Master of Science in AED Economics

Our M.S. program prepares students for careers in research, academia, government, the private sector, or for continuation in a Ph.D. program at either Ohio State or another university. Students develop a strong grounding in economic and computational principles and specialize in a field area fitting the students professional needs and interests.

Our philosophy of combining research with campus and outreach instruction means students directly apply principles learned. Students interact with academic, industry, and government leaders in their field of interest so they are well prepared for a career of inquiry, problem solving, and leadership.

Basics of the Program

In the first year, students take five Agricultural, Environmental, & Development Economics core courses, as well as electives. The core courses develop the essential toolkit of an applied economist.

Beginning in the first year and continuing in the second year, students develop a field of specialization to suit their professional needs and interests. Students also conduct research in the form of either a thesis (the thesis option) or a shorter research paper (the non-thesis option).

Students who perform exceptionally well at the M.S. level may request the opportunity to enter the AED Economics Ph.D. program.  Interested students are encouraged to take additional mathematics and statistics courses in preparation for the demands of the Ph.D.

Requirements of the M.S. program in AED Economics are described below:

1. The AED Economics core
2. The fields of specialization
3. The thesis and non-thesis options

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The Quarter System

Ohio State University utilizes the quarter system. The academic year consists of four quarters:

1. Fall quarter - late September to early December,
2. Winter quarter - early January to mid-March,
3. Spring quarter - late March to early June, and
4. Summer quarter - late June to late August.

A full-load of courses in any given quarter is 12-15 credit hours. So, for a typical school year, students take Fall, Winter, and Spring courses and accumulate 36-45 credit hours.

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Program Requirements

The AED Economics M.S. program requires a minimum of 45 hours of graduate credit hours.  The program has three components: courses in the AED Economics core, courses in the student's chosen field of specialization, and a thesis (if the student pursues the thesis option) or research paper (if the student pursues the non-thesis option).

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Course Requirements

The M.S. curriculum is divided into three major portions, each described below:

1. AED Economics Core
2. Field of Specialization
3. Research

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The table below shows the typical AED Economics M.S. course sequence. Below the table is an explanation of the sequence of courses.

Elective offerings in AED Economics (varies from year to year)

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AED Economics Core Sequence (20 hours)

In the AED Economics Core, students acquire a toolkit of applied economics and quantitative methods and learn to apply them to topics of their interest. Students are exposed to a variety of tools and techniques used throughout applied economics and within fields of specialization. The core courses are completed in the first year as preparation for subsequent field and research work.

• AED Economics 701 Applied Data Analysis
• AED Economics 702 Computational Economics
• AED Economics 711 Production and Consumption
• AED Economics 712 Finance and Risk Management
• AED Economics 713 Public Policy and Market Regulation

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Fields of Specialization (14 hours)

Students take a minimum of 14 hours in their chosen field beginning in the first year and typically continuing into the second year.  The field is chosen by the student in conjunction with his/her advisor, who provides guidance in selecting courses suited to the student's field interest.  The department has three broad fields: agricultural economics, development economics, and environmental economics.  Students can choose one of these three fields or they can "build" a cross-cutting field.  Examples of cross-cutting fields include:

• International Trade
• Spatial Economics
• Experimental Economics
• Consumption and Marketing Economics
• Financial Economics and Risk Management
• Agribusiness Management and Finance

Other fields can be designed, including fields outside of AED Economics, according to the student's interests.

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Thesis Research and Applied Research Option

M.S. students may elect either of two research options. The thesis option requires the student to enroll in AEDE 800, Research Methods, and to write a thesis will taking eight credit hours of AEDE 999, Thesis Research. The student works closely with his/her advisor to complete the thesis and must takes an oral examination over the thesis work.

The non-thesis option requires the student to write a research paper, typically much shorter than a thesis. The student must still complete the required 45 credit hours of coursework but AEDE 800 is not required nor are the eight credit hours of AEDE 999. Prior to graduation, students must complete a two-hour oral examination covering the research paper and the student's chosen field of specialization.

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Need more explanation?

Read our fields of specialization page for more information on electives. For more information on courses offered, life in Columbus, and other aspects of the program, please see our application information pages.

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