Doctoral studies in the Food and Resource Economics Department are designed to provide the student with rigorous training in economics, statistics, and applied quantitative techniques. Each student is exposed to core theory and to fields of specialization with the purpose to prepare the candidate for a professional career in education, government, private business, international agencies, administration, and others.

The Food and Resource Economics Department participates in programs with the Center for Latin American Studies, African Studies, Center for Tropical Agriculture, College of Natural Resources and Environment, UF Law School and the Florida Sea Grant Program.

Applications are accepted for fall term only. Prior to entry into the program, students must have a master's degree with a solid quantitative background that includes passing grades in microeconomics, macroeconomics, analytic geometry and calculus, statistics, and econometrics. Some students who meet general admission criteria but do not have the prerequisite background may be admitted first at the Master’s level to complete a year’s worth of coursework to prepare them for admission to the Ph.D. program. Upon successful completion of those courses, the student will be considered for admission to the Ph.D. program.

A minimum of 90 credit hours of courses and research must be completed in the Ph.D. program. Usually for those students entering with an M.S. in a related field from another institution, a credit of 30 hours may be given. The curriculum consists of core courses in Mathematics and Statistics, Static and Dynamic Optimization Models, Econometric Methods, Microeconomics Theory, Macroeconomic Theory and approved electives. Beyond the course work, the student must participate in a workshop and present a dissertation proposal to the faculty and graduate committee.

PhD Core:
Fall semester
ECO 7115 Microeconomic Theory I (Slutsky)
AEB 6533 Static/Dynamic Optimization Models (Spreen)
*AEB 6921 Microeconomic Theory Workshop I (Lee)
AEB 6933 Math Stats in FRE

Spring semester
AEB 6108 Microeconomic Theory II (Taylor)
AEB 6240 Macroeconomic Theory in Open Economies II (Seale)
AEB 6571 Econometric Methods I (Emerson)
*AEB 6934 Microeconomic Theory Workshop II (Lee)

Before admission to candidacy, each candidate must demonstrate a mastery of the core area and complete and independent research program leading to the dissertation. The student must demonstrate the ability to conceptualize problems in agricultural economics and to appropriately apply quantitative techniques to solve these problems. An understanding of economic theory and quantitative methods requires a good foundation in mathematics and statistics. Students are exposed to a historical and philosophical treatment of agricultural economics. In addition, advanced competence must be developed in two fields of specialization.

*Students on assistantship will take the workshop courses in fall/spring but register for them in summer so as not to go over the maximum number of hours covered by their fee waiver (9) in fall/spring.
**Students are encouraged to complete electives and field courses by the end of the second year so the third year can be focused on research.