Graduate co-ordinator - Alfons J. Weersink (225 MacLachlan, Ext. 2776) (E-mail: aweersin@uoguelph.ca)
Graduate secretary - Audrey Donley (226 MacLachlan, Ext. 2771) (E-mail: audrey@agric.uoguelph.ca)
Francesco Braga DOTT. AGR. Catholic Univ. Milan, PhD Guelph - Associate Professor
William M. Braithwaite BA Western Ontario, MBA McMaster, CA - Professor
George L. Brinkman BS, EXM Washington State, PhD Michigan State - Professor
F. Harry Cummings BA Western Ontario, MA, PhD Clark - Associate Professor
Alan DeRoo BSc Saskatchewan, MBA McMaster - Associate Professor
Glenn C. Fox BSc (Agr), MSc Guelph, PhD Minnesota - Professor
Thomas F. Funk BS, MS, PhD Purdue - Professor
Ellen W. Goddard BSc (Agr), MSc Guelph, PhD LaTrobe - Associate Professor
Wayne H. Howard AB California State, MS Florida, PhD Texas A&M - Associate Professor
Larry J. Martin BS, MS Ohio State, PhD Illinois - Professor
Karl D. Meilke BS Washington State, PhD Minnesota - Professor
Wayne C. Pfeiffer BS, PhD Nebraska - Associate Professor
Truman P. Phillips BS (Eng) Stanford, PhD Newcastle - Professor
Kim S. Rollins BA Maine (Orono), PhD Wisconsin (Madison) - Assistant Professor
Rakhal C. Sarkar BSc, MSc Bangladesh, PhD Guelph - Assistant Professor
David H. Sparling BSc Queen's, MBA Wilfrid Laurier, PhD McMaster - Assistant Professor
D. Peter Stonehouse BSc (Agr), MSc Guelph, PhD Manitoba - Associate Professor
Francis Tapon LICENCE, DES Science Economiques Paris, MBA Columbia, MA, PhD Duke - Associate Professor
Calum G. Turvey BS (Agr), MSc Guelph, PhD Purdue - Associate Professor
Erna van Duren BA Waterloo, MSc, PhD Guelph - Associate Professor
Alfons J. Weersink BSc Guelph, MSc Montana State, PhD Cornell
- Associate Professor
From the School of Hotel and Food Administration:
John Walsh BA Thames Polytechnic, MBA London, PhD Western Ontario - Associate Professor
Associated Graduate Faculty
Jack Clark BSA, MSA Toronto - Retired
J. Stephen Clark BA Guelph, MSc Saskatchewan, PhD North Carolina State - Associate Professor, Department of Economics & Business Management, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, Truro, Nova Scotia
Diane P. Dupont BA Carleton, MA Toronto, PhD British Columbia - Brock University
A.K. Enamul Haque BA, MA Chittagong (Bangladesh), MSc, PhD Guelph - Assistant Professor, University of Chittagong, Bangladesh
Douglas W. Hoffman BSA, MSA Guelph, PhD Waterloo - Retired
Elmer L. Menzie BSA, MSA British Columbia, PhD California (Berkeley) - Retired
Willem van Vuuren B Econ, M Econ Amsterdam, PhD California - Retired
Randall Wigle BA, MA Windsor, PhD Western Ontario - Wilfrid Laurier University
Special Graduate Faculty
Vincent R. Amanor-Boadu BSc Ibadan (Nigeria), MSc Ife (Nigeria), PhD Guelph - Associate Director of Research, George Morris Centre, University of Guelph
The aim of the MSc program is to develop in students a fundamental understanding of economic principles and their application in identifying and solving relevant problems in agriculture and related fields. The program also strives to develop appropriate analytical, methodological, and communication skills to enable students to analyze agriculture and resource problems effectively and explain their findings.
Admission Requirements
The minimum requirement is an honours baccalaureate with a minimum B- standing. All students entering the MSc program in agricultural economics will have already taken, or be expected to take at the initiation of the program, the following basic courses:
- Intermediate level micro- and macro-economic theory (Economics 231 and 241,
or equivalent).
- Calculus and matrix algebra with applications to economics (Economics 277, or
equivalent).
- Intermediate level statistics (Economics 374, or equivalent).
Degree Requirements
The MSc program consists of a set of core courses plus other courses of the student's choice in the areas of concentration and supporting fields. Graduate students are expected to select the courses they want to pursue before the beginning of their second semester. In addition to coursework requirements, the student must prepare a thesis on a topic approved by his/her advisory committee. With an appropriate undergraduate background, a student should be able to complete the MSc program with thesis in five or six full-time semesters (18 to 24 months).
The minimum coursework requirements (assuming all undergraduate background requirements have been met) are:
- microeconomic theory (3603710 or 3606000) and macroeconomic theory
(3604810 or 3606020);
- one graduate course in quantitative methods selected from 0206360, 3606050, or
2606060;
- two graduate courses in agricultural economics;
- one additional graduate course; and
- a seminar course (0206800).
Admission Requirements
Students entering the PhD program are expected to have satisfied the requirements, or their equivalents, of the department's MSc degree in agricultural economics (or will be required to make-up any deficiencies before admission to the PhD program). In cases where a student's master's degree is not equivalent to that offered by the department, the student will be initially accepted into the MSc program and then apply for transfer to the PhD program sometime during the first three semesters. Applications for transfer must be supported by the agricultural economics graduate studies committee and approved by the Board of Graduate Studies. The student does not have to complete all the requirements of the MSc before transferring to the PhD program, but must achieve high academic standing.
Degree Requirements
The student is expected to demonstrate competence in three major- fields of study (see below). Three graduate courses or their equivalents in each major field are normally recommended. Although a total of 11 courses in major and minor fields are a recommended minimum, students able to demonstrate a satisfactory level of competence in any of the chosen fields will have the course requirements adjusted accordingly.
Major Fields of Study
- 1. Economic Theory
- 3606000 Microeconomic Theory I
- 3606010 Microeconomic Theory II
- 3606020 Macroeconomic Theory I
- 3606040 Macroeconomic Theory II
- 3606010 Microeconomic Theory II
- 2. Production Economics
- 0206130 Financial Management
- 0206400 Advanced Topics in Production Economics
- 0206420 Production Economics: Theory With Applications
- 0206400 Advanced Topics in Production Economics
- 3. Agricultural Marketing
- 0206540 Advanced Price Analysis
- 0206570 Advanced Agricultural Marketing Analysis
- and one of:
- 3606700 Industrial and Market Organization OR
- 0206250 Futures and Options
- 0206570 Advanced Agricultural Marketing Analysis
- 4. Agricultural Policy and Trade
- 0206240 Agricultural Trade Policy
- 0206220 Agricultural Policy
- 3606300 International Trade Theory
- 0206220 Agricultural Policy
- 5. Resource Economics
- 0206610 Economics of Renewable Resources
- 3606800 Environmental Economics
- 0206320 Cost-Benefit Analysis
- 3606800 Environmental Economics
- 6. Labour Economics
- 3606600 Labour Economics
- 3606610 Topics in Labour Economics
- 3606610 Topics in Labour Economics
- 7. Econometrics
- 3606140 Econometrics I
- 3606160 Econometrics II
- 3606170 Topics in Econometrics
- 3606160 Econometrics II
Minor Area - Required Courses
- 1. Quantitative
- 3606140 Econometrics I
- 0206360 Mathematical Programming
- 0206360 Mathematical Programming
The required courses will prepare the student for the qualifying examinations which will focus on three fields: economic theory, and the two major fields of specialization selected by the student. The first phase of the qualifying exams covers economic theory. This exam would be written at the end of the first year, normally before the end of July. The second phase covers the two major fields of specialization and includes an oral defense of a thesis prospectus; this phase of the exam is normally taken during the sixth semester of the program. Upon satisfactory completion of the qualifying exams the student becomes a candidate for the PhD degree.
The Department of Agricultural Economics and Business participates in the MBA program in the field of agribusiness management. Those faculty members whose research and teaching expertise includes aspects of business administration offer core courses for MBA students. Please consult the Business Studies listing for a detailed description of the MBA program.
University School of Rural Planning and Development Shared MSc Program
Students wishing to pursue this option will typically have a degree in economics or agricultural economics and an interest in broadening their education to include an understanding of social, economic and biophysical phenomena. Students maintain their focus on agricultural economics as a discipline.
Students in the shared program address the general issues of planning and rural development in a North American or international context while maintaining their links with one of the major areas of focus in agricultural economics and business. Students are enrolled in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Business and are also admitted to the University School of Rural Planning and Development. The MSc degree granted is in agricultural economics and business and indicates a focus on rural planning and development issues.
The shared MSc program will be completed with a thesis and a minimum of seven courses or a major paper and a minimum of nine courses. In either case, the student's program includes a required set of three courses from the university school, one course from the Department of Economics, and a research methods course from either the Department of Agricultural Economics and Business or the university school.
The course requirements are as follows: 3603710, Advanced Microeconomics; 9506240, Planning and Development Theory; 9506280, Rural Planning Methods or 9506030, International Rural Development Planning: Principles and Practices; 9506300, Rural
Planning Synthesis, or 9506400, Synthesis: Seminar in Integrated Rural Development Planning; plus either 9506170, Philosophy and Methods in Rural Planning and Development Research, or 0206100, The Methodology of Economics. The student may choose from a list of electives to complete the course requirements. The student must include at least three courses in economics or agricultural economics in their program.
The student's advisory committee will include at least one member from each department. The committee must approve the program of courses and the thesis or major-paper research topic.
International Development Studies Collaborative MA/MSc Program
The Department of Agricultural Economics and Business participates in the MA/MSc program in Collaborative International Development Studies (CIDS). Professors Cummings, Howard, Pfeiffer, Phillips and Rollins are members of the International Development Studies Interdepartmental Group. These faculty members' research and teaching expertise includes aspects of international development studies; they may serve as advisers for MSc students. Please consult the Collaborative International Development Studies listing for a detailed description of the MA/MSc collaborative program including the special additional requirements for each of the participating departments.
MSc (Aquaculture) Interdepartmental Program
The Department of Agricultural Economics and Business participates in the master of science in aquaculture program. Professors Funk and Pfeiffer are members of the aquaculture interdepartmental group. These faculty members' research and teaching expertise includes aspects of aquaculture; they may serve as advisers for MSc (Aquaculture) students. Please consult the Aquaculture listing for a detailed description of the MSc (Aquaculture) interdepartmental program.
Resource and Environmental Economics PhD Program
The department shares with the Department of Economics a PhD program in resource and environmental economics. The normal basis for admission to this program is a recognized master's degree in economics or agricultural economics with high academic standing. All students must complete required coursework; pass qualifying examinations in three fields (economic theory, and two of the fields listed above); and submit and defend an acceptable thesis. This program is described in detail under Resource and Environmental Economics.
Rural Studies PhD Program
The Department of Agricultural Economics and Business participates in the PhD program in rural studies in the field of sustainable rural communities. Those faculty members whose research and teaching expertise includes aspects of rural studies may serve as advisers for PhD students. Please consult the Rural Studies listing for a detailed description of the PhD program.
- 0206130 Financial Management (0.5) F
- A review of capital and investment theory, and the application of analytical
models to determine optimal investment patterns for agribusiness and farm firms.
- 0206360 Mathematical Programming (0.5) F
- A study of the algebra, assumptions and economic logic of important optimizing
techniques and their application to problems in quantitative economics.
- 0206400 Advanced Topics in Production Economics (0.5) S
- The application of economic theory and various contemporary tools of economic
analysis in solving production problems in the agricultural sector of the economy.
- 0206420 Production Economics: Theory with Applications (0.5) F
- An integrated treatment of the neoclassical theory of the firm including static
models, duality, risk-responses of competitive firms and the theory of investment demand. The
properties and interpretation of certain functional forms will be discussed. Selected empirical
examples are studied to illustrate application to the food and renewable resource sectors.
- 0206430 Case Studies in Farm Management (0.5) F
- Identification of problems and opportunities on selected representative farms; use
of selected management tools for diagnostic analysis and planning; evaluation of relevant
management strategies based on the concept of management as a continuous decision-making
process.
Agricultural Marketing
- 0206250 Futures and Options (0.5) S
- The theory and application of futures, options and other derivative securities for
marketing, risk management, and investment purposes. Emphasis is placed on application of the
instruments to real business situations, and on the development and implementation of trading
strategies designed to meet the precise needs of specific business clients.
- 0206540 Advanced Price Analysis (0.5) W
- The application of microeconomic theory to agricultural commodity modelling,
with emphasis on the specification, estimation and interpretation of supply, demand and market
equilibrium models.
- 0206570 Advanced Agricultural Marketing Analysis (0.5) S
- A study of agricultural and food marketing problems with particular emphasis on
the application of economic theory and research methods to selected empirical problems.
Agricultural Policy and Trade
- 0206220 Agricultural Policy (0.5) W
- A critical analysis of contemporary issues in the agricultural policy of affluent
economies, with emphasis on Canadian policies.
- 0206240 Agricultural Trade Policy (0.5) F
- An examination of conceptual and empirical problems, policies, and institutional
arrangements in international trade of agricultural products.
- 0206600 Agriculture in Economic Development (0.5) F
- The course is concerned with the role of agriculture as a source of food, fibre and
employment in developing countries. The interaction between agriculture and other sectors of the
economy and other countries is also examined.
Resource and Environmental Economics
- 0206320 Cost Benefit Analysis (0.5) W
- A presentation of the theory and methods used in cost benefit analysis. The course
will examine selected case studies; and it will include a discussion of both renewable and
non-renewable resources.
- 0206610 Economics of Renewable Resources (0.5) F
- This course is concerned with the optimal use of renewable resources, i.e.,
resources that exhibit growth or regeneration over a cycle. Models of dynamic allocation are
discussed and the role of government in altering the market allocation is considered.
- 0206630 Regional Economic Models (0.5) W
- Theories and research in regional economics stressing regional development,
socio-economic accounting, analysis of structure and growth, economic base and multiplier
models.
- 0206690 Program Evaluation (0.5) W
- An advanced seminar dealing with the theory and practice of program evaluation
focusing on public sector programs in agriculture and rural development, international and
domestic case studies.
- 0206700 Advanced Resource Economics (0.5) W
- Seminar on the literature, current research, and methods of analysis in natural
resource economics.
Agribusiness Management
- 0206050 Management Communications (0.5) F
- Examination of the theory, function, and practice of managerial communications
with particular emphasis on developing communication strategies and skills.
- 0206070 Quantitative Methods for Decision Making (0.5) W
- The objective of the course is to provide business students with an understanding
and working knowledge of analytical techniques in statistics and mathematical programming
used to commonly solve management problems. The emphasis is on the application and
interpretation of quantitative methods rather than on the theoretical background.
- 0206080 Information Systems in Agribusiness (0.5) S
- A study of the role, the components and the management of information systems
in agribusiness organizations. An examination of the role of the Internet in internal and external
information exchange is incorporated into the topics covered.
- 0206090 Small Business Taxation (0.5) F
- An introduction to the Income Tax Act with special reference to small businesses.
Emphasis will be placed on solving tax problems and tax planning.
- 0206110 Marketing Research (0.5) W
- A study of marketing research analysis in agribusiness firms, with emphasis on
the marketing research function and the application of quantitative problem solving
techniques.
- 0206120 Marketing Management (0.5) F
- A study of marketing decision-making in agribusiness firms, with emphasis on the
formulation of strategic marketing plans.
- 0206140 Business Policy for the Agrifood Industry (0.5) F
- Allows students to develop strategic leadership, development and management
skills for the international agrifood industry. Case studies, individual and group assignments are
used to examine strategy (its components), external analysis, internal analysis and other current
topics for selected segments of the international agrifood industry.
- 0206180 Financial Accounting (0.5) F
- A study of the use of financial information to facilitate effective decision making
in agribusiness firms.
- 0206200 Management Accounting (0.5) W
- The emphasis is on the managerial use of accounting information as it relates to
decisions on costing, pricing, operational control, etc.; and as it relates to management of
working capital, and short and intermediate term liabilities.
- 0206250 Futures and Options (0.5) S
- The theory and application of futures, options and other derivative securities for
marketing, risk management, and investment purposes. Emphasis is placed on application of the
instruments to real business situations, and on the development and implementation of trading
strategies designed to meet the precise needs of specific business clients.
- 0206410 Operations Management (0.5) S
- Overview of the management problems involved in planning, operating and
controlling the systems used in operations, with emphasis on farm and agribusiness
applications.
- 0206750 Problems in Agricultural Business I (0.5) S, F,W
- Management project leading to a referenced technical report on some aspect of
agricultural economics or agricultural business.
- 0206760 Problems in Agricultural Business II (0.5) S, F,W
- Management project leading to a referenced technical report on some aspect of
agricultural economics or agricultural business. Completion of this course will require a formal
presentation on the project to faculty and students.
General
- 0206100 The Methodology of Economics (0.5) W
- Alternative views on the methodology of economics are reviewed and assessed.
The process of problem identification in the development of a research project proposal is
investigated.
- 0206720 Readings in Agricultural Economics (0.5) S, F, W
- A reading course on selected topics of special interest. May be offered to
individual students or to groups of students in any semester.
- 0206800 Seminar in Agricultural Economics (0.0)
- Students in the MSc and PhD programs must present a department seminar on a
topic of the student's choice in agricultural economics. For MSc students the seminar must be
presented by the completion of their fourth semester in the program.
Economic Theory The following core courses in economic theory are offered by the Department of Economics:
3603710 Advanced Microeconomics (0.5)
3604710 Advanced Topics in Microeconomics (0.5)
3604810 Advanced Macroeconomic Theory (0.5)
3606000 Microeconomic Theory I (0.5)
3606020 Macroeconomic Theory I (0.5)
Quantitative Methods The following are the core courses in quantitative methods:
0206360 Mathematical Programming (0.5)
3606050 Introduction to Econometric Methods (0.5)
3606140 Econometrics I (0.5)
