Undergraduate

Environmental and Resource Economics

Explore sustainable resource management and environmental policy while developing skills in economic decision-making.

2026

Degree

Minor

Location

Durham, NH

Courses

Credit

20 hrs.

Full-time

- -

Part-time

- -

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Natural Resources and the Environment

The Environmental and Resource Economics minor at UNH introduces you to economic principles for analyzing environmental challenges. You’ll explore sustainable resource management and environmental policy while developing skills in economic decision-making.

The coursework integrates environmental science with economic analysis, preparing you to assess the financial impacts of conservation choices. This program builds expertise in applying economic frameworks to environmental problems, enhancing your primary degree with insights into sustainable resource management.

Department of Natural Resources and the Environment

Key Links

Tuition Costs

Contact Cards

Kelly Giraud

Associate Professor

Kelly.Giraud@unh.edu

James Hall, Room 262, Durham, NH 03824

(603) 862-4811

WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS?

The environmental and resource economics (EREC) minor uses applied economic theory to study problems that impact land use, water, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and local communities and can include the study of environmental and natural resource economics, agricultural economics, community economics or public resource policy. This minor is well-suited to students who are interested in determining how best to conserve natural resources and protect the environment and want to understand how to evaluate competing interests and risks.

WHY STUDY ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS AT UNH?

The environmental and resource economics minor aims to provide students majoring in other disciplines with an understanding of environmental and resource economics, and their uses in personal, social, business and government decision-making. Students learn how to apply economic analyses in evaluating environmental and resource problems, identifying their causes and examining alternative solutions. The minor also offers courses that teach techniques useful for decision making by local and regional communities, and students obtain skills in the management of agricultural and natural-resource business firms. EREC students have extremely high rates of employment (99%+) within their field upon graduation.

POTENTIAL CAREER AREAS

Agricultural, fisheries and forestry marketing
Community development
Environmental conservation
Environmental planning and consulting
Land- and water-use policy making
Retail insurance and financial agencies

Curriculum & Requirements

Program Description

The Environmental and Resource Economics minor aims to provide students majoring in other disciplines with an understanding of environmental and resource economics, and their uses in personal, social, business and government decision-making. Students learn how to apply economic analyses in evaluating environmental and resource problems, identifying their causes and examining alternative solutions. The minor also offers courses that teach techniques useful for decision making by local and regional communities. Students also obtain skills in the management of agricultural and natural-resource business firms.

Requirements for the Program

Academic policies related to Minors.
The minor consists of completing five courses (20 credits) from the courses listed below, with a grade of C- or better.
No more than 8 credits used to satisfy major requirements may be used for the minor.
Pass/Fail courses may not be used for the minor

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Requirements
Select at least five courses (minimum of 20 credits) from the following:		20
NR 411	Environmental and Resource Economics Perspectives
NR 444	The New Pirates of the Caribbean
NR 525	Statistical Methods and Applications
NR 572	Introduction to Natural Resource Economics
NR 607	Land Economics Perspectives: Uses, Policies, and Taxes
CEP 627	Community Economics
NR 708W	Environmental Economics
NR 756W	Rural and Regional Economic Development
NR 795	Investigations
Total Credits		20