Agricultural and applied economics (AAE) majors learn about the principles of economics and how to apply them to real-world problems and public policy debates. This training equips students to analyze the economic factors impacting a wide range of issues, including environmental challenges and sustainability, energy and climate change, globalization and trade, business economics and finance, global poverty and hunger, community and regional economic development, biotechnology, and food systems.
A degree in agricultural and applied economics helps students prepare to work as environmental economists, environmental managers, agricultural economists, policy and business analysts, researchers, managers, consultants, and auditors with nonprofit organizations, government agencies, co-operatives, multinational firms, agribusiness companies, financial institutions, and the food or retailing industry. Students also go on to pursue graduate-level degrees in economics, public policy, business, or law.
Learn through hands-on, real-world experiences
Students are encouraged to apply their course learning to real life through research projects, independent studies, and internships with guidance from faculty and staff members. During their final year, majors complete a senior capstone course where they work closely with fellow students on a semester-long project and also hear from program alumni.
Build community and networks
Students get to know faculty and instructors through the courses they take, and they can build their networks by participating in student organizations and the department’s commodity trading challenge team.
Individuals selected for the Renk Scholarship Program, operated by the Renk Agribusiness Institute, receive mentorship and financial support, as well as internship and networking opportunities.
Customize a path of study
AAE students customize their academic experience to fit their career goals by selecting one of four concentrations within the major: environmental economics, development economics, managerial economics, or applied economics.
Make a strong start
A number of first-year seminar courses are available to help new students understand academic programs, access student services, and develop time management and study skills.
Gain a global perspective
Many AAE majors study abroad to gain an international perspective and prepare to participate in today's global economy. Students can explore studying abroad as an AAE major utilizing the AAE Major Advising Page. Students work with their advisor and the CALS study abroad office to identify appropriate programs.
How to Get in
| Requirements | Details |
|---|---|
| How to get in | No application required. All students who meet the requirements listed below are eligible to declare. For information on how to declare, visit Advising & Careers. |
| Courses required to get in | None |
| GPA requirements to get in | None |
| Credits required to get in | Must have fewer than 86 credits. |
| Other | Students who do not meet the requirements above or are not in good academic standing should schedule a meeting with CALS Dean on Call (https://go.wisc.edu/g85h79) to discuss exceptions. |
Prospective UW-Madison Students
All prospective UW–Madison students must apply through the Office of Admissions and Recruitment.
Students interested in this major should select it as the first choice major on their UW–Madison application. Admitted students who enroll at UW-Madison and attend Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR) with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences have the option to declare this major at SOAR.
University Requirements
All undergraduate students must complete both the following Core General Education (Core GenEd) and University Degree and Quality of Work requirements. The requirements below apply to students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution is Summer 2026 or later.
Students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution occurred before Summer 2026 should refer to the archived Guide for the requirements that apply to them.
Core General Education (Core GenEd) Requirements
| Civics & Perspectives | 3 credits of Civics & Perspectives coursework. |
| Communication & Literacy | 6 credits of Communication & Literacy coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. For more information see this tiny url: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingenglishplacement |
| Humanities & Arts | 6 credits of Humanities & Arts coursework. |
| Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning | 6 credits of Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. For more information see this tiny url: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingmathplacement |
| Natural Science & Wellness | Complete both:
|
| Social & Behavioral Science | 3 credits of Social & Behavioral Science coursework. |
| Total Credits | 30 credits. |
For more information see the policy.
University Degree and Quality of Work Requirements
All undergraduate degree recipients must complete the following minimum requirements. Requirements for some programs will exceed these requirements; see program requirements for additional information.
| Total Degree | 120 degree credits. |
| Residency | Complete 30 credits in residence. A course is considered “in residence” if it is taken when in undergraduate degree-seeking status and:
|
| Quality of Work | Achieve at least the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, and/or academic program. |
| Math | Demonstrate minimal mathematics competence by: |
| English Language | If required to take the UW-Madison English as a Second Language Assessment Test (MSN-ESLAT), demonstrate minimal English language competence by:
|
| Language | Complete one:
|
| Major Declaration | Declare and complete the requirements for at least one major. |
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Requirements
CALS Graduation Requirements
| Cumulative Credits |
|
| Quality of Work | Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000 to remain in good standing and be eligible for graduation. |
| Residency | Students must complete 30 degree credits in residence at UW–Madison after earning 86 credits toward their undergraduate degree. |
In addition to the university's general requirements, all undergraduate students in CALS must satisfy a set of college and major requirements. Courses may not double count within university requirements, CALS college requirements, or major requirements. A course may count toward university requirements and a college and/or a major requirement; similarly, a course counted toward college requirements may also be used to satisfy a university and/or a major requirement.
CALS College Requirements
| CALS First-Year Seminar | 1 credit. See the full list of eligible courses below or use this link: https://go.wisc.edu/calsfirstyearseminars |
| Ethnic Studies | 3 credits with the Ethnic Studies designation. |
| Communication A | Complete either:
|
| Quantitative Reasoning A | Complete either:
|
| Introductory Chemistry | Complete one: |
| CALS International Comparisons | 3 credits. See the full list of eligible courses below or use this link: https://go.wisc.edu/calsinternationalcomparisons |
| Communication B | 1 course with the Communication B designation. |
| Quantitative Reasoning B | 1 course with the Quantitative Reasoning B designation. |
| Biological Science | 5 credits with the Biological Science designation. |
| Additional Science | 3 credits with the Biological, Physical, or Natural Science designations. |
| Science Breadth | 3 credits with the Biological, Physical, Natural, or Social Science designations. |
| Humanities | 6 credits with the Humanities or Literature designation. |
| Social Sciences | 3 credits with the Social Sciences designation. |
| Capstone Learning Experience | Each major articulates the required capstone learning experience. |
CALS First-Year Seminars
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| AN SCI 135 | Grand Challenges and Career Opportunities in Animal and Dairy Sciences | 1 |
| BIOCHEM 100 | Biochemistry First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| COUN PSY 125 | The Wisconsin Experience Seminar | 1 |
| F&W ECOL 101 | Orientation to Wildlife Ecology | 1 |
| F&W ECOL 105 | Environment, Pollutants, and You | 3 |
| GENETICS 155 | Freshman Seminar in Genetics | 1 |
| INTEGSCI 100 | Exploring Biology | 2 |
| INTEGSCI 140 | Exploring Service in STEM | 1 |
| INTER-AG 155 | Issues in Agriculture, Environment, and Life Sciences | 1 |
| LSC 155 | First-Year Seminar in Science Communication | 1 |
| MICROBIO 150 | Microbiomes and Microbiology - First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| PLANTSCI/AGROECOL 100 | First-Year Seminar in Agroecology and Plant Science | 1 |
| PL PATH 155 | Food Frontlines: Security, Sustainability, and Survival | 1 |
| SOIL SCI 155 | First-year Seminar in Soil and Environmental Sciences | 1 |
| Learning Community/Student Group Courses | ||
| The following learning community/student group courses are approved as CALS First-Year Seminars. | ||
| COUN PSY 117 | PEOPLE First Year Seminar | 1 |
| INTEGSCI 110 | BioHouse Seminar: Biology for the 21st Century | 1 |
| INTER-AG 117 | GreenHouse Roots Seminar | 1 |
| INTER-AG 140 | CALS QuickStart: Foundations | 1 |
| INTER-AG 175 | WISE Seminar | 1 |
CALS International Comparisons
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The 3 credit requirement may be fulfilled as either a stand-alone 3 credit course or as a set of courses as listed below. | ||
| A A E/ENVIR ST 244 | The Environment and the Global Economy | 4 |
| A A E 319 | The International Agricultural Economy | 3 |
| A A E/NUTR SCI 350 | World Hunger and Malnutrition | 3 |
| A A E 352 | Global Health: Economics, Natural Systems, and Policy (approved for enrollments Summer 2021 and later) | 4 |
| A A E/INTL ST 373 | Globalization, Poverty and Development | 3 |
| A A E/INTL ST 374 | The Growth and Development of Nations in the Global Economy | 3 |
| A A E/ECON 473 | Economic Growth and Development in Southeast Asia | 3 |
| A A E/ECON 474 | Economic Problems of Developing Areas | 3 |
| A A E/ECON/INTL BUS 462 | Latin American Economic Development | 3 |
| A A E/ECON 477 | Agricultural and Economic Development in Africa | 3 |
| AGROECOL 377 | Global Food Production and Health | 3 |
| AN SCI/DY SCI 370 | Livestock Production and Health in Agricultural Development | 3 |
| ASIAN/HISTORY/POLI SCI 255 | Introduction to East Asian Civilizations (approved for enrollments Summer 2021 and later) | 3-4 |
| C&E SOC/SOC 341 | Labor in Global Food Systems (approved for enrollments Summer 2020 and later) | 3 |
| C&E SOC/ENVIR ST/SOC 540 | Sociology of International Development, Environment, and Sustainability | 3 |
| CSCS 500 | Global Health and Communities: From Research to Praxis | 3 |
| DY SCI 471 | Food Production Systems and Sustainability | 3 |
| ENTOM/ENVIR ST 201 | Insects and Human Culture-a Survey Course in Entomology | 3 |
| ENTOM/ENVIR ST 205 | Our Planet, Our Health (approved for enrollments Fall 2026 and later) | 3 |
| ENTOM/ZOOLOGY 371 | Medical Entomology: Biology of Vector and Vector-borne Diseases | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/ENVIR ST 100 | Forests of the World (approved for enrollments Summer 2020 and later) | 3 |
| F&W ECOL/ENVIR ST/ZOOLOGY 360 | Extinction of Species | 3 |
| LSC 251 | Science, Media and Society (approved for enrollments Summer 2020 and later) | 3 |
| PL PATH/BOTANY 123 | Plants, Parasites, and People | 3 |
| PL PATH 311 | Global Food Security | 3 |
| PLANTSCI 370 | World Vegetable Crops | 3 |
| The following study abroad courses fulfill the CALS International Comparisons requirement. Only the specific course numbers and titles listed, including Topics titles (in parentheses), are approved to meet the CALS International Comparisons requirement. | ||
| BIOCHEM 307 | Study Abroad: Introduction to Biological Sciences Research in Japan (approved for enrollments Fall 2026 and later) | 3 |
| NUTR SCI/INTER-AG 421 | Global Health Field Experience (UW Mobile Clinics and Health Care in Uganda) | 3 |
| INTER-AG 321 & INTER-AG/NUTR SCI 421 | Study Abroad Pre-Departure Seminar and Global Health Field Experience (UW Global Health Community Health and Asset-Based Community Development in Sri Lanka) | 3 |
| INTER-AG 321 & INTER-AG/NUTR SCI 421 | Study Abroad Pre-Departure Seminar and Global Health Field Experience (UW Agriculture, Health and Nutrition in Uganda) | 3 |
| INTER-AG/NUTR SCI 421 | Global Health Field Experience (UW Health, Education and Tanzanian Culture) | 3 |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics and Statistics | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 5-10 | |
| Calculus and Analytic Geometry 1 | ||
| Survey of Calculus 1 and Survey of Calculus 2 | ||
| Survey of Calculus 1 and Quantitative Tools for Economics | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 3-6 | |
| Statistics: Measurement in Economics | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Methods | ||
| Introduction to Statistics for Science and Engineering | ||
| Introductory Applied Statistics for the Life Sciences | ||
| Basic Statistics for Psychology | ||
| Statistics for Sociologists I | ||
| Business Analytics I and Business Analytics II | ||
| Core | ||
| A A E 101 | Introduction to Agricultural and Applied Economics | 4 |
| or ECON 101 | Principles of Microeconomics | |
| ECON 102 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3-4 |
| ECON 301 | Intermediate Microeconomic Theory | 4 |
| or ECON 311 | Intermediate Microeconomic Theory - Advanced Treatment | |
| ECON 302 | Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory | 4 |
| or ECON 312 | Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory - Advanced Treatment | |
| Focus Areas within the Major | ||
| Students must complete 15 credits of A A E courses numbered 200 or above. Students may choose to focus their studies on one of the following four areas (see course lists below). A A E 299 and A A E 500 may not count toward this requirement. Up to 3 credits of A A E 399 can count toward this requirement. | 15 | |
Applied Economics | ||
Development Economics | ||
Environmental Economics | ||
Managerial Economics | ||
| Capstone | ||
| A A E 500 | Senior Capstone Experience | 3 |
| Total Credits | 41-50 | |
Focus Areas within the Major
Applied Economics
Any A A E course numbered 200 or above.
Development Economics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A A E 319 | The International Agricultural Economy | 3 |
| A A E/NUTR SCI 350 | World Hunger and Malnutrition | 3 |
| A A E/INTL ST 373 | Globalization, Poverty and Development | 3 |
| A A E/INTL ST 374 | The Growth and Development of Nations in the Global Economy | 3 |
| A A E/ECON/INTL BUS 462 | Latin American Economic Development | 3 |
| A A E/ECON 473 | Economic Growth and Development in Southeast Asia | 3 |
| A A E/ECON 474 | Economic Problems of Developing Areas | 3 |
| A A E/ECON 477 | Agricultural and Economic Development in Africa | 3 |
Environmental Economics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A A E/ENVIR ST 244 | The Environment and the Global Economy | 4 |
| A A E 246 | Climate Change Economics and Policy | 3 |
| A A E/ECON/ENVIR ST 343 | Environmental Economics | 4 |
| A A E 352 | Global Health: Economics, Natural Systems, and Policy | 4 |
| A A E/ECON 371 | Energy, Resources and Economics | 3 |
| A A E/ECON/F&W ECOL 531 | Natural Resource Economics | 3 |
| A A E/ECON/ENVIR ST/URB R PL 671 | Energy Economics | 3 |
Managerial Economics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| A A E 320 | Agricultural Systems Management | 3 |
| A A E 322 | Commodity Markets | 4 |
| A A E 323 | Cooperatives and Alternative Forms of Enterprise Ownership | 3 |
| A A E 335 | Introduction to Data Analysis using Spreadsheets | 2 |
| A A E 419 | Agricultural Finance | 3 |
| A A E/ECON 421 | Economic Decision Analysis | 4 |
Learning Outcomes
- Use economic concepts to think critically about real-world problems and public policy debates.
- Use appropriate quantitative techniques to analyze economic problems.
- Communicate results effectively orally and in writing.
Four-Year Plan
This sample four-year plan is a tool to assist students and their advisors. Students should use their DARS report, the degree planner, Guide requirements, and the course search & enroll tools to make their own four-year plan based on their placement scores, credit for transferred courses and approved examinations, and individual interests. Students must complete at least 120 total credits to be eligible for graduation.
Note: To meet the math requirement you may need three or four semesters of math coursework.
Sample Agricultural & Applied Economics Four-Year Plan
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| General Education | 3 | MATH 221 or 213 | 3-5 |
| MATH 114 or 211 | 4-5 | A A E 101 | 4 |
| First-Year Seminar | 1 | General Education | 3 |
| CALS Biological Science | 3 | Electives | 3 |
| Electives | 3 | ||
| 14-15 | 13-15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ECON 102 | 3 | ECON 301 | 4 |
| Statistics Course | 3 | AAE Focus Area Course | 3 |
| CALS Biological Science | 3 | General Education | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | Electives | 5 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| AAE Focus Area Course | 3 | AAE Focus Area Course | 3 |
| ECON 302 | 4 | CALS International Comparisons | 3 |
| General Education | 3 | CHEM 108 or 103 | 4-5 |
| Electives | 6 | Electives | 4 |
| 16 | 14-15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| AAE Focus Area Course | 3 | AAE Focus Area Course | 3 |
| General Education | 3 | A A E 500 | 3 |
| Electives | 9 | Electives | 9 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 117-121 | |||
Advising and Careers
Advising
Each agricultural and applied economics major receives one-on-one guidance from an academic advisor. The advisor helps students plan their coursework and identify opportunities to get involved in department and campus activities.
The agricultural and applied economics department offers a course in career development for majors. Students in the course hear from department alumni and others about their career paths and receive resume writing assistance and interviewing tips.
Career opportunities
Agricultural and applied economics graduates have great careers as environmental economists, agricultural economists, policy and business analysts, consultants, researchers, managers, traders, and auditors for nonprofit organizations, government agencies, multinational firms, financial institutions, agribusiness companies, co-operatives, and food companies. Graduates also pursue advanced degrees in economics, public policy, business, or law.
AAE graduates are recognized for their skills in data analysis, business and economic forecasting, strategic planning, management, and leadership.
Visit aae.wisc.edu/undergrad/advising for detailed advising information!
Wisconsin Experience
Student organizations
There are numerous campus student organizations of interest to agricultural and applied economics majors, including Economics Student Association, Global Economic Forum – Madison, and Women in Economics. A full list of organizations is available on the Wisconsin Involvement Network website.
Competitive teams
Each year, a team of UW–Madison students participates in the annual CME Group University Trading Challenge, a simulated trading competition that pits hundreds of college teams from around the world against one another as they make real-time commodity trading decisions.
Research experience
AAE students are able to gain social science research experience on both domestic and international topics by working with a faculty member on a specific project.
Internships
Agricultural and applied economics majors can complete an internship during their undergraduate years.
Global engagement
Many agricultural and applied economics students choose to study abroad. These programs help students gain an international perspective and prepare them to participate in today's global economy. Students can find more information on the CALS study abroad advising page. Study abroad options include programs that focus on sustainable development, food systems, agriculture, health and wellness, and community and economic development.
AAE students who select development economics as their area of concentration take numerous international-focused courses that address the global economy, population, and poverty.
Community engagement and volunteering
AAE students have numerous volunteer activities to choose from. The Morgridge Center for Public Service provides resources to help students connect with volunteer opportunities based on their interests and goals.
Resources and Scholarships
Students in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences receive more than $1.25 million in scholarships annually. The Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics awards an average of $60,000 in scholarships per year to students in the department. Students apply for CALS and AAE scholarships through a single application in the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH). Learn more about college scholarships.
AAE majors are also eligible to apply for the Renk Scholarship Program, which can provide scholarships for up to three years. The program, offered through the Renk Agribusiness Institute, is designed for high-performing students with an interest in agriculture or agribusiness. In addition to financial support, Renk Scholars are provided networking opportunities that help them find internships and other experiences to build their business and leadership skills.