Applied Economics Teaching Resources

an AAEA Journal

Agricultural and Applied Economics Association

Teaching and Educational Methods

From Zero to Thesis in Two Years: A Curriculum Plan for Engaging Undergraduates in Honors Research

Caleb Stair(a), Xumin Zhang(a) and Misti Sharp(a)
(a)University of Florida

JEL Codes: JEL Codes: A11, A22
Keywords: Honors program, mentoring, project management, thesis, undergraduate research

Publish Date: November 20, 2024

View Full Article (PDF) | Request Teaching Notes/Supplemental Materials

Abstract

An undergraduate honors program in agricultural economics confers a multitude of advantages, fosters an enriching academic experience, and propels students toward professional excellence within the agricultural sector. A major difficulty that many programs must manage is how to get more students interested and engaged in these programs, particularly as new pathways to our programs are developed. There is a lack of standardization concerning honors content and processes, particularly for transfer students. In programs that are commonly considered “found” majors, students may have the potential for honors research, yet are not sure how to engage in the short two years in the major. This article details existing honor program structures and offers a pathway toward a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum tailored to students who have two years to complete their program. The first year focuses on building a strong foundation in their field. In the second year, students embark on a specialized research project under the guidance of experienced faculty mentors. At the program’s conclusion, participants will have engaged with the complexities of agricultural economics and honed their critical thinking, research, and communication skills.

About the Authors: Caleb Stair is an Instructional Assistant Professor at the University of Florida (Corresponding Author Email: cstair@ufl.edu). Xumin Zhang is an Instructional Assistant Professor at the University of Florida. Misti Sharp is an Instructional Associate Professor at the University of Florida.

Acknowledgments: There are no conflicts of interest or data that involve human subjects in this manuscript. The authors appreciate the interest in our field of creating a pathway for future agricultural economists.

Copyright is governed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-SA

References

Copely, P., and E. Douthett. 2020. “The Enrollment Cliff, Mega-Universities, COVID-19, and the Changing Landscape of U.S. Colleges.” The CPA Journal 90(9):22–27.

Kutzke, K.L., R.A. Nold, M.G. Gonda, A.M. Hansen, and R.C. Bott. 2020. “Student Perception and Affinity: Establishment of an Institutional Framework for the Examination of Underrepresented Programs Such as Agriculture in Honors.” Journal   of the National Collegiate Honors Council 21(2):95–116.

Manderscheid, L.V. 1988. “Undergraduate Educational Opportunities in the Face of Declining Enrollments.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 70:985–993.

Martins, S.J., and E.M. Goss. 2023. “Assessment of Students’ Perception of Research in an Honors Thesis Preparation Course.” Research, Society and Development 12(1):e23112139445-e23112139445.

Miller, A.L., S.M. Silberstein, and A. Brcka Lorenz. 2021. “Teaching Honors Courses: Perceptions of Engagement from the Faculty Perspective.” Journal of Advanced Academics 32(1):3–27.

Nayga, R.M., J. Liu, and B. Kassas. 2024. “The Looming Demographic Cliff: A Wake-Up Call for the Agricultural and Applied Economics Profession.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 2024:1–17.

Reutter, L., P. Paul, A. Sales, H. Jerke, A. Lee, M. McColl, E. Stafford, and A. Visram. 2010. “Incorporating a Research   Apprenticeship Model in a Canadian Nursing Honors Program.” Nurse Education Today 30(6):562–567.

Rinn, A.N., and J.A. Plucker. 2019. “High-Ability College Students and Undergraduate Honors Programs: A Systematic Review.” Journal for the Education of the Gifted 42(3):187–215.

University of California, Davis. “Curriculum.” https://honors.ucdavis.edu/curriculum. Accessed on September 1, 2023.

Zimbardi, K., and P. Myatt. 2014. “Embedding Undergraduate Research Experiences Within the Curriculum: A Cross- Disciplinary Study of the Key Characteristics Guiding Implementation.” Studies in Higher Education 39(2):233–250

Articles in this issue

Textbook Review of: Equilibrium Displacement Models: Theory, Applications, and Policy Analysis. By Gary W. Brester, Joseph A. Atwood, and Michael A. Boland
George Davis, Andrew Keller, Henry Kinnucan, Mike McCullough, Hikaru Hanawa Peterson, et al.

Reflecting on Using Reflection Exercises to Improve Student Learning and Teaching Effectiveness
Jaclyn D. Kropp

Innovate to Lead: Curriculum Innovations to Meet Students’ Needs in Applied Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Programs
Rachna Tewari , Na Zuo, Maria Bampasidou, Anthony Delmond, Lijiao Hu, Tanner McCarty, et al.

Using NetLogo to Build an Agent-Based Model for Teaching Purposes at the Graduate Student Level
Bryan Collins and Chyi-Lyi (Kathleen) Liang

An Ignatian Pedagogical Approach to Fostering Conversations on BIPOC Farmland Ownership Through Film Screenings
Jacquelyn D. Wiersma-Mosley, Trey Malone, Logan G. Moss, and Wendell Scales Jr.

Expanding Undergraduate Research Experience: Opportunities, Challenges, and Lessons for the Future
April Athnos, Anna Josephson, Jeffrey D. Michler, and Lorin Rudin-Rush

Faculty Perspectives on Engaging Undergraduates in Agricultural and Applied Economics Research
John Lai, Jerrod Penn, and Misti Sharp

Integrating Agricultural Research into Undergraduate Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Courses
Risti Permani, Md Khairul Hidayatullah Basir, Kodrad Winarno, Bisakha Dewan, et.al

From Zero to Thesis in Two Years: A Curriculum Plan for Engaging Undergraduates in Honors Research
Caleb Stair, Xumin Zhang and Misti Sharp

Undergraduate Research Opportunities in an Applied Economics Program: Expanding Pathways for Economics Majors (and Beyond) at Land-Grant HBCUs
Huan Li, Lyubov Kurkalova, Scott Simkins and Shona Morgan

Undergraduate Research in the Andes: Overcoming Barriers to Developing-Country Farm-Household Focused Analysis

Undergraduate Applied Microeconomic Research with Demographic and Health Surveys
Seth R. Gitter, Chris M. Boyd, and Raissa Abbasi

Dare to Experiment: The Synergistic Relationship Between Undergraduate Research and Experimental Economics
Carl Nelson-Poteet , Lusi Xie, Kent D. Messer, and Leah H. Palm-Forster

Creating and Implementing Undergraduate Research Experiences: An Example for Analyzing the Size, Structure, and Performance of U.S. Food Manufacturing Industries
Yuliya V. Bolotova, Luke Juffer, Haylie Moore

Integrating Mixed Methods and Service-Learning in Undergraduate Education in Applied Research Methods: A Course Preparing Students to Address Complex Social Issues
David Conner

Engaging Students in Open Dialogue about Use of AI Tools in Economics Courses
Zoë Plakias