Career Outcomes

What can I do with an AREC degree?

Your career in Agricultural and Resource Economics (AREC) will develop from the combination of your major, practical experience, and unique personal qualities. Take advantage of internships, research, student clubs, and volunteer opportunities to expand and deepen your experience — and explore the resources and links below to see where they can take you!

General Career Resources

→ What Can I Do With This Major? – Explore career titles, planning tips, and examples of organizations where economics and applied economics majors work.
→ What Can I Do with a Major in…? – Includes job titles, job and internship links, and industry information.
→ Careers in Economics – From the American Economic Association.
→ Occupational Outlook Handbook – U.S. Dept. of Labor; job descriptions, salary, and outlook.
→ USDA Job Outlook Report – Employment opportunities for graduates in food, agriculture, natural resources, and environment.
→ AgCareers.com Career Profiles – Highlights emerging careers in agribusiness, policy, and sustainability.

Career Fields

Career Fields are the broad industries or sectors where people work. They define the general environment, purpose, or type of employer — answering “Where do I work?”

Federal Government

→ GoGovernment.org – Info on federal careers.
→ USAJobs.gov – Federal jobs and internships.
→ Pathways Program – Student and recent graduate opportunities.
→ AmeriCorps – Service opportunities nationwide.
→ USDA – Includes ERS, NRCS, FSA, and more.
→ EPA – Environmental Protection Agency, including the Environmental Justice Climate Corps.
→ DOE – Department of Energy.
→ DOI – Department of the Interior.
→ CRS – Congressional Research Service.
→ NPS – National Park Service.
→ NSF – National Science Foundation.
→ ORISE – EPA research fellowships.
→ USACE – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
→ USFS – U.S. Forest Service.
→ USFWS – U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

State & Local Government

→ Maryland Department of Agriculture
→ Maryland Department of Natural Resources
→ Maryland Department of the Environment
→ Maryland Department of Planning
→ Maryland Farm Bureau
→ Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments – Regional policy and planning.
→ Maryland State Government Jobs – Opportunities in state agencies.
→ County Extension Offices (UMD Extension) – Find your local office.

Nonprofit & International Organizations

→ The Nature Conservancy – Conservation, policy, and land management.
→ World Resources Institute – Global research and policy nonprofit.
→ IFPRI – International Food Policy Research Institute (headquartered in DC).
→ World Bank – Global development and economics.
→ International Monetary Fund
→ USAID – U.S. Agency for International Development.
→ Oxfam – Poverty and food security.
→ Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN – Global agriculture and resource management.
→ Environmental Defense Fund – Environmental economics and policy.
→ World Wildlife Fund – Conservation and sustainability.

Private Sector

→ Cargill – Agribusiness and food supply chain.
→ Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) – Agribusiness and commodities.
→ John Deere – Agricultural technology and equipment.
→ Syngenta – Agriscience and sustainability.
→ Deloitte – Economic and sustainability consulting.
→ McKinsey & Company – Global consulting firm with agriculture & environment practice areas.
→ ICF International – Policy and economic consulting.
→ Energy Jobline – Renewable energy and sustainability roles.
→ Agricultural startups & agtech companies – Examples: Indigo Ag, Regrow Ag, Plenty.
→ Financial institutions – Economic analysis and risk (World Bank, IMF, commercial banks with ag/food divisions).

Graduate & Professional School

Graduate study is a field in itself for AREC majors, opening doors to advanced roles in research, policy, law, and business.

→ University of Maryland AREC Graduate Programs
→ UC Davis Agricultural & Resource Economics
→ Cornell Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management
→ UMD School of Public Policy
→ Harvard Kennedy School
→ Johns Hopkins SAIS
→ University of Maryland Carey Law
→ Vermont Law School – Environmental Law
→ Georgetown Law
→ UMD Smith School of Business
→ Duke Fuqua School of Business – Energy & Environment
→ Yale School of Management – Sustainability

Types of Careers with an AREC Degree

Types of Careers describe the roles and pathways inside a career field. They define the functions and specializations that answer “What do I do in my career?”

Business, Finance & Agribusiness Careers

AREC majors bring economic and business skills into the food, agriculture, and finance industries — working in agribusiness management, commodities, sustainability, and supply chain operations.

→ Agribusiness Sales Representative – Agricultural Retailers Association
→ Financial Analyst (entry-level) – CFA Institute
→ Loan Officer Assistant (Farm Credit) – Farm Credit Council
→ Supply Chain Coordinator – Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals
→ Marketing Assistant (Food & Ag sector) – American Marketing Association
→ Procurement Analyst (Food/Agriculture) – Institute for Supply Management
→ Business Development Representative (AgTech/Startups) – AgFunder Network Partners
→ Customer Success Associate (Ag/Environmental SaaS) – Customer Success Association
→ Agribusiness Manager – International Food and Agribusiness Management Association
→ Commodity Trader / Analyst – Commodity Futures Trading Commission
→ Corporate Sustainability Manager – International Society of Sustainability Professionals
→ Risk Analyst (Agriculture/Insurance) – Casualty Actuarial Society
→ Food Supply Chain Manager – Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals
→ Business Intelligence Analyst (Food/Agriculture) – TDWI – Data & Analytics Association

Policy, Law & Planning Careers

AREC majors often shape agricultural, trade, and environmental policy — working in government, think tanks, NGOs, or law.

→ Policy Research Assistant – American Economic Association
→ Legislative Correspondent / Aide – Congressional Research Service
→ Program Assistant (Food/Agriculture/Development NGO) – InterAction
→ Urban Planning Assistant – American Planning Association
→ Economic Development Intern / Assistant – International Economic Development Council
→ Regulatory Affairs Assistant – Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society
→ Policy Analyst (Agriculture, Energy, or Trade) – Brookings Institution
→ Agricultural/Environmental Lawyer – American Agricultural Law Association
→ International Development Specialist – USAID Careers
→ Food Policy Advisor – National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
→ Climate Policy Manager – Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
→ Regulatory Affairs Specialist (Food/Environment) – RAPS
→ Urban or Regional Planner – American Planning Association

Data, Research & Analytics Careers

AREC emphasizes research and data analysis, preparing graduates to inform decision-making across government, nonprofits, and the private sector.

→ Research Assistant (Economics) – National Bureau of Economic Research
→ Data Analyst (Government or NGO) – Data Science Association
→ Survey Analyst – American Statistical Association
→ Market Research Assistant – Insights Association
→ GIS Technician / Data Associate – URISA: GIS Professionals
→ Junior Economist (Think Tank or Gov’t) – AEA Jobs
→ Economist (Government Agency) – USDA ERS
→ Program Evaluator – American Evaluation Association
→ Sustainability Data Analyst – INFORMS
→ Development Economist – International Economic Association
→ Quantitative Policy Analyst – Society for Risk Analysis
→ Agricultural Statistician – USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service

Sustainability, Resource & Environmental Careers

AREC majors work at the intersection of economics, natural resources, and sustainability — helping manage climate, energy, and conservation challenges.

→ Environmental Policy Intern / Assistant – National Association of Environmental Professionals
→ Sustainability Coordinator – GreenBiz
→ Energy Analyst – International Association for Energy Economics
→ Natural Resource Management Assistant – Association of Environmental and Resource Economists
→ Conservation Field Technician – Society for Conservation Biology
→ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Assistant – Business for Social Responsibility
→ Environmental Consultant – NAEP
→ Climate Change Analyst – American Meteorological Society
→ Resource Economist – AERE
→ Energy Policy Specialist – IAEE
→ Program Manager (Conservation or Sustainability) – The Nature Conservancy
→ Corporate Sustainability Analyst / Manager – GreenBiz

Education, Communication & Outreach Careers

AREC majors interested in teaching, outreach, and advocacy often work in education, nonprofit leadership, and communications.

→ Extension Program Assistant – Cooperative Extension System
→ Outreach Coordinator (NGO or Local Gov) – Nonprofit Leadership Alliance
→ Communications Assistant (Policy or Sustainability) – Public Relations Society of America
→ Editorial Assistant (Agriculture/Science Journalism) – Society of Environmental Journalists
→ Community Engagement Specialist (Food Systems) – Community Development Society
→ Education Coordinator (Nonprofit/Extension) – Association for Talent Development
→ Extension Educator (Agriculture & Economics) – UMD Extension
→ Nonprofit Director / Program Manager – Alliance to End Hunger
→ Public Affairs Specialist (Government Agency) – PRSA
→ International NGO Program Officer – World Resources Institute Careers
→ Science Writer / Policy Journalist – SEJ
→ Advocacy Campaign Manager – Climate Reality Project

Graduate & Professional Pathways

Graduate study is a type of career pathway that allows AREC students to build advanced expertise in economics, policy, law, or business.

→ PhD Student (Economics / AREC) – UMD AREC Graduate Programs
→ Master’s in Public Policy (MPP) – UMD School of Public Policy
→ Law School (Environmental / Ag Law) – Vermont Law School
→ MBA with Sustainability Focus – Yale SOM Sustainability
→ International Development Programs – Johns Hopkins SAIS
→ Environmental Management / Sustainability Master’s – Duke Nicholas School