MSc Programme in Agricultural Economics

The programme is organised in accordance with Danish Ministerial Order no. 814 of 29 June 2010 on bachelor and master’s programmes (candidatus) at universities (the ministerial order of the study programmes). The programme is offered under the Natural Science Study Board.

Graduation from the programme confers the degree Master of Science (MSc) in Agricultural Economics. In Danish: cand.oecon.agro. (candidatus/candidata oeconomiae agronomiae).

 

Chapter 1. The programme’s objective and competence profile

1. 1 The programme’s objective

 

On the basis of economic, mathematical, legal and statistical methodologies, the objective of the MSc programme in Agricultural Economics is to provide students with a more comprehensive and specialised understanding of problems of a general economic character within the main areas of the programme – international economics and development and agribusiness and food economics – than the BSc degree required for admission can provide.

 

1.2 The programme’s general profile

 

The MSc programme in Agricultural Economics has two general specialisation options. These are:

• International Economics and Development which cover international trade, trade policy, public economics, economic growth, development economics and policy and economics of globalisation
• Agribusiness and Food Economics which cover production economics, industrial economics and organisation, technology assessment, innovation and management as well as public economics and policy.

If students wish to combine the two specialisation options above, courses can be chosen from both programmes and from other courses offered within economics.

 

The MSc programme in Agricultural Economics is a social scientific programme concerning the central theoretical foundation within general economics and economic policy, food economics and policy as well as law and the application of law within the international area and within areas of food economics. Throughout the programme, focus is on the more complex problems of the subject areas

 

1.3 The programme’s employment prospects

 

Depending on the specialisation profile, MSc graduates in Agricultural Economics are likely to find employment within a number of work areas:

• Interest groups and industrial organisations
• Consultancy and analytical work in a broad sense (banks, financial institutions, large companies and agricultural organisations etc.)
• Public administration (the EU, government, regions and municipalities)
• Research (private and public)
• Teaching (universities and business schools etc.)
• Management of own company

The MSc programme in Agricultural Economics provides graduates with the opportunity of working in both Denmark and abroad.

 

1.4 The programme’s competence profile

During the master’s programme, the student will acquire the following knowledge, skills and competences within the joint disciplines and within one of the two main focus areas. International Economics and Development or Agribusiness and Food Economics. In addition, the student will acquire a number of individual qualifications through elective courses and writing an MSc thesis.

 

After completion of the programme, a person holding an MSc in Agricultual Economics should be able to:

 

• Identify economic agents and the background for their actions, including the significance of national and international institutions, such as the EU, OECD, World Bank and WTO
• Describe the interaction between economic agents and their significance for national and international economics
• Define the consequences – both national and international – of legislation and regulation for society and business
• Reformulate theories, principles and research findings to independently form hypotheses and theories

1.4.2 Skills

• Formulate and solve complex economic problems, taking a theoretical, statistical and descriptive approach
• Utilise and evaluate economic methodologies and evaluate the fundamental assumptions behind economic theories as well as their possibilities and limitations
• Employ economic reasoning to explain economic claims
• Communicate own specialist knowledge clearly and precisely – in writing and orally – to various target groups
• Select and use appropriate information and communications technology in all relevant work processes

1.4.3 Competences

• Handle work and development situations that are complex, unpredictable and require new solution models in the private and public-sector labour markets – both nationally and internationally
• Transfer and apply theories and principles to new but related economic issues
• Implement and carry out monodisciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration and assume professional responsibility
• Participate in research at a high level of excellence
• Assume independent responsibility for and evaluate own professional development and specialisation with a view to life-long learning
• Work with others, discuss solutions and achieve consensus

 

1.5 After completion of the specialisation in International Economics and Development, the MSc graduate should also be able to:

 

1.5.1 Knowledge

• Demonstrate general knowledge of economic issues, theories and methodologies within trade and international collaboration, international economic policy and development economics
• Identify economic and statistical methods within the above disciplines

1.5.2 Skills

• Pose questions that are characteristic of international economics and produce several possible answers
• Analyse international economics issues, including trade policy and development economics issues and the associated decision-making processes

1.5.3 Competences

• Take a critical and visionary approach to economic methodologies and the fundamental assumptions behind international economics
• Assess the possibilities and limitations of the theories and their potential applications in various work-related contexts

1.6 After completion of the specialisation in Agribusiness and Food Economics, the MSc graduate should also be able to:

 

1.6.1 Knowledge

• Demonstrate general knowledge on economic issues, theories and methodologies within agribusiness, regulation and production economics
• Identify economic and statistical methods within the above disciplines

1.6.2 Skills

• Pose questions that are characteristic of agribusiness and food economics and produce several possible answers
• Analyse issues within agribusiness and food economics and the associated decision-making processes

1.6.3 Competences

• Take a critical and visionary approach to methodologies within food economics and the fundamental assumptions behind agribusiness
• Assess the possibilities and limitations of the theories and their potential applications in various work-related contexts

These competences should be useful in the private and public sector – both nationally and internationally.

 

 

Chapter 2. Degree programme content  

2.1 Content

The programme is set at 120 credits. There are two specialisations - Specialisation in International Economics and Development and Specialisation in Agribusiness and Food Economics. Each specialisation consists of two compulsory courses (22.5 credits) and a group of core courses belonging to the specialisation. From this group of core courses belonging to the specialisation a minimum of 15 credits (two courses) must be selected. Core courses, compulsory course and thesis must comprise at least 90 credits and the remaining credits in core courses can be selected from the group of core couses belonging to the specialisation or from the group of other core courses. 

 

The programme is completed with a 30- or 45-credit thesis. Thesis of 45 credits must have experimental caracter i.e. collection of primary data.
In connection with a thesis of 30 credits core courses must comprise at least 45 credits
In connection with a thesis of 45 credits core courses must comprise at least 30 credits

 

The programme may include 400040 Erhvervsprojekt/Project in Practice

 

 

2.1.1 Specialisation in International Economics and Development

 

Year 1	Block 1	Thematic Course: Trade and International Cooperation	Applied Econometrics
	Block 2
	Block 3
	Block 4

 

Year 2	Block 1
	Block 2
	Block 3	Thesis (30 or 45 credits)
	Block 4

 

 

	Compulsory courses and thesis
	Core courses (the suggested block placement of core courses above is not mandatory. The placement strictly depends on which core courses are chosen - see list below).
	Elective courses

 

The programme is set at 120 credits. The following courses are compulsory:
    290035     Thematic Course: Trade and International Cooperation – 15 credits 
    290068     Applied Econometrics - 7.5 credits

Core courses - Specialisation in International Economics and Development, at least 15 credits must be selected 

    290051     Agricultural and Food Policy – 7.5 credits
    290054     Economic Growth and Development – 7.5 credits 
    290061     Studies in Development Economics – 7.5 credits
    290067     The Economics of Globalization – 7.5 credits

 

Other core courses:  

    290049     Agribusiness Economics I – 7.5 credits

    290050     Agribusiness Economics II – 7.5 credits

    290052     Applied Microeconomic Analysis – 7.5 credits

    290064     Innovation, Strategy and Leadership – 7.5 credits

    290063     Applied Production Analysis – 7.5 credits

    290074     Technology Assessment – 7.5 credits

 

    270050     Consumer Economics and Policy – 7.5 credits

    270085     The Food Industry: Structure and Economics – 7.5 credits

    290009     Economic Theory of Environmental Policy – 7.5 credits

    290015     EU-ret: Fødevare, miljø og jordbrug – 7.5 credits

    290019     Forvaltningsret – 7.5 credits

    290024     Natural Resource Economics – 7.5 credits

    290071     Law, International Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility – 7.5 credits

    290044     Economic Valuation Methods and Cost-Benefit Analysis – 7.5 credits

    290057     Miljø- og planlovgivning - natur og vand - 7.5 credits

    310043     Environmental Management in Europe - 15 credits

    400017     Rådgivning – 7.5 credits 

    400039     Sociologiske metoder i biovidenskab - 7.5 credits

    400036     Project Management – 7.5 credits

 

In addition to the above courses, elective economics courses from the MSc programme in Economics and Business Administration at CBS and the MSc programme in Economics at SAMF as well as advanced courses in economics, mathematics and statistics at LIFE, SCIENCE and other universities may form part of the core courses.

 

Thematic courses, core courses and the thesis constitute the core subjects of the programme (90 credits). There are 30 credits for elective courses and other study activities.

 

 

2.1.2. Specialisation in Agribusiness and Food Economics

 

Year 1	Block 1	Thematic Course: Agribusiness Economics	Applied Econometrics
	Block 2
	Block 3
	Block 4

 

Year 2	Block 1
	Block 2
	Block 3	Thesis (30 or 45 credits)
	Block 4

 

 

	Compulsory courses and thesis
	Core courses (the suggested block placement of core courses above is not mandatory. The placement strictly depends on which core courses are chosen - see list below).
	Elective courses

 

The following course is compulsory:
    290062     Thematic Course: Agribusiness Economics – 15 credits 
    290068     Applied Econometrics – 7.5 credits

Core courses - Specialisation in Agribusiness and Food Economics, at least 15 credits must be selected:
    290052     Applied Microeconomic Analysis – 7.5 credits
    290051     Agricultural and Food Policy – 7.5 credits
    290064     Innovation, Strategy and Leadership – 7.5 credits
    290063     Applied Production Analysis – 7.5 credits
    290074     Technology Assessment – 7.5 credits

 

 Other core courses 

    290036     Trade and International Cooperation* - 7.5 credits

    290054     Economic Growth and Development – 7.5 credits 

    290061     Studies in Development Economics – 7.5 credits

    290067     The Economics of Globalization – 7.5 credits

 

    270050     Consumer Economics and Policy – 7.5 credits

    270085     The Food Industry: Structure and Economics – 7.5 credits

    290009     Economic Theory of Environmental Policy – 7.5 credits

    290015     EU-ret: Fødevare, miljø og jordbrug – 7.5 credits

    290019     Forvaltningsret – 7.5 credits

    290024     Natural Resource Economics – 7.5 credits

    290071     Law, International Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility – 7.5 credits

    290044     Economic Valuation Methods and Cost Benefit Analysis – 7.5 credits

    290057     Miljø- og planlovgivning - natur og vand - 7.5 credits

    310043     Environmental Management in Europe - 15 credits

    400017     Rådgivning – 7.5 credits 

    400039     Sociologiske metoder for biovidenskab - 7.5 credits

    400036     Project Management – 7.5 credits

 

In addition to the above courses, elective economics courses from the MSc programme in Economics and Business Administration at CBS and the MSc programme in Economics at SAMF as well as advanced courses in economics, mathematics and statistics at LIFE, SCIENCE and other universities may form part of the core courses.

 

 

Chapter 3. Admission requirements and admission

3.1 Admission requirements

 

The BSc Programme in Agricultural Economics (jordbrugsøkonomi) qualifies graduates directly for admission to the MSc programme in Agricultural Economics.

 

Students holding a BSc degree in Natural Resources (naturressourcer) with the core module course in Environmental Economics (miljøøkonomi) are admitted provided that their examination includes the following specified courses:

• 290040 Economic Policy (Økonomisk politik) (7.5 credits)
• 290045 Investment and Finance (Investering og finansiering) (7.5 credits)

Students holding a BSc degree in Economics from a Danish university are admitted without further prerequisites.

 

Bachelors from other faculties under the University of Copenhagen or from other national and international univeristies must have equivalent qualifications and as minimum it is required that their examination includes courses in:

• Micro Economics (at least 22.5 ECTS credits)
• Macro Economics (at least 15 ECTS credits)
• International Economics (at least 7.5 ECTS credits)
• Statistics (at least 7.5 ECTS credits)
• Econometrics (at least 7.5 ECTS credits)
• Mathematics (at least 7.5 ECTS credits)

 3.2 Admission

 

Students are admitted to the MSc in Agricultural Economics twice a year (1 September and 1 February).

 

Transfer Agreement 2007-2008

 

Students admitted before 1 September 2008 who haven't passed one of the thematic courses 290033 Produktionsøkonomisk Modellering og Analyse, 290035 Trade and International Cooperation or 290034 Applied Environmental and Natural Resource Economics must pass one of the thematic courses 290062 Agribusiness Economics or 290035 Trade and International Cooperation.

Furthermore, for the above mentioned students it's optional to write the thesis in either Danish or English.