A leader in the application of new institutional economics to agriculture, development, and policy analysis, the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Missouri is recognized for its innovative approach to graduate training in agricultural economics.
A Ph.D. or M.S. degree in agricultural economics prepares students for a rewarding career in academia, agricultural business, government or international agriculture. Students can study agribusiness management, contracting and strategy; collective action and cooperative theory; econometrics and price analysis; entrepreneurship; environmental and natural resource economics; food, biofuel and agricultural policy and regulation; international development; regional economics and rural development policy; science policy and innovation; sustainable agriculture and applied ethics. The MS program may be a step toward the Ph.D. but may also be used as a terminal program for those interested in careers in agribusiness, extension or government. Programs are flexible. All Ph.D. and most M.S. students become involved in research, but those whose career interests lie in other directions find the department willing to accommodate them.
Degrees Offered
Doctoral
On Campus
*This program is eligible for the STEM OPT Extension.
Admission Criteria
| Entrance Term | Application Deadline (For priority consideration for assistantships, fellowships and scholarships) |
| Fall | January 15 |
| Spring | September 1 |
Minimum Language Requirements
Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores
Required Application Materials
For the Graduate School
- Completed Graduate School online application
- Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application. Official transcripts are only required if accepted by the academic program.
- Official Results of English Proficiency Exams (International applicants only)
For the Agricultural and Applied Economics Program
- 3 letters of Recommendation
- Statement of Purpose
- GRE score report
Prerequisites for the Doctoral Degree
Before admission to the PhD program, a student should have completed at least one course each in intermediate microeconomics, intermediate macroeconomics, quantitative or mathematical economics, econometrics or regression analysis, statistics and differential calculus. A student should also have a master’s degree in economics, agricultural economics, or a related field. A student without a master’s degree will be admitted initially into the master’s program with the expectation that he or she complete the degree before continuing with doctoral studies.
Master's
On Campus
Admission Criteria
Current MU undergraduate students are eligible to apply to this program. To be considered for admission to the accelerated MS program in Agricultural and Applied Economics, a student must:
- Have completed at least 90 credit hours toward a bachelor’s degree.
- Have a 3.0 cumulative GPA or better
Required Application Materials
For the Graduate School
- Completed Graduate School online application
- Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application.
For the Agricultural and Applied Economics Program
- 1 letter of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
On Campus
Admission Criteria
| Entrance Term | Application Deadline (For priority consideration for assistantships, fellowships and scholarships) |
| Fall | January 15 |
| Spring | September 1 |
Minimum Language Requirements
Click here to view the minimum English language proficiency test scores
Required Application Materials
For the Graduate School
- Completed Graduate School online application
- Unofficial Transcripts- As part of the application submission process, all applicants are required to upload unofficial copies of all post-secondary transcripts to the online application. Official transcripts are only required if accepted by the academic program.
- Official Results of English Proficiency Exams (International applicants only)
For the Agricultural and Applied Economics Program
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
- GRE score report
Prerequisites for the Master Program
Before admission to the M.S. program, a student should have completed at least nine hours of agricultural economics or economics, a course in calculus and one in statistics.
Graduate Certificate
On Campus
Officially approved as:
Degree Dependent: Yes
Total Credit Hours: 12
Certificate description: The Society and Sustainability Program (SSP) is a unique interdisciplinary program that prepares students for careers with private and public organizations through advanced graduate level training and research. The certificate program is designed for students with undergraduate-graduate training in agriculture, biology, business administration, economics, engineering, fisheries and wildlife, forestry, geography, geology, sociology and related disciplines. Students who are in a graduate or professional program in their area of specialization take integrated courses and complete a thesis or dissertation that applies more than one discipline. The program is designed to enhance the student’s familiarity with disciplinary and interdisciplinary concepts and principles from the social and natural sciences and humanities.
Certificate web site:
https://dass.missouri.edu/graduate-studies/society-and-sustainability-graduate-certificate/
Interdisciplinary Degree
On Campus
Officially approved as:
Degree Dependent: Yes
Total Credit Hours: 12
Certificate description: The Society and Sustainability Program (SSP) is a unique interdisciplinary program that prepares students for careers with private and public organizations through advanced graduate level training and research. The certificate program is designed for students with undergraduate-graduate training in agriculture, biology, business administration, economics, engineering, fisheries and wildlife, forestry, geography, geology, sociology and related disciplines. Students who are in a graduate or professional program in their area of specialization take integrated courses and complete a thesis or dissertation that applies more than one discipline. The program is designed to enhance the student’s familiarity with disciplinary and interdisciplinary concepts and principles from the social and natural sciences and humanities.
Certificate web site:
https://dass.missouri.edu/graduate-studies/society-and-sustainability-graduate-certificate/