Environmental and Natural Resources Economics

The Environmental and Natural Resources Economics course, offered by Doane University through edX, is an intermediate-level online program that applies economic principles to the management and allocation of environmental and natural resources, with a strong emphasis on agriculture and sustainability. Designed for professionals seeking to balance economic development with environmental protection, the course explores how human activities impact resources and ecosystems, equipping learners to inform policy and management decisions in public, private, and nonprofit sectors. It requires about 8 weeks of self-paced study, with a focus on real-world applications like cost-benefit analysis and welfare economics in agricultural contexts.

Core Content

The curriculum covers the interaction between economy and environment, including the welfare implications of national income, sustainable development, and the effects of economic growth on environmental degradation. Key topics include externalities, market failures, and methods for regulating them, such as cost-benefit analysis and program budgeting. Learners analyze agricultural problems related to renewable and nonrenewable resources, common property issues, irreversible development, and preservation of natural areas. The course also examines uncertainty, information asymmetry in policy choices, and economic valuation of environmental goods, emphasizing tradeoffs in land, water, and resource use amid global competition and degradation.

Key Skills

Participants develop the ability to assess human impacts on natural resources leading to agricultural and environmental issues, apply economic theories to resource allocation, and analyze growth's effects on the environment. The course builds competencies in evaluating environmental policies, proposing modifications for better ecosystem services, and using tools like welfare economics and external diseconomies theory. Graduates gain practical skills in balancing private and public implications of resource decisions, informing sustainable management across local to global scales.

Target Learners

This program is intended for professionals in public policy, nonprofits, agriculture, and business who need to address environmental tradeoffs, as well as students or mid-career individuals with a bachelor’s degree or 5 years of related experience. It suits those in environmental management, resource economics, or sustainability roles aiming to guide decisions in agencies or firms facing resource scarcity and degradation.

Learning Format

Delivered fully online via edX, the course spans 8 weeks with flexible, self-paced access to video lectures, readings, and assessments. It includes graded assignments for those pursuing a certificate, priced at $249, with unlimited access and edX support. Restricted in certain regions due to sanctions, it focuses on interactive economic modeling and case studies for applied learning.

Additional Benefits

Completing the course provides a verified certificate from Doane University, enhancing credentials for roles in sustainable agriculture and environmental policy. Learners join a global community, gaining insights from expert instruction and preparing to contribute to organizations balancing economic and ecological goals amid increasing resource demands.

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