International Area Studies

Students work in selected internships in non-profit, government agencies, or farmer networks associated with the Brazilian Consortium on Agroecology and Sustainable Development. The purpose of the internship is to gain direct experience in agroecological techniques and methodologies to achieve sustainability in agriculture. Internships are approved in advance by the faculty coordinator with whom each student will be required to meet regularly and plan out complementary readings and regular written reports. Work commitments will range between 180-360 hours depending upon the number of units undertaken and the length of the term enrolled. Final assessments will be based upon performance in the internship, quality of written reports and a final assessment by the faculty advisor. Internship is repeatable for up to 16 units. Enrollment is restricted to 10 students per term selected through a special selection process. See instructor for details.

Comparative study of environmental conditions and human responses thereto in California and other Mediterranean-climate regions, with intensive treatment of a topic in environmental sciences, policy, planning, management, and/or landscape architecture, with application to California, Portugal, or other Mediterranean-climate regions. Students collect and analyze relevant data, synthesize, and complete technical reports, plans, and/or designs

The course will start with a brief introduction and evaluation of the scientific aspects behind climate change. Economic models will be developed to analyze the impacts of climate change and provide and critique existing and proposed policy tools. Specific topics studied are impacts on water resources and agriculture, economic evaluation of impacts, optimal control of greenhouse gases, benefit cost analysis, international treaty formation, discounting, uncertainty, irreversibility, and extreme events.

Students work in selected internships in non-profit, government agencies, or farmer networks associated with the Brazilian Consortium on Agroecology and Sustainable Development. The purpose of the internship is to gain direct experience in agroecological techniques and methodologies to achieve sustainability in agriculture. Internships are approved in advance by the faculty coordinator with whom each student will be required to meet regularly and plan out complimentary readings and regular written reports. Work commitments will range between 180-360 hours depending upon the number of units undertaken and the length of the term enrolled. Final assessments will be based upon performance in the internship, quality of written reports, and a final assessment by the faculty advisor. Internship is repeatable for up to 16 units. Enrollment is restricted to 10 students per term selected through a special selection process. See instructor for details.

Formulation of a research hypothesis and definition of an empirical strategy. Regression analysis with cross-sectional and time-series data; econometric methods for the analysis of qualitative information; hypothesis testing. The techniques of statistical and econometric analysis are developed through applications to a set of case studies and real data in the fields of environmental, resource, and international development economics. Students learn the use of a statistical software for economic data analysis.