Applied Economics

The Applied Economics major is designed to give you a solid foundation in economics and how it is applied in the real world to improve people’s lives. You will develop strong critical thinking skills, data analysis proficiency, and the ability to communicate your ideas in writing.

You’ll have plenty of flexibility and enough free electives to complete a minor that complements and strengthens your Applied Economics major. Minors like Sustainability Studies and International Agriculture will give you a deep understanding of areas where economics can be fruitfully applied to identify, analyze, and solve pressing problems.

With a solid foundation in economic thinking, good quantitative skills, and demonstrated ability to think critically and communicate effectively, Applied Economics graduates are attractive both to employers and to graduate and professional schools.

Graduates of this major have gone onto companies such as—Cargill, CHS Inc, Amazon, Thomson Reuters, U.S. Bank, SuperValu.

Tracks

• Applied Economics & Policy: In this track, students learn how economic reasoning and research methods can guide public policy by revealing important tradeoffs in the availability and distribution of the food we eat, fiber that clothes us, and waters and lands that sustain us. 
• Development & Trade: This track trains students in the application of modern economic theory to problems in international trade, growth, and development. Topics include macroeconomic and microeconomic aspects of development and the economics of growth, the global trade flows of goods, services, and factors of production.
• Economics of Entrepreneurship: This track helps students on their journey to become entrepreneurs interested in starting a new business or helping organizations to develop new business opportunities. Students will explore and practice the decisions and methods entrepreneurs use when creating and launching a new product or service concept that can create new supply and demand in a chosen marketplace.
• Food Systems: This track teaches students how to apply economic reasoning and research methods to analyzing the production, processing, marketing, distribution, and consumption of food, becoming equipped to understand and address the complex challenges and opportunities facing our food systems. Electives for this track allow for a tailored experience for each student's interests.
• Natural Resource & Environmental Sustainability: This track focuses on how economic tools can be used to understand, value, and manage the natural systems that underpin society. Students learn to analyze environmental tradeoffs, evaluate conservation and climate policies, and design solutions that support both ecological and economic resilience.  
• Or you build your own track! Enroll in at least 12 credits of APEC 3xxx, APEC 4xxx and/or APEC 5xxx to build an Individualized Track that strengthens your understanding of how economic reasoning and research methods can be used to solve a wide range of production, development, environmental, food system, marketing, natural resource, or trade problems.

Also offered: Applied Economics Minor