Earning your Ph.D. degree opens up a world of exciting opportunities! Whether you aim to teach at the college level, pursue a research-related career, or apply your skills in government or industry, the possibilities are endless.

AAEC's STEM-certified Ph.D. program in economics is administered jointly by the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics and the Department of Economics at Virginia Tech.

Areas of specialization include 1) Applied Econometrics, 2) Environment and Natural Resource Economics, 3) Development and International Trade, and 4) Food and Health Economics.

Ewa Kleczyk
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About our resource guides

Our Student Planning Guide provides a roadmap for Ph.D. program entry, requirements, and academic opportunities. Essential to a student's success is the ability to showcase their research and communication skills in a paper-length format. The Second Year Paper Guidelines explain how this is achieved within our program. 

Setting us apart, the Professional Development Planning Guide focuses on training students (in parallel) in professional engagement and communication skills not covered in technical skill classes. Our commitment to professional development activities year-round ensures our graduates are equipped to excel in their careers. 

We feel these program features are unique to our program and provide skills that go beyond typical coursework, preparing you for success.

Additional department forms can be found under our 'resources' tab in the sidebar.