We want it all – not just food, shelter, and clothing, but also SUV’s, large homes, exotic holidays, and a healthy, pristine environment.

But we can’t have it all.

There are simply not enough natural resources to go around,
and the environment is not resilient enough to withstand the daily assault of air and water pollution, soil erosion, habitat loss, fisheries exploitation, and other challenges.

Something has to give.

The Environmental and Renewable Resource Economics (ERRE) major at Penn State University offers you the opportunity to help save the environment by learning to apply economic theories to real-world situations, such as:

	What would it cost to require manufacturers to take specific environmentally friendly actions?
	How can those costs be compared to the environmental benefits that will be gained from the regulation?
	Should we consider those costs in determining the amount of regulation we place on an industry?
	How can we, as a society, determine the right amount of protection for our environmental and natural resources?

As a democratic society, we need knowledgeable citizens as well as trained professional analysts who can provide information enabling us to make these tradeoffs wisely. The Environmental and Renewable Resource Economics major focuses on economic concepts and methods for organizing the analysis of alternative ways of solving pressing environmental and resource use problems. Students in the ERRE major develop a working knowledge of economics and learn to apply that knowledge to examine current issues.


What do our ERRE Alumni say…?

“I was an intern at Walt Disney World for a semester. That opportunity gave me a really great sense of how a multi-national corporation worked, and how I could make a difference. The program helped me land a job after graduation.” – Tammi Lake, ‘99

“Majoring in ERRE prepared me with the terminology and understanding of the wide array of environmental topics that are a part of our daily life. I am also a better steward of the environment. I think the most unique aspect was seeing how parts of many fields tied together with the ERRE major. For example, the economics, geography, sociology, and business all tied together and made me very marketable in the job field. Also, the faculty in the major were always available and provided great advice. My advice for students in the ERRE major is to become involved in the life of the department and the College. While it can seem crazy at times, the time management skills acquired will serve you well in the real world.” – Denise Hoecker, ‘00

What about our faculty?

“I find my research extremely rewarding. I traveled to rural China in the last year to conduct surveys of Chinese households, and I head to Mozambique for a similar project soon. I teach Global Seminar, which is a class based on cases that deal with critical global issues. The course includes live videoconferences every three weeks with other universities worldwide. I am also helping to coordinate a Costa Rica study tour for ERRE students.” – Dr. Jill Findeis

And, current students?

“I originally came to Penn State because I appreciated the landscape – no joke! But after studying here I have realized that this school has a ton of resources to offer a student. The ERRE major allows one to see how money and the environment are tied together, and with this knowledge, you can really make a difference in the world! There are a lot of interesting things going on right now in the world involving natural resources and what I have found is that many people are receptive to having a Penn State undergraduate join them on their project. If there is one thing that Penn State has given me it is a web of networks throughout the United States.” – Becky Bragg, ‘08

“I went to Europe two summers ago for a summer class on European agriculture, then I stayed an extra month in Belgium to work in an entomology lab at Gembloux University. Last summer, I worked in the organic sector of the Economic Research Service branch of the USDA. I also went to Belize over Spring Break with a class to build a garden for a school, and I am currently studying international development in Jaipur, India.” – Jackie Yenerall, ‘08