Major type

Undergraduate

Description

This major is a second major option for the Bachelor of Commerce (Liberal Studies) and is offered by the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources.

Agriculture is a major sector of the world economy. As much as 30 per cent of the aggregate value of goods and services consumed globally is food. However, food is only part of agriculture, which also includes the production, processing, wholesaling, retailing and trading of food and fibre, the provision of inputs (e.g. land, water, chemicals, research), and the fundamental issues of environmental and resource management. Agricultural economists are applied economists with an underlying quantitative focus. They analyse markets and the impacts of government policies, forecast trends and developments, and devise and evaluate alternative strategies and policies. The global nature of the agricultural market creates important international opportunities for agricultural economists.

Requirements for the major

Students intending to complete a major in Agricultural Economics must complete the following two prerequisite junior units of study (12 credit points):

• AGEC1101 Agricultural and Resource Systems
• AGEC1102 Agricultural Economics I

To obtain a major in Agricultural Economics, students must a minimum of 36 credit points in senior units of study, comprising:

1. Four compulsory units of study (24 credit points):
   • AGEC2101 Market and Price Analysis
   • AGEC2103 Production Economics
   • AGEC3102 Agricultural and Resource Policy
   • AGEC3103 Applied Optimisation
2. At least 12 credit points of elective units of study selected from the following:
   • AGEC4101 Agricultural Marketing Analysis
   • AGEC4102 Agricultural Development Economics
   • AGEC4103 International Agricultural Trade
   • AGEC4104 Agribusiness Analysis
   • AGEC4108 Quantitative Planning Methods
   • AGEC4109 Agricultural Finance and Risk
   • RSEC4131 Benefit-Cost Analysis *

Please Note. Units of study marked with an "*" will not be available for 2009 enrolments.

Availability of this major

This major is one of the secondary compulsory major options available for Bachelor of Commerce (Liberal Studies) students.

This major is also available to students enrolled in the following degrees (subject to number of credit points from other faculties restrictions and other course requirements):

• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Economics

Units of study in this major

The details of compulsory and elective units of study which are available for the current year can be found on the University's Unit of Study Handbook or from the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources website.

• Bachelor of Commerce (Liberal Studies) (FH019)