AREC Header Image
prev next


NEW Accelerated BS-MS Program Starting Fall 2017


Earn both your Bachelors of Science and Masters of Science (BS-MS) degrees in less time than our traditional programs by taking graduate level courses that will count towards both degrees through our new Accelerated BS-MS Program.

Qualified students obtain a BS degree in Agricultural and Resource Economics with a major in Food and Agricultural Business or Natural Resource and Environmental Economics in seven semesters by completing 120 credit hours, including 9 hours of graduate courses that count towards both the BS degree and the MS degree. Students then go on to obtain a thesis-based MS degree in Agricultural and Resource Economics (Agricultural Economics Concentration or Natural Resource Economics Concentration) in three semesters and one summer, completing an additional 22 credit hours of graduate work.

Learn more about the program on our Undergraduate Studies page.



Welcome New Faculty



Image of Jada Thompson and Sreedhar Upendram

Welcome to our newest faculty members, Dr. Jada Thompson and Dr. Sreedhar Upendram.

Dr. Jada Thompson's research will focus in the area of production economics and she will be teaching our Agricultural Policy Analysis course this Fall.

Learn more about Dr. Jada Thompson


Dr. Sreedhar Upendram's Extension program will focus in the area of community economics and business development.

Learn more about Dr. Sreedhar Upendram



New Publication



Image of Profitability of Retained Ownership: Tennessee Beef Evaluation publication cover

Retained ownership is a marketing strategy that allows producers to own cattle beyond weaning. The Tennessee Beef Evaluation Program assists Tennessee cattle producers in retaining ownership of their cattle through the feedlot. This study evaluated data collected from 11 years of the program and showed that retained ownership can be a profitable marketing alternative for Tennessee cow-calf producers.

Read more about the full study

Read the study summary



Our Alumni



Image of Alumni

Blake Thomas
MS Natural Resouce Economics
Class of 2012
Co-founder/Owner of Tiny House Coffee

"My time at Tennessee got me excited about the world of agriculture and challenged me to look beyond the status quo of traditional farm to market supply chains. During my time at the UT I refined my ability to observe, study and seek improvements to the world around me. This provided me the confidence to participate in The Peace Corps and ultimately start Tiny House Coffee."

Meet more of our alumni
​​​​​