What Are the Different Types of Environmental Economics Courses?

People who study environmental economics are interested in the ways in which environmental policies and issues affect economics. They might also be concerned with the economy of agriculture, as well as with the ways in which economic policy affects the environment. Many environmental economics courses can be found in college and graduate programs, where they range from general introductions to this field to courses that concentrate on specific issues, such as applied econometrics. It is also common to find environmental economics courses designed for professionals who deal specifically with related issues and who are interested in keeping up with current issues or in acquiring a deeper understanding of economic theory related to the environment.

Individuals who study environmental economics can be found in a number of different fields. Academics who study economics, for example, might teach courses in this field, publish papers on related subjects, and give presentations at academic conferences. It is also common to find people who work with environmental economics in the public sector, where they might write or advise economic and environmental policy. Some concerned citizens might take environmental economics courses so that they can make more informed decisions.

In most cases, environmental economics courses can be found in economics programs in colleges and in graduate programs. When academic institutions have applied or agricultural programs, these normally are where these kinds of courses are housed. It is also possible to find environmental economics courses in strong environmental studies programs, where they normally are offered to graduate students or to highly advanced undergraduate students.

Environmental economics is a relatively broad topic, so there are a number of different kinds of courses that can be categorized as such. For example, a basic study of how environmental economics influences political ideology might be called "The Political Economy of Agriculture." Environmental economics courses about statistical methods used to make environmental policies, on the other hand, might be an introduction to applied econometrics. It is also common to find courses that focus on issues such as climate control and water resources.

When people work in fields such as agriculture or for environmental protection agencies, they might take environmental economics courses to learn about issues that directly impact their work. A person who works in the public sector, for example, and who is responsible for writing environmental policy might take courses that educate him or her specifically about issues about which he or she is concerned. Likewise, an agricultural professional might take courses that help him or her to determine demand and projected obstacles in a market.