Food and Resource Economics
The Food and Resource Economics Department offers three specializations leading to a B.S. degree in food and resource economics. Each specialization offers students the opportunity to develop the skills needed to successfully compete for careers in a number of areas.
About This Major
- College: Agricultural and Life Sciences
- Degree: Bachelor of Science
- Specializations: Environmental Economics and Policy, Food and Agribusiness Marketing and Management, International Food and Resources Economics
- Hours for the Degree: 120
- Minor: Yes
- Combined-Degree Program: Yes
- Website: www.fred.ifas.ufl.edu/undergraduate.php
Overview
Graduates choose from a vast number of career opportunities, including sales, marketing, management, environmental policy, international trade, international marketing, economic analysis, natural resource management and human resource managements.
Students who have completed 30 credit hours but fewer than 60 are required to complete mathematics through pre-calculus (MAC 1147 or equivalent) before admission to the college.
Students who have completed 60 or more credit hours are required to have completed calculus (MAC 2233 or equivalent), statistics (STA 2023 or equivalent), financial accounting (ACG 2021 or equivalent) and macroeconomics (ECO 2013 or equivalent) with a C or better before admission to the college.
Students should consult an adviser for approval of electives.
Specialization: Environmental Economics and Policy
Specialization: Food and Agribusiness Marketing and Management
Specialization: International Food and Resource Economics
To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college and major requirements. Students must also earn a GPA of at least 2.25 in all AEB courses.
Critical Tracking and Recommended Semester Plan (all Specializations)
Equivalent critical tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students
Semester 1
- 2.0 UF GPA required for semesters 1-5
- 2.0 GPA required for all critical-tracking coursework for semesters 1-5
- Complete 1 of 4 critical courses: ACG 2021, ECO 2013, MAC 2233, STA 2023
Semester 2
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course
Semester 3
- Complete MAC 2233
Semester 4
- Complete 1 additional critical-tracking course
Semester 5
- Complete all critical-tracking courses
To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold.
Recommended semester plan
| Semester 1 | Credits |
| ECO 2013 Principles of Macroeconomics | 4 |
| BSC 2007 and 2009L Biological Sciences: Cells, Organisms and Genetics (3) and Biological Laboratory (1) or AGR 3005 and 3005L Principles of Crop Science (3) and Principles of Crop Science Laboratory (1) or EES 3000 and 3000L Environmental Science and Humanity (3) and Environmental Science and Humanity Laboratory (1) or ENY 3005 and 3005L Principles of Entomology (2) and Principles of Entomology Laboratory (1) or FOS 3042 Introductory Food Science (3) or FOR 3153C Forest Ecology (4) or WIS 2552 Biodiversity Conservation: Global Perspectives (3) (GE-B)* | 3-4 |
| MAC 1147 Precalculus: Algebra and Trigonometry (GE-M) if needed, or Elective | 4 |
| Composition (GE-C, WR) ** | 3 |
| Elective | 1 |
| Total | 15-16 |
| Semester 2 | Credits |
| MAC 2233 Survey of Calculus 1 (GE-M) | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Humanities (GE-H) ** | 6 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 3 | Credits |
| ACG 2021 Introduction to Financial Accounting | 4 |
| AEC 3033C Research and Business Writing in Agricultural and Life Sciences (WR) | 3 |
| STA 2023 Introduction to Statistics 1 (GE-M) | 3 |
| Biological Science (GE-B) * | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GE-S) or Humanities (GE-H) ** | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 4 | Credits |
| ACG 2071 Introduction to Managerial Accounting or AEB 3122 Financial Planning in Agribusiness | 3 |
| AEB 3103 Principles of Food and Resource Economics (GE-S) | 4 |
| AEC 3030C Effective Oral Communication | 3 |
| CHM 1083 Consumer Chemistry (3) or ALS 3133 Agricultural and Environmental Quality (3) or EES 3008 Energy and the Environment (3) or GLY 3163 Geology of American National Parks (3) or PHY 1033C Discovering Physics (3) or SWS 2007 The World of Water (3) or SWS 3022 Introduction to Soils in the Environment (3) (all GE-P) * | 3 |
| Elective | 1 |
| Total | 14 |
* At least one science course (ex: SWS 3022L) must include a laboratory component.
** The order in which these courses are taken is not important.
Environmental Economics and Policy
Students receive a broad background in social sciences, management and law. This diversity provides the skills for an entry-level position with a government agency, an environmental consulting firm or law school.
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| AEB 3133 Principles of Agribusiness Management | 3 |
| AEB 3450 Introduction to Natural Resource and Environmental Economics | 3 |
| AEB 3510 Quantitative Methods in Food and Resource Economics | 3 |
| AEB 3935 Food and Resource Economics Seminar | 1 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| AEB 3300 Agricultural and Food Marketing (3) or MAR 3023 Principles of Marketing (4) | 3-4 |
| AEB 4123 Agricultural and Natural Resource Law | 3 |
| AEB 4274 Natural Resource and Environmental Policy | 3 |
| AEB 4424 Human Resource Management | 3 |
| PHI 2630 Contemporary Moral Issues or Any approved ethics course | 3 |
| Total | 15-16 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| AEB 3341 Selling Strategically | 3 |
| AEB 3550 Agricultural Data Analysis in Food and Resource Economics (3) or QMB 3250 Statistics for Business Decisions (4) | 3-4 |
| AEB 4454 Contemporary Issues in Natural Resources and Environmental Economics | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Environmental economics and policy elective (see list) | 3 |
| Total | 15-16 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| AEB 3144 Introduction to Agricultural Finance or AEB 4136 Agribusiness Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| AEB 4334 Agricultural Price Analysis and Consumer Behavior (3) or ECO 3101 Intermediate Microeconomics (4) or ECP 3703 Managerial Economics (4)* | 3-4 |
| Electives | 5 |
| Environmental economics and policy elective (see list) | 3 |
| Total | 14-15 |
* Students pursuing graduate studies should select ECO 3101.
| Environmental Economics and Policy Electives | |
| AEB 3671 Comparative World Agriculture | 3 |
| ALS 3133 Agriculture and Environmental Quality | 3 |
| ECP 3113 Population Economics | 4 |
| ENT 3003 Principles of Entrepreneurship | 4 |
| ENY 3005 and 3005L Principles of Entomology (2) and Principles of Entomology Laboratory (1) | 3 |
| FOR 3004 Forests, Conservation and People | 3 |
| FOR 3202 Society and Natural Resources | 3 |
| FOR 4664 Sustainable Ecotourism and Management | 3 |
| GEO 3372 Conservation of Resources | 3 |
| IPM 3022 Fundamentals of Pest Management | 4 |
| ORH 3815C Florida Native Landscaping | 3 |
| ORH 4804 and 4804L Annual and Perennial Gardening (1) and Annual and Perennial Gardening Laboratory (2) | 3 |
| PLS 3223 and 3221L Plant Propagation (2) and Plant Propagation Laboratory (1) | 3 |
| SWS 3022 and 3022L Introduction to Soils in the Environment (3) and Introduction to Soils in the Environment Laboratory (1) | 4 |
| SWS 4245 Water Resource Sustainability | 3 |
| WIS 3401 Wildlife Ecology and Management | 3 |
| WIS 3402 Wildlife of Florida | 3 |
| WIS 4523 Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Conservation | 3 |
| WIS 4601C Quantitative Wildlife Ecology | 4 |
Food and Agribusiness Marketing and Management
The specialization is for students interested in food and fiber systems management, marketing, finance and international business and employment opportunities and sales and managerial positions in agribusiness firms, commercial banks, the Farm Credit Service, insurance and appraisal firms.
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| AEB 3144 Introduction to Agricultural Finance | 3 |
| AEB 3300 Agricultural and Food Marketing | 3 |
| AEB 3510 Quantitative Methods in Food and Resource Economics | 3 |
| AEB 3935 Food and Resource Economics Seminar | 1 |
| Electives | 5 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| AEB 2451 Environmental Protection in Florida | 3 |
| AEB 3133 Principles of Agribusiness Management | 3 |
| AEB 3550 Agricultural Data Analysis in Food and Resource Economics | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| AEB 4138 Advanced Agribusiness Management | 3 |
| AEB 4242 International Trade Policy in Agriculture | 3 |
| AEB 4334 Agricultural Price Analysis and Consumer Behavior * (3) or ECO 3101 Intermediate Microeconomics (4) or ECP 3703 Managerial Economics (4) | 3-4 |
| Food and agribusiness marketing and management electives (see list) | 6 |
| Total | 15-16 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| AEB 3281 Agricultural Macroeconomics (3) or ECO 3203 Intermediate Macroeconomics (4) or ECO 3713 International Macroeconomics (4) | 3-4 |
| AEB 4325 Contemporary Issues in Agribusiness Management | 3 |
| AEB 4342 Agribusiness and Food Marketing Management | 3 |
| Electives | 3-0 |
| Food and agribusiness marketing and management electives (see list) | 3 |
| Total | 15-13 |
* Students pursuing graduate studies should select ECO 3101.
Food and Agribusiness Marketing and Management Electives
| AEB 3315 Futures Markets and Risk Management in Agriculture | 3 |
| AEB 3341 Selling Strategically | 3 |
| AEB 3671 Comparative World Agriculture | 3 |
| AEB 4309 Food Wholesaling and Retail Marketing | 3 |
| AEB 4343 International Agribusiness Marketing (GE-S) | 3 |
| AEB 4380 Agricultural Marketing Strategies | 3 |
| AEB 4424 Human Resources Management in Agribusiness | 3 |
| AEC 3414 Leadership Development | 3 |
| ALS 4404 International Studies | 3 |
| ENT 3003 Principles of Entrepreneurship | 4 |
International Food and Resource Economics
This specialization provides a broad background in economic theory and international development and policy. Many who choose this specialization are preparing for graduate school or for careers working for international organizations and governments.
| Semester 5 | Credits |
| AEB 2451 Environmental Protection in Florida | 3 |
| AEB 3300 Agricultural and Food Marketing | 3 |
| AEB 3510 Quantitative Methods in Food and Resource Economics | 3 |
| AEB 3935 Food and Resource Economics Seminar | 1 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Total | 16 |
| Semester 6 | Credits |
| AEB 3133 Principles of Agribusiness Management | 3 |
| AEB 3144 Introduction to Agricultural Finance | 3 |
| AEB 3550 Agricultural Data Analysis in Food and Resource Economics | 3 |
| AEB 4334 Agricultural Price Analysis and Consumer Behavior* (3) or ECO 3101 Intermediate Microeconomics (4) or ECP 3703 Managerial Economics (4) | 3-4 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15-16 |
| Semester 7 | Credits |
| AEB 3671 Comparative World Agriculture | 3 |
| AEB 4343 International Agribusiness Marketing (GE-S) | 3 |
| ECO 3704 International Trade | 4 |
| International FRE electives (see list) | 5 |
| Total | 15 |
| Semester 8 | Credits |
| AEB 3281 Agricultural Macroeconomics (3) or ECO 3203 Intermediate Macroeconomics (4) or ECO 3713 International Macroeconomics (4) | 3-4 |
| AEB 4242 International Trade Policy in Agriculture (GE-S) | 3 |
| International FRE electives (see list) | 3 |
| Electives | 5 |
| Total | 14-15 |
International Food and Resource Economics Electives
| ALS 4404 International Studies | 1-3 |
| ECS 3403 Economic Development of Latin America | 4 |
| INR 2001 Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| Any 3000-level or higher course in LAS, EUS or AFS |
* Students pursuing graduate studies should select ECO 3101.