Analysis
- FRE 504 (1.5): Agricultural and Resource Policy Analysis
- FRE 505 (1.5): Agricultural and Resource Policy Analysis – Policy and Project Evaluation Tools
- FRE 515 (3): Agribusiness Management
- FRE 516 (3): Financial and Marketing Management in Agri-food Industries
- FRE 517 (1.5): Futures Trading in Agricultural Commodities
- FRE 518 (1.5): Survey Design and Data Analysis
- FRE 523 (1.5): Resource Economics I
- FRE 524 (1.5): Resource Economics II
- FRE 526 (1.5): Environmental Economics and Policy: Theory
- FRE 527 (1.5): Environmental Economics and Policy: Empirical Analysis
- FRE 528 (3): Applied Econometrics
- FRE 529 (1.5): Estimating Econometric Models
- FRE 530 (1.5): Econometrics with Time Series Data
- FRE 541 (1.5): Project Monitoring and Evaluation in International Development
- FRE 585 (3): Quantitative Methods for Business and Natural Resource Management
Any FRE graduate courses from the list above that do not comprise the 18 credits of required graduate courses can be used towards restricted electives.
Restricted electives can also be upper-level undergraduate courses in ECON or FRE, provided they are pre-approved by the MFRE Academic Advisor.
In Summer Session, students undertake a 6-credit graduating project (FRE 547) under the supervision of FRE faculty and professional economists in industry and government.
Contact Information
Admission & Administrative Coordinator
Faculty of Land and Food Systems
291-2357 Main Mall
Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4
Tel: 604.822.8373
Fax: 604.822.4400
Email: lfs.gradapp@ubc.ca
Web (MFRE): www.mfre.landfood.ubc.ca/
