Why study at UC Berkeley's Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics?

The University of California at Berkeley offers the premier graduate program in Agricultural and Resource Economics.* Our objective is a graduate program that produces outstanding researchers in applied economics and policy, specializing in problems of agriculture, natural resources, and the environment, both domestically and internationally.

Why should you apply?

First, we provide first-rate training in agricultural and resource economics. Our faculty members are committed to teaching and working closely with our students. Our classes are small, and we have a strong tradition of one-on-one mentoring of each student. Our teaching stresses state-of-the-arts theory coupled with knowledge of the key policy issues of the day. Faculty of the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics have a distinguished research and public service record, have received numerous research awards, and have played a major advisory role in shaping agricultural and resource policies throughout the world.

Second, students can take advantage of outstanding courses throughout U.C. Berkeley. They can gain interdisciplinary training by taking courses in other departments within the College of Natural Resources, the Economics Department, the Haas Business School, and many others. Some students get a masters degree in Berkeley's top-ranked Statistics Department while they work on their PhD in our department.

The American Council on Education ranked U.C. Berkeley as offering the number one graduate program: "the best balanced distinguished university in the nation." U.C. Berkeley was also ranked as the nation's top university by Washington Monthly, and the Times ranked Berkeley as the world's second best university. Berkeley has had 21 Nobel laureates, including the 2000, 2001, and 2009 Nobel Prize in Economics.

Third, we have the best placement history of any agricultural and resource economics department in the world. Our graduates work in most of the top agricultural economics departments around the world. In addition, we have placed students in economics departments, policy programs, business schools, and other academic programs. Others of our graduates work in government agencies, nonprofit agencies, and business.

We are proud of the more than 500 from our Ph.D. program. Our distinguished alumni include:

• John Kenneth Galbraith
• Alain de Janvry
• Richard Just
• Oscar Burt
• Jeff LaFrance
• Zvi Griliches
• Gardner Brown
• Dennis Aigner
• Yair Mundlak.

For a more complete list of graduates, see ARE Alumni.

Fourth, much of the research work in the Department is done collaboratively with students. Many papers are co-authored by students and faculty every year.

Fifth, there's no finer place to live than the San Francisco Bay Area. Berkeley itself offers the lively background of one of America's most culturally diverse and politically adventurous small cities. The natural environment is spectacular, and the climate is attractive year-round. Local recreational opportunities abound, and many national parks are only hours away.

Because we can admit only a small number of candidates to the Ph.D. degree program, we are able to select some of the most outstanding minds from around the world. We strive for a talented and diverse class to enhance the student body on which the excellence of our teaching and research programs very much depends.

Thanks to resources the Department derives from the Agricultural Experiment Station, the Giannini Foundation, the University of California, endowed chairs, and ongoing research grants, we are able to provide fellowship support or Research Assistant appointments to most of our students. Please examine our web site to learn more about the structure of our graduate program, our faculty, and ongoing research activities.

Brian Wright
Chair
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

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* See the ARE Department ranked first in the 2010 National Research Council Rankings by Department at http://www.berkeley.edu/about/nrc-rank.shtml or the Berkeley Press Release at http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/2010/09/28/nrc-rankings/ or you may also access the original report at http://www.nap.edu/rdp/.