The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics offers programs leading to PhD degrees. Due to quota limitations, students are rarely admitted for the master's degree, although it may be awarded to students who are pursuing work toward the PhD in our program (or in another field at Berkeley) after fulfillment of the appropriate MS requirements.
The Agricultural and Resource Economics Program is relatively flexible; however, the program stresses economic theory, quantitative methods, and two elective fields defined in consultation with the graduate adviser. Some common elective fields include development economics, natural resource or environmental economics, agricultural policy, and international markets and trade.
Thank you for considering UC Berkeley for graduate study! UC Berkeley offers more than 120 graduate programs representing the breadth and depth of interdisciplinary scholarship. The Graduate Division hosts a complete list of graduate academic programs, departments, degrees offered, and application deadlines can be found on the Graduate Division website.
Prospective students must submit an online application to be considered for admission, in addition to any supplemental materials specific to the program for which they are applying. The online application and steps to take to apply can be found on the Graduate Division website.
Admission Requirements
The minimum graduate admission requirements are:
A bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution;
A satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale; and
Enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen field.
For a list of requirements to complete your graduate application, please see the Graduate Division’s Admissions Requirements page. It is also important to check with the program or department of interest, as they may have additional requirements specific to their program of study and degree. Department contact information can be found here.
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
Basic concepts of micro and welfare economics: partial and general equilibrium. Industrial organization: monopolistic competition, vertical integration, price discrimination, and economics of information with applications to food retailing, cooperatives, fishing, and energy. Production, Industrial Organization, and Regulation in Agriculture: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Economics 201A or equivalent or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023
History, institutions, and policies affecting agriculture markets and environmental quality. Producer behavior over time and under uncertainty. Asset fixity and agricultural supply models. Issues and Concepts in Agricultural Economics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Economics 201A-201B or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
This is an introduction to probability theory and statistical inference. It is primarily intended to prepare students for the graduate econometrics courses 212 and 213. The emphasis of the course is on the principles of statistical reasoning. Probability theory will be discussed mainly as a background for statistical theory and specific models will, for the most part, be considered only to illustrate the general statistical theory as it is developed. Probability and Statistics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Terms offered: Fall 2015, Fall 2014, Fall 2013
The goal of this course is to provide entering graduate students with the basic skills required to perform effectively in the graduate program and as professional economists. The lectures place heavy emphasis on intuition, graphical representations, and conceptual understanding. Weekly problem sets provide the opportunity to master mechanical skills and computational techniques. Topics covered include real analysis, linear algebra, multivariable calculus, theory of static constrained optimization, and comparative statics. Mathematical Methods for Agricultural and Resource Economists: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023
Introduction to the estimation and testing of economic models. Includes analysis of the general linear model, asymptotic theory, instrumental variable, and the generalized method of moments. In addition, a survey of time series, analysis, limited dependent variables. Econometrics: Multiple Equation Estimation: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 211 or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
Standard and advanced econometric techniques are applied to topics in agriculture and resource economics. Techniques include limited dependent variables, time series analysis, and nonparametric analysis. Students will use computers to conduct statistical analyses. Applied Econometrics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 211 and 212 or equivalent or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Terms offered: Spring 2012, Spring 2011, Spring 2010
Theory and application of new and emerging approaches to estimation and inference. Bayesian, maximum entropy,and other new applications to economic problems will be emphasized. Students will use computers to conduct statistical analyses. New Econometric and Statistical Techniques: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 211, 213 or equivalent or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
Techniques for preparing econometric studies, including finding data sources, the reporting of results, and standards for placing research questions with existent literature. With faculty guidance, students prepare approved econometric projects, present projects to the class, provide comments on other student projects, and revise projects in response to faculty and student comments. Econometric Project Workshop: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 210, 211, and 212 or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023
Techniques for preparing econometric studies, including finding data sources, the reporting of results, and standards for placing research questions with existent literature. With faculty guidance, students prepare approved econometric projects, present projects to the class, provide comments on other student projects, and revise projects in response to faculty and student comments. Econometric Project Workshop: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 210, 211, and 212 or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Terms offered: Spring 2010, Spring 2009, Spring 2007
Empirical aspects on international trade, foreign investment, and the environment. Issues related to testing various trade models. Topics include: testing trade models (HO, Ricardo, Specific Sector); gravity models; linkages between openness and growth; trade orientation and firm performance; pattern of trade; trade and the environment; labor markets and trade. New topics in international trade with empirical applications, such as trade models with heterogeneous firms, outsourcing and foreign investment. Empirical International Trade and Investment: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 8 weeks - 2 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Terms offered: Fall 2022, Fall 2017, Fall 2016
This course covers alternative models of production, resource and environmental risk management; family production function; adoption and diffusion; innovation and intellectual property rights; agricultural and environmental policies and their impact on production and the environment; water resources; pest control; biotechnology; and optimal control over space and time. Economics and Policy of Production, Technology and Risk in Agricultural and Natural Resources: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 201 and 202, or Economics 201A-201B, or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2023, Spring 2022
Production versus predatory government behavior, rent seeking, social waste, and their trade-offs with the provision of growth-promoting public goods. Three failure types are distinguished: market, government, and organizational. The roles of public versus special interests are modeled to determine degree and extent of organizational failures in collective group behavior. Alternative frameworks are used to evaluate various types of policy reform. Quantitative Policy Analysis: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 211 or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
Theoretical and empirical analyses of poverty and inequality, household and community behavior, and contract and institutions in the context of developing countries. Microeconomics of Development: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 4 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Terms offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Fall 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018
This course emphasizes the development and application of policy solutions to developing-world problems related to poverty, macroeconomic policy, and environmental sustainability. Methods of statistical, economic, and policy analysis are applied to a series of case studies. The course is designed to develop practical professional skills for application in the international arena. International Economic Development Policy: Read More [+]
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024
Presentation and criticism of ongoing research by faculty, staff and students. Not necessarily offered every semester. Rural Economic Development Workshop: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.
Terms offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022
Theory of renewable and nonrenewable natural resource use, with applications to forests, fisheries, energy, and climate change. Resources, growth, and sustainability. Economic theory of environmental policy. Externality; the Coasian critique; tax incidence and anomalies; indirect taxes; the double dividend; environmental standards; environmental regulation; impact of uncertainty on taxes and standards; mechanism design; monitoring, penalties, and regulatory strategy; emissions markets. Environmental and Resource Economics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Ph.D.-level economic theory or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Terms offered: Spring 2014, Spring 2012, Spring 2011
The economic concept of value; historical evolution of market and non-market valuation; revealed preference methods: single site demand, multi-site demand, corner solution models, and valuation of quality changes; averting behavior; the hedonic method; contingent valuation; other stated preference methods: ranking, choice, conjoint analysis; the value of life and safety; sampling and questionnaire design for valuation surveys. Non-market Valuation: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Ph.D.-level economic theory or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Terms offered: Spring 2018, Spring 2016, Fall 2013
This course studies methods of analysis and optimal control of dynamic systems, emphasizing applications in environmental and natural resource economics. Continuous-time deterministic models are studied using phase plane analysis, the calculus of variations, the Maximum Principle, and dynamic programming. Numerical methods are applied to discrete time stochastic and deterministic dynamic models. Dynamic Methods in Environmental and Resource Economics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Ph.D.-level economic theory or consent of instructor
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023
This course is designed to help prepare graduate students to conduct empirical research in energy and environmental economics. The course has two broad objectives. The first is to develop an in-depth understanding of specific empirical methods and research designs that are routinely used in the field of energy and environmental economics. The second is to familiarize students with some of the economic theories and institutions that are most relevant to empirical work in this area. Empirical Energy and Environmental Economics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: 212 and 213; or equivalent
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 3 hours of lecture per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Terms offered: Fall 2015
Advanced topics in environmental and resource economics. Topics vary and include the economics of land, water, fisheries, forestry, pesticides, endangered species, policy instruments for environmental policy, and empirical evaluations of environmental and resource policy. Advanced Topics in Environmental and Resource Economics: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Ph.D.-level economic theory and econometrics or consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit when topic changes.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of lecture and 1 hour of discussion per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024
Presentation and criticism of ongoing research by faculty, staff, and students. Not necessarily offered every semester. Natural Resource Economics Workshop: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 2 hours of seminar per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024
All properly qualified graduate students who wish to pursue a special field of study may do so if their proposed program of study is acceptable to the member here of the staff with whom they work. Special Study for Graduate Students: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-6 hours of independent study per week
Summer: 6 weeks - 1-6 hours of independent study per week 8 weeks - 1-6 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024
Individual training for graduate students in planning and performing research under the supervision of a faculty adviser, intended to provide academic credit for the experience obtained while holding a research assistantship. Professional Training in Research Methodology: Read More [+]
Terms offered: Spring 2025, Fall 2024, Spring 2024
Individual study in consultation with the major field adviser, intended to provide an opportunity for qualified students to prepare themselves for the various examinations required for candidates of the Ph.D. May not be used for unit or residence requirements for the doctoral degree. Individual Study for Doctoral Students: Read More [+]
Rules & Requirements
Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.
Hours & Format
Fall and/or spring: 15 weeks - 1-12 hours of independent study per week
Additional Details
Subject/Course Level: Agricultural and Resource Economics/Graduate examination preparation
Grading: Offered for satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade only.
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