Environmental, Agricultural and Resource Economics

About the major

A major in Environmental, Agricultural and Resource Economics provides a valuable understanding of commodity markets and the economics of agricultural production, and an analytical understanding of a wide range of natural resource management problems. The major also provides valuable quantitative skills for students interested in economic management of natural resource systems, environmental economics, fishery and forestry economics, ecosystems, conservation and sustainability. Focus is placed on the development of analytical, quantitative and communication skills. It adds considerably to the prospects of students interested in working as applied economists in commodities and futures markets, merchant and trading banks, government departments, large agribusiness firms, corporate farms, and in the media as economic journalists.


The Environmental, Agricultural and Resource Economics major requires skills in both microeconomics and macroeconomics. In the first semester of their degree, ECON1001 Introductory Microeconomics students will be introduced to the key tools that they will use throughout their major, including the concepts of scarcity, opportunity cost, marginal analysis, efficiency and market failure. Similarly, in the second semester of their degree, ECON1002 Introductory Macroeconomics students will learn the basic tools and concepts of macroeconomic analysis.


The tools of microeconomic analysis are further developed in ECOS2001 in the first semester of student’s second year. An introduction to models of consumer budgets, preferences and utility provide the foundation for the analysis of individual and market demand. AREC2005 Concepts in Enviro and Agricultural Economics presents specific issues relating to these environmental and agricultural markets

The third-year core unit ECOS3013 Environmental Economics emphasises the use of analytical skills and the application of them to specific topics and issues. Students will have the opportunity to complete an economics specific interdisciplinary unit as the culmination of their major.

Requirements for completion

The Environmental, Agricultural and Resource Economics major and minor requirements are listed in the Environmental, Agricultural and Resource Economics unit of study table.

Advanced Coursework

The Bachelor of Advanced Studies within the School of Economics provides students with a cohesive program in advanced studies in Economics. The advanced coursework units provide students with advanced theoretical knowledge and skillsets for analysing macroeconomic policy issues and practice in Australia and internationally. They equip students with an understanding of the fundamentals of modern models of corporate finance and governance. The project units will develop communication and research skills, and allow students to apply their knowledge to a real world or policy related problem, with the opportunity to collaborate with industry partners.

Requirements and units of study for advanced coursework can be found on the Environmental, Agricultural and Resource Economics advanced coursework units of study page.

Contact and further information

Website: School of Economics

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Example Pathways

Environmental, Agricultural and Resource Economics major pathway

Environmental, Agricultural and Resource Economics minor pathway

Double major pathway
Environmental, Agricultural and Resource Economics and Financial Economics