2025-2026 University of Wyoming Catalog
Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics
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206 Agriculture Building, (307) 766-2386
FAX: (307) 766-5544
Web site: www.uwyo.edu/agecon
E-mail: ag-econ@uwyo.edu
Department Head: Benjamin S. Rashford
Professors:
CHRISTOPHER T. BASTIAN, B.S. University of Wyoming 1987; M.S. 1990; Ph.D. Colorado State University 2004; Professor of Agricultural Economics 2017, 2005.
ROGER COUPAL, B.S. Utah State University 1978; M.S. University of Arizona 1985; Ph.D. Washington State University 1997; Professor of Agricultural Economics 2015, 1997.
DON MCLEOD, B.S. St. John’s College 1982; M.S. Oregon State University 1987; Ph.D. 1994; Professor of Agricultural Economics 2015, 1995.
L. STEVEN SMUTKO, B.S. Colorado State University 1978; M.C.R.P. North Dakota State University 1982; Ph.D. Auburn 1995; Spicer Chair of Collaborative Practice, Professor of Agricultural Economics 2009.
Associate Professors:
KELLY A. GROGAN, B.S. Dartmouth 2005; M.S. University of California, Davis 2006; Ph.D. 2010. Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics 2024.
KRISTIANA M. HANSEN, B.A. Reed College 1996; M.S. University of California, Davis 2003; Ph.D. 2008; Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics 2016, 2009.
VARDGES HOVHANNISYAN, B.S. Armenian State University of Economics 1999; M.S. Armenian State Agrarian University 2002; Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Madison 2012; Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics 2021, 2015.
CHIAN A. JONES-RITTEN, B.S. Northern Arizona University 2003; M.A. Colorado State University 2007; Ph.D. 2011; Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics 2013.
BENJAMIN S. RASHFORD, B.S. University of Wyoming 1999; M.S. 2001; Ph.D. Oregon State University 2006; Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics 2012, 2006.
Assistant Professor:
ANDERS VAN SANDT, B.A. Linfield University 2012; Ph.D. Colorado State University 2018; Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics 2020.
Academic Professionals:
BRIDGER M. FEUZ, B.S. University of Wyoming 1994; M.S. 1996; Senior Extension Educator 2012, 2004.
THOMAS FOULKE, B.A. University of Montana 1985; M.S. University of Wyoming 1992; Senior Research Scientist 2010, 1998.
LETICIA HENDERSON, B.S. New Mexico State University 2010; M.S. 2012; Assistant Lecturer 2019.
JOHN HEWLETT, B.S. Montana State University 1985; M.S. Oregon State University 1987; Senior Exension Educator 1987.
BRIAN LEE, B.S. University of Wyoming 2010; M.S. 2012; Research Scientist 2012.
AMY NAGLER, B.A. University of Wyoming 1996; M.S. 2002; Assistant Research Scientist 2016.
HANNAH WILSON, B.S. Southern Arkansas University 2021; M.S. University of Wyoming 2023.
ROBERT ZIEGLER, B.S. University of Wyoming 2018; M.S. University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2020.
Temporary Lecturer:
Professors Emeritus:
Nicole Ballenger, Edward Bradley, Larry J. Held, James J. Jacobs, Dale Menkhaus, Carl Olson, Alan C. Schroeder, David T. Taylor, Glen D. Whipple
Our Department
The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics offers three concentrations within the agricultural business bachelor of science degree program. They are agribusiness management, farm and ranch management, and livestock business management. All three concentrations focus on the development of critical thinking, applied knowledge, and communication skills for students interested in agricultural operations, small rural businesses, community economics, financial institutions, and agricultural and natural resources development.
Agribusiness Management Concentration
This curriculum is for students preparing for careers in the agribusiness field. Applied agricultural economics courses are supplemented with marketing, management, finance and other courses from the College of Business and production-oriented courses from other departments in the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences, and Natural Resources.
https://acalogcatalog.uwyo.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=13&poid=13373
Farm and Ranch Management Concentration
This curriculum is for students intending to become operators or professional managers of farms, ranches, or feedlots. It is also well suited for students interested in the field of agricultural finance, or a minor in biological fields, such as agroecology or range management. In this concentration, courses in farm and ranch management, finance, and marketing are supplemented by courses in plant sciences, range management, veterinary sciences, and animal science.
https://acalogcatalog.uwyo.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=13&poid=13374
Livestock Business Management Concentration
This curriculum is for students intending to work in any sector of the livestock and meat industry, ranging from input suppliers, to ranches, feedlots, meat packing companies, marketing and sales agents, futures/commodities exchange groups, policy makers, and international trade organizations. In this option, courses in farm and ranch management, agricultural finance, and marketing are supplemented with courses in animal science, biology, range management, food science, and data analysis. Students may pursue a minor in Animal Science as part of this option. Students will gain a broad understanding of both the business and science of the livestock industry.
https://acalogcatalog.uwyo.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=13&poid=13773
Environment and Natural Resources
Students interested in natural resource or environmental issues or careers may complete any of the four options within agricultural business offered by the department with an environment and natural resource emphasis. Inquiries about environment and natural resource concentrations in agricultural business should be directed to the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.
Minor Programs
The department also offers five minor programs. These five minors are to give students majoring in other undergraduate curricula in the university a concentration of work in any of the specialized undergraduate curricula offered by the department or in general agricultural economics. Each minor requires 27 hours in prescribed course work including 6 hours in supporting agriculture. Students need to plan their course work to meet course prerequisites.
- Agricultural Business Minor
- Farm and Ranch Management Minor
- International Agriculture Minor
- Natural Resource Economics Minor
- General Agricultural Economics Minor
Graduate Study
The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics offers graduate work leading to the Master of Science degree. Students may choose among major options in the areas of agricultural and applied economics and agricultural business. The Plan A agricultural economics major emphasizes research with any of the following focus areas: production economics and management, marketing and market analysis, resource and environmental economics, international agriculture, and economic and rural development.
The Plan B agricultural business option offers advanced skills to students who desire professional careers in the business sector. Students in the agricultural business option may concentrate their coursework and writing in management, marketing, or finance. Dual majors in water resources, and environment and natural resources are also offered.
Finally, the Department offers a graduate minor in applied economics. This program is for currently enrolled graduate students in other disciplines seeking a foundation in economics as well as their major discipline.
Information on applying to the grad program can be found here: https://www.uwyo.edu/agecon/what-we-do/students/agec-graduate-applications.html
GRADUATE ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
Application packets for Fall entry are due no later than February 1st.
NOTE: We DO NOT pre-screen applicants–you MUST fill out and official UW online application.
All students:
- Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. If bachelor’s is earned from a non-accredited or international institution, a transcript evaluation will be completed by the University of Wyoming to determine if the degree is acceptable.
- Evidence of successful completion (with a grade of B or better) of at least one course (or equivalent) in each of the following areas:
- Intermediate microeconomics: an advanced course on the theory of demand, production, cost and supply, and the theory of the firm, including market price under monopoly, monopolistic competition and oligopoly. Course should include the use of calculus.
- Statistics or Econometrics: a course that covers central ideas and fundamental techniques of statistical inference, including probability models and inferences for means and variances, simple and multiple regression models, problems of estimation, and hypothesis and diagnostic testing.
- Calculus: a course that covers plane analytic geometry, differentiation, applications of the derivative, differential equations, integration and applications.
- A cumulative minimum grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0) on previous coursework.
International students, in addition to the requirements above, must also meet the following requirements:
- A minimum Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 540 on the written exam or 76 on the internet-based exam; UW will also accept a minimum score of 6.0 on the IETLS exam or certification of level 112 ELS completion in lieu of the TOEFL requirements.
- Unofficial TOEFL/IELTS scores are acceptable for consideration by the Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics
- Official TOEFL/IELTS scores will be required by the Office of Admissions if the department recommends you for admission.
- More information on English language proficiciency requirements is available here: https://www.uwyo.edu/admissions/international/english-alternatives.html
APPLICATION PROCESS:
University Requirements
All students:
- Official transcripts will be required by the Office of Admissions if you are recommended with a Departmental Approval.
International students, in addition to the requirements above, must also meet the following requirements:
- A minimum Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of 540 on the written exam or 76 on the internet-based exam; UW will also accept a minimum score of 6.0 on the IETLS exam or certification of level 112 ELS completion in lieu of the TOEFL requirements.
- Unofficial TOEFL/IELTS scores are acceptable for consideration by the Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics
- Official TOEFL/IELTS scores will be required after acceptance by the Office of Admissions
- (More information is available here: https://www.uwyo.edu/admissions/international/english-alternatives.html)
Department Requirements
You will need to upload several documents through your official UW online application portal to be considered for department approval; We cannot accept materials via email or shared drive.
Applicants will be admitted under specific faculty research projects. We strive to post available projects by November 1 each year, but more projects may be added between November 1 and February 1 if additional funding is obtained - so we recommend watching this website and not finalizing your application too early. Please do not contact individual faculty members about their projects. The graduate admissions committee will review all applications and then forward top applicants to each faculty member. Please focus your application materials to the project(s) you are most interested in as described below.
The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics requires:
- Resume or CV
- Statement of Purpose
- Your statement of purpose should include which faculty projects you would prefer to work on (maximum of 2) and why you believe you are a good fit for both the overall program and the specific faculty project(s).
- In your statement of interest, please identify which course(s) on your transcript correspond to each of the above prerequisites. You are welcome to provide more information on your educational path and provide context for any transcript irregularities.
- Academic or Professional References
- Submit the names and contact information for three academic or professional references. Your references will then be contacted directly by UW Admissions, and will be directed to submit the recommendation online. We do not accept references via email.
- Transcript(s)
- Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended are required for consideration to our program; official transcripts will be required by the Office of Admissions if you are recommended for admission.
GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS
All applicants to the program are considered for a graduate assistantship; there is not a separate application procedure, and as such, the deadline is the same as your application to the program, February 1st. You are NOT REQUIRED to reach out to individual faculty members during the application process, but priority consideration is given to applicants who have researched the department’s objectives and possess research interests that match available funded projects. An extended overview of the benefits and duties of Graduate Assistantships can be found on the website for the Office of Graduate Education: https://www.uwyo.edu/uwgrad/enrolled-students/financial-assistance/assistantship-funding.html
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