Economics (Applied Economics Department)

About This Degree

The PhD in economics gives students the opportunity to immerse themselves in research. The program emphasizes applied economic theory and quantitative analysis, and students can focus their studies in environmental and natural resource economics, agricultural economics, or regional economic development.

What You Will Learn

PhD graduates have had opportunities to work on research projects funded by organizations such as the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Department of Education, among others. Many graduates have published refereed journal articles that stem from their graduate work in scholarly journals.

Specialization:

Climate Adaptation Science (Economics PhD):

The Climate Adaptation Science specialization provides students with experiences in actionable science through internship and research experiences. Program includes interdisciplinary research to identify adaptive responses to changing climate extremes and two-part internships with agency, NGO, and industry partners. In a first internship, students contribute to projects and learn the workplace cultures and science needs of the host. The internship experiences inform interdisciplinary climate adaptation research by student teams. In a second internship, students share science results and tools with the host organization and help put that science into action.

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At a Glance

College: College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Department: Applied Economics Department

USU Locations:

Logan campus

Faculty: View profiles of faculty members on the department directory.

Program Requirements

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Career And Outcomes

Career Opportunities

While graduates primarily pursue careers in research and academia, this degree also prepares students for positions in:

Industry
Private consulting firms
Regional and national policy-making agencies
Private, not-for-profit organizations
Community/regional economic planning and development agencies

Job Outlook

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION AND ADVISING

Advising

Man-Keun Kim

Professor, Director of Graduate Studies
Email: mk.kim@usu.edu
Office: AGRS 220A
Phone: (435) 797-2359

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USU Locations

LOGAN CAMPUS

Admission

Admission Requirements

Prerequisite course work for the PhD in Economics:

M.S. in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Applied Economics, Economics, Environmental/Natural Resource Economics, or a closely related degree.

Or at a minimum evidence of the following coursework:

Microeconomic Principles
Intermediate Microeconomics
Calculus
Statistics
Basic Econometrics

Application Requirements:

Complete the online application
Pay the $55 application fee
Score at or above the 40th percentile on the GRE
Have a 3.0 or higher GPA on your last 60 semester or 90 quarter credits
Provide transcripts of all college/university credits
Provide three contacts for letters of recommendation

International students have additional admissions requirements.

Deadlines

The department has the following application deadline for students wishing to receive funding:

Fall semester –January 31

The deadline for admission without funding is:

Fall semester – June 30

PhD candidates are accepted in odd years only.

Program Requirements

Students must take a qualifying examination at the end of their first year. It is composed of two, four-hour exams covering 1) microeconomics and 2) econometrics and quantitative methods.

Both exams must be passed before moving on to the second year of study.

Financial Aid

The department offers a limited amount of competitive research assistantships and tuition awards. As the availability of these assistantships varies from year to year, students should check with the department for more information.

A variety of funding opportunities are available on the graduate school website.