MSc Programme in Agricultural Economics
The programme is organised in accordance with Danish Ministerial Order no. 338 of 6 May 2004 on bachelor and master’s programmes (candidatus) at universities. The programme is offered under the Natural Science Study Board.
Graduation from the programme confers the degree Master of Science in Agricultural Economics. In Danish: cand.oecon.agro. (candidatus/candidata oeconomiae agronomiae).
Chapter 1. The programme’s objective and competence profile
1. 1 The programme’s objective
On the basis of economic, mathematical, legal and statistical methodologies, the objective of the MSc programme in Agricultural Economics is to provide students with a more comprehensive and specialised understanding of problems of a general economic character within the main areas of the programme – international economics and development and agribusiness and food economics – than the BSc degree required for admission can provide.
1.2 The programme’s general profile
The MSc programme in Agricultural Economics has two general specialisation options. These are:
- International Economics and Development which cover international trade, trade policy, public economics, economic growth, development economics and policy and economics of globalisation
- Agribusiness and Food Economics which cover production economics, industrial economics and organisation, technology assessment, innovation and management as well as public economics and policy.
If students wish to combine the two specialisation options above, courses can be chosen from both programmes and from other courses offered within economics.
The MSc programme in Agricultural Economics is a social scientific programme concerning the central theoretical foundation within general economics and economic policy, food economics and policy as well as law and the application of law within the international area and within areas of food economics. Throughout the programme, focus is on the more complex problems of the subject areas
1.3 The programme’s employment prospects
Depending on the specialisation profile, MSc graduates in Agricultural Economics are likely to find employment within a number of work areas:
- Interest groups and industrial organisations
- Consultancy and analytical work in a broad sense (banks, financial institutions, large companies and agricultural organisations etc.)
- Public administration (the EU, government, regions and municipalities)
- Research (private and public)
- Teaching (universities and business schools etc.)
- Management of own company
The MSc programme in Agricultural Economics provides graduates with the opportunity of working in both Denmark and abroad.
1.4. The programme’s competence profile
During the master’s programme, the student will acquire the following knowledge, skills and competences within the joint disciplines and within one of the two main focus areas. International Economics and Development or Agribusiness and Food Economics. In addition, the student will acquire a number of individual qualifications through elective courses and writing an MSc thesis.
After completion of the programme, a person holding an MSc in Agricultual Economics should be able to:
1.4.1. Knowledge
- Identify economic agents and the background for their actions, including the significance of national and international institutions, such as the EU, OECD, World Bank and WTO
- Describe the interaction between economic agents and their significance for national and international economics
- Define the consequences – both national and international – of legislation and regulation for society and business
- Reformulate theories, principles and research findings to independently form hypotheses and theories
1.4.2. Skills
- Formulate and solve complex economic problems, taking a theoretical, statistical and descriptive approach
- Utilise and evaluate economic methodologies and evaluate the fundamental assumptions behind economic theories as well as their possibilities and limitations
- Employ economic reasoning to explain economic claims
- Communicate own specialist knowledge clearly and precisely – in writing and orally – to various target groups
- Select and use appropriate information and communications technology in all relevant work processes
1.4.3 Competences
- Handle work and development situations that are complex, unpredictable and require new solution models in the private and public-sector labour markets – both nationally and internationally
- Transfer and apply theories and principles to new but related economic issues
- Implement and carry out monodisciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration and assume professional responsibility
- Participate in research at a high level of excellence
- Assume independent responsibility for and evaluate own professional development and specialisation with a view to life-long learning
- Work with others, discuss solutions and achieve consensus
1.5 After completion of the specialisation in International Economics and Development, the MSc graduate should also be able to:
1.5.1 Knowledge
-
Demonstrate general knowledge of economic issues, theories and methodologies within trade and international collaboration, international economic policy and development economics
-
Identify economic and statistical methods within the above disciplines
1.5.2. Skills
- Pose questions that are characteristic of international economics and produce several possible answers
- Analyse international economics issues, including trade policy and development economics issues and the associated decision-making processes
1.5.3 Competences
- Take a critical and visionary approach to economic methodologies and the fundamental assumptions behind international economics
- Assess the possibilities and limitations of the theories and their potential applications in various work-related contexts
1.6 After completion of the specialisation in Agribusiness and Food Economics, the MSc graduate should also be able to:
1.6.1 Knowledge
1.6.2. Skills
- Pose questions that are characteristic of agribusiness and food economics and produce several possible answers
- Analyse issues within agribusiness and food economics and the associated decision-making processes
1.6.3 Competences
- Take a critical and visionary approach to methodologies within food economics and the fundamental assumptions behind agribusiness
- Assess the possibilities and limitations of the theories and their potential applications in various work-related contexts
These competences should be useful in the private and public sector – both nationally and internationally.
Chapter 2. Degree programme content
| |
Elective courses |
|
Thematic course(s), core courses and thesis |
* At least one of the thematic courses must be included in the programme
** Thematic course(s), core courses and the thesis must comprise at least 90 credits
2.1 Content
The programme is set at 120 credits. At least one of the following thematic courses must be included in the programme:
290035 Thematic Course: Trade and International Cooperation – 15 credits
290062 Thematic Course: Agribusiness Economics – 15 credits
The programme is completed with a 30- or 45-credit thesis. In connection with a thesis of 45 credits, experimental work must be included, i.e. collection of primary data.
In connection with a thesis of 30 credits, thematic courses and core courses must comprise at least 60 credits. In connection with a thesis of 45 credits, thematic courses and core courses must comprise at least 45 credits.
The courses below are core courses (specialisation programmes are only indicative):
International Economics and Development:
290036 Trade and International Cooperation* - 7.5 credits
290042 Applied Econometrics
290051 Agricultural and Food Policy – 7.5 credits
290054 Economic Growth and Development – 7.5 credits
290060 Regional Economics and Rural Development– 7.5 credits
290061 Studies in Development Economics – 7.5 credits
290067 Economics of Globalisation – 7.5 credits
* Credits cannot be earned for both this course and 290035 Thematic Course: Trade and International Cooperation
Agribusiness and Food Economics:
290042 Applied Econometrics – 7.5 credits
290049 Agribusiness Economics I – 7.5 credits*
290050 Agribusiness Economics II – 7.5 credits*
290052 Applied Microeconomic Analysis – 7.5 credits
290051 Agricultural and Food Policy – 7.5 credits
290064 Innovation, Strategy and Leadership – 7.5 credits
290063 Applied Production Analysis – 7.5 credits
290066 Technology Assessment – 7.5 credits
* Credits cannot be earned for both these courses and 290062 Thematic Course: Agribusiness Economics
Other courses:
270050 Consumer Economics and Policy – 7.5 credits
270085 The Food Industry: Structure and Economics – 7.5 credits
290009 Economic Theory of Environmental Policy – 7.5 credits
290015 EU-ret: Fødevare, miljø og jordbrug – 7.5 credits
290019 Forvaltningsret – 7.5 credits
290024 Natural Resource Economics – 7.5 credits
290031 Skatteret – 7.5 credits
290044 Economic Valuation Methods and Cost Benefit Analysis – 7.5 credits
290057 Miljø- og planlovgivning (natur & vand)- 7.5 credits
310043 Environmental Management in Europe - 15 credits
400017 Rådgivning – 7.5 credits
400025 Naturanvendelse i et sociologisk perspektiv - 7.5 credits
400036 Project Management – 7.5 credits
In addition to the above courses, elective economics courses from the MSc programme in Economics and Business Administration at CBS and the MSc programme in Economics at SAMF as well as advanced courses in economics, mathematics and statistics at LIFE, NAT and other universities may form part of the core courses.
Thematic courses, core courses and the thesis constitute the core subjects of the programme (90 credits). There are 30 credits for elective courses and other study activities.
The programme may include trainee service.
Chapter 3. Admission requirements and admission
3.1 Admission requirements
The BSc programme in Agricultural Economics at the Faculty of Life Sciences qualifies graduates directly for admission to the MSc programme in Agricultural Economics. Students holding a BSc degree from other study directions at the Faculty of Life Sciences and students holding a BSc degree from another university or from institutions of higher education may be admitted in accordance with the requirements below:
- BSc graduates in Natural Resources with the core module course in Environmental Economics may be admitted if the courses Investment and Finance as well as Economic Policy have been passed
BSc graduates in Economics or Business from other Danish or foreign universities are admitted directly.
Admission on the basis of other BSc degrees requires separate approval from the Study Board.
3.2 Admission
Students are admitted twice a year, and studies begin on 1 September and 1 February.
Transfer Agreement 2007-2008
Students admitted before 1 September 2008 who haven't passed one of the thematic courses 290033 Produktionsøkonomisk Modellering og Analyse, 290035 Trade and International Cooperation or 290034 Applied Environmental and Natural Resource Economics must pass one of the thematic courses 290062 Agribusiness Economics or 290035 Trade and International Cooperation.
Furthermore, for the above mentioned students it's optional to write the thesis in either Danish or English.
Else-Marie Baun, - siden er sidst opdateret d.8. januar 2009