Resource Economics

At the Department of Resource Economics, we tackle complex questions about how to use our environmental, natural and human resources. By researching important societal problems and gathering and analyzing data, we offer policy solutions that move the needle on today’s most pressing issues. Our undergraduate and graduate programs focus on industrial organization, environmental economics, and natural resource economics. And our award-winning faculty produces groundbreaking research that impacts how we approach our world.

Undergraduate program options include a Bachelor’s degree and a minor.

Welcome to the Resource Economics Community

Resource Economics is an applied field of economics in which quantitative techniques and economic principles are combined to study private and public decision making. Emphasis is on natural resources and environmental issues. Career opportunities include research, planning, education, and administration with federal, state, or community governments, as well as in private businesses that provide services in various environmental and natural resource areas. Although most graduates accept jobs immediately after completing their degree, the program also provides excellent preparation for graduate school in Resource Economics, Economics, and Public Policy.

SBS Seniors: Tell us what you are doing!

Seniors: Are you still looking? (a lot of you are!) Do you have a job lined up? Are you going to graduate school? Doing a Year of Service? Serving in the Military? Let us know! The SBS First Destination Survey …

By Carol Sharick
Carol Sharick Director of Career and Professional Development for Undergraduates, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
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Resource of the Week: Focus2 Self-Assessment

Focus2 is an online assessment system that will help you develop a picture of your personal strengths, interests, needs, and preferences, and help you develop a career plan. It can also help you to narrow down your selection of a …

By Carol Sharick
Carol Sharick Director of Career and Professional Development for Undergraduates, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
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Faculty Spotlight: How Faculty Office Hours Can Support Your Career Goals

We strive to earn a college degree because we want a solid foundation to launch our careers. Cornerstones to our preparation are grounded in our engagement with members of the professional and career development team in the Pathways Center (Thompson …

By Koni Denham
Koni Denham Director of Student Success - SBS
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Featured Alumni

Sana Shah’18, Managerial Economics

Alumni
  • Washington, DC
  • Financial Systems Analyst Federal Reserve Board
Meet Sana >

Lindsey McCauley’18, Resource Economics

Alumni
  • Capital Budget Director Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation
Meet Lindsey >

Kerry Chan’19, Resource Economics, concentration in Natural Resource & Environmental Economics

Alumni
  • Boston, MA
  • Client Solutions Supervisor SRECTrade, Inc.
Meet Kerry >

Matthew Dugan’15 Resource Economics

Alumni
  • Burlington, MA
  • Field Technology Sales Manager Oracle
Meet Matthew >
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Featured Resources

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Skill-Building With Linkedin Learning Classes

See below for skill-building classes – visit LinkedIn Learning for more.

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) Essential Training (2021)

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) Essential Training (2021)

Corey Koberg
Google Analytics 4 provides the means to track, analyze, and report on the visitors to your site and app—who they…
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Media Relations Foundations

Media Relations Foundations

Jessica Chen
View Jessica’s LinkedIn Newsletter If you want your business to succeed, you need as much brand recognition as you can…
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Learning Data Analytics: 1 Foundations

Learning Data Analytics: 1 Foundations

Robin Hunt
Are you interested in pursuing a career in data analytics? In this course, instructor Robin Hunt brings you into the…
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Excel Essential Training (Microsoft 365) (2018)

Excel Essential Training (Microsoft 365) (2018)

Dennis Taylor
Get up to speed with Microsoft Excel, the world’s most popular spreadsheet program. Follow along with Excel expert Dennis Taylor…
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Social Media Marketing Strategy: TikTok and Instagram Reels

Social Media Marketing Strategy: TikTok and Instagram Reels

Ashley Kennedy
If you’re in marketing, the only thing worse than not having a social media marketing strategy is having a bad…
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LinkedIn Quick Tips (2019)

LinkedIn Quick Tips (2019)

Oliver Schinkten
This collection of LinkedIn quick tip videos is designed to demonstrate helpful tricks, explain useful features, and provide quick answers…
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Understanding Capital Markets

Understanding Capital Markets

Michael McDonald
Capital markets are a crucial area of finance—and investors aren’t the only ones impacted. Retirement, buying a house, and long-term…
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Nano Tips for Using Excel with Miss Excel (2021)

Nano Tips for Using Excel with Miss Excel (2021)

Kat Norton
Welcome to our Nano Tips series, where LinkedIn Learning creators deliver impactful lessons in literally seconds. Here, join Miss Excel…
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From Excel to SQL

From Excel to SQL

Madecraft
Data is powerful, and the ability to access it quickly and accurately is important. In this course, instructor James Parkin…
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Marketing on LinkedIn: The Sophisticated Marketer’s Guide

Marketing on LinkedIn: The Sophisticated Marketer’s Guide

Alex Rynne
It’s a great time to be on LinkedIn. Businesses are seeing better engagement and ROI on LinkedIn than ever. So…
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Content Marketing: Online Reviews in Social Media

Content Marketing: Online Reviews in Social Media

Melodie Tao
For business owners, online reviews are a powerful asset in your marketing toolkit that can make or break a sale,…
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PowerPoint Essential Training (Office 365/Microsoft 365) (2020)

PowerPoint Essential Training (Office 365/Microsoft 365) (2020)

Jess Stratton
You don’t have to be a designer to create a great visual presentation. Learn how to use Microsoft PowerPoint for…
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Microsoft SQL Server 2019 Essential Training

Microsoft SQL Server 2019 Essential Training

Adam Wilbert
Master the fundamentals of SQL Server 2019, the industry-leading database management platform from Microsoft. In this course, instructor Adam Wilbert…
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Brand Design Foundations

Brand Design Foundations

Sean Adams
Everyone knows the importance of great branding, but how do you build a brand from scratch? In this course, Sean…
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Learning to Write Marketing Copy

Learning to Write Marketing Copy

Ian Lurie
Copy is the heart and soul of almost every marketing endeavor. Get a great foundation for all your campaigns with…
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Learning Canva

Learning Canva

Marley Jaxx
Canva is an easy way—without any graphic design experience—to create professional graphics for social media, presentations, newsletters, business cards, brochures,…
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Blockchain Basics

Blockchain Basics

Jonathan Reichental
View Jonathan’s LinkedIn Newsletter Blockchain technology demands attention. And it’s not just due to the way it revolutionized monetary transactions.…
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Finance Foundations: Risk Management

Finance Foundations: Risk Management

Jason Schenker
Risk isn’t something we usually think about until it’s too late. Financial risk management allows you to prepare for the…
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Financial Modeling Foundations

Financial Modeling Foundations

Michael McDonald
By distilling key information regarding cash flow levels and risks, financial modeling helps decision-makers make informed choices based on data…
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Digital Marketing Trends

Digital Marketing Trends

Martin Waxman
View Martin’s LinkedIn Newsletter Stay up to date on the latest trends in digital marketing. In this biweekly series, marketing…
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Relevant Courses

SBS College to Careers – SOCBEHAV 250

SBS College to Careers – SOCBEHAV 250

SOCBEHAV 250: College to Careers This class is all about YOU. • One credit, highly-participatory course • Learn about yourself…
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Research Opportunities

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Explore Outcomes

The SBS Office of Career & Professional Development annually surveys graduating seniors in order to provide a snapshot of their post-graduation plans.  The survey begins just prior to graduation, and continues until six months after graduation.  Our data collection process is guided by the industry standard put forth by the National Association of Colleges & Employers, and includes information collected by the SBS Office of Career & Professional Development, the Office of Institutional Research at UMass Amherst, and by various academic departments, as well as from information that is made publicly available by students.  The SBS undergraduate outcomes knowledge rate for 2022 was 70%, though knowledge rate varies among departments.

The SBS Office of Career & Professional Development annually surveys graduating seniors in order to provide a snapshot of their post-graduation plans.  The survey begins just prior to graduation, and continues until six months after graduation.  Our data collection process is guided by the industry standard put forth by the National Association of Colleges & Employers, and includes information collected by the SBS Office of Career & Professional Development, the Office of Institutional Research at UMass Amherst, and by various academic departments, as well as from information that is made publicly available by students.  The SBS undergraduate outcomes knowledge rate for 2022 was 70%, though knowledge rate varies among departments.

  • First Destination
  • Top Employers
  • Starting Salary
  • Job Titles
  • Employment Locations
  • Top Universities
  • Degree Types
  • Fields of Study

First Destination

SBS graduates pursue a range of plans after graduation, including employment, continuing education, and volunteering/service, among others.  This graph depicts what recent SBS graduates tell us they are doing within six months after graduation.