Environmental and Resource Economics Major (B.S.)

https://colsa.unh.edu/natural-resources-environment/program/bs/environmental-resource-economics-major

Beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year, the Environmental and Resources Economics B.S. is pausing admissions to the program. Current students will continue to have access to the same high-quality education and resources until they graduate.

Students majoring in environmental and resource economics will normally concentrate in one of the following three areas: environmental and natural resource economics, agricultural economics, or community economics. One capstone experience, supervised and approved within the major, is required of all seniors. The capstone explores areas of interest based on the integration of prior learning. The capstone requirement may be satisfied through a course, created work or product, or some form of experiential learning (e.g., honors thesis, mentored research project, and other special student activity). In addition, students must satisfy University requirements, including those for the Discovery Program. 

Upon graduation, students are qualified for a wide variety of opportunities. Private business, public institutions, and government agencies currently have a strong demand for specialists trained in natural resource development; land and water use policy; natural resource and small business management; agricultural, fisheries, and forestry marketing; and community development. In many cases, students may wish to improve their qualifications by pursuing more specialized graduate studies.

Degree Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement: 128 credits
Minimum Residency Requirement: 32 credits must be taken at UNH
Minimum GPA: 2.0 required for conferral*
Core Curriculum Required: Discovery & Writing Program Requirements
Foreign Language Requirement: No

All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.

 Major Requirements

Required Courses
Principles of Economics
ECON 401Principles of Economics (Macro)4
EREC 411Environmental and Resource Economics Perspectives (or equivalent) 14
Intermediate Economic Theory
ECON 611Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis 24
or ECON 635 Money and Banking
ECON 605Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis 24
Quantitative Methods
EREC 525Statistical Methods and Applications4
MATH 420Finite Mathematics4
or MATH 424B Calculus for Life Sciences
Select at least five of the following, two must be 700 level:
EREC 572Introduction to Natural Resource Economics4
EREC 606Land Economics Perspectives: Uses, Policies, and Taxes4
EREC 627Community Economics4
EREC 708Environmental Economics4
EREC 756Rural and Regional Economic Development4
ANSC 548Agricultural Business Management4
NR 602Natural Resources and Environmental Policy4
NR 643Economics of Forestry4
CEP 614Fundamentals of Planning4
CEP 777Topics in Community Planning4
TOUR 767Social Impact Assessment4
Capstone
The capstone can be fulfilled through a course (EREC 708, EREC 756, CEP 777 or TOUR 767), or a created work or product, or some form of experiential learning (e.g., honors theses, mentored research projects in EREC #795, EREC #799, and other special student activities)
1

EREC 411 cannot be used to satisfy the Social Science Discovery program requirement; or taken for credit if credit has been earned for ECON 402.

2

Offered once a semester by Economics Department

Students are encouraged to consider adding additional courses from the economics (ECON) department to their program.  In special cases, students may petition to have these courses, particularly ECON 706 and ECON 726, substitute for major EREC electives.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCredits
ENGL 401 First-Year Writing 4
Discovery: Biological Science with Lab 1 4
ECON 401 Principles of Economics (Macro) 4
NR 435 Contemporary Conservation Issues and Environmental Awareness (or another Discovery ETS course) 4
 Credits16
Spring
EREC 411 Environmental and Resource Economics Perspectives 4
Discovery: Physical Science 4
MATH 420 Finite Mathematics 4
Discovery: Fine and Performing Arts 4
 Credits16
Second Year
Fall
EREC 525 Statistical Methods and Applications 4
Elective or Course for Minor 4
Discovery: Historical Perspectives 4
Discovery: World Cultures 4
 Credits16
Spring
EREC 572 Introduction to Natural Resource Economics 4
Discovery: Humanities 4
Elective or Course for Minor 4
Elective or Course for Minor 4
 Credits16
Third Year
Fall
EREC 627
Community Economics
or Fundamentals of Planning
or Natural Resources and Environmental Policy
4
ECON 611
Intermediate Macroeconomic Analysis
or Money and Banking
4
Elective or Course for Minor 4
Elective or Course for Minor 4
 Credits16
Spring
ECON 605 Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis 4
EREC 606
Land Economics Perspectives: Uses, Policies, and Taxes
or Economics of Forestry
4
Elective or Course for Minor 4
Elective or Course for Minor 4
 Credits16
Fourth Year
Fall
EREC 708
Environmental Economics 2
or Social Impact Assessment
4
Elective or Course for Minor 4
Elective or Course for Minor 4
Elective or Course for Minor 4
 Credits16
Spring
EREC 756
Rural and Regional Economic Development 3
or Topics in Community Planning
4
Elective or Course for Minor 4
Elective or Course for Minor 4
Elective or Course for Minor 4
 Credits16
 Total Credits128
1

At least one Discovery course must have the Inquiry attribute.

2

The student must take at least 2 Writing-Intensive courses in addition to any of the following: EREC 708 Environmental Economics, EREC 756 Rural and Regional Economic Development, and CEP 777 Topics in Community Planning.

3

EREC 708 Environmental Economics, EREC 756 Rural and Regional Economic Development, EREC 760 , CEP 777 Topics in Community Planning, and TOUR 767 Social Impact Assessment satisfy the capstone requirement for the major.

Students will be able to:

  • Evaluate the validity and limitations of scientific theories and claims about the environment;
  • Describe and explain the interactions among physical, biological, chemical, and human components of the environment;
  • Formulate tests of environmental questions, acquire data, and apply scientific methods to answer these questions;
  • Characterize the various social drivers of environmental problems and the relative attributes of policy instrument solutions;
  • Locate, evaluate, and summarize print and electronic media including peer-reviewed literature and then compose and deliver informed positions on current environmental problems to the public.
  • Describe and explain the ecological and societal value of biodiversity, sustainability, and environmental stewardship;
  • Master mathematical, statistical, and study design knowledge and skills, and use state-of-the-art software, hardware, and analytical techniques relevant to environmental conservation and sustainability:
  • Use principles of ecology, economics, sustainability, and policy science to solve real-world environmental problems;
  • Communicate effectively to peers within the environmental community and with audiences outside of the discipline.