International Economics (MA) [SIS]

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International Economics

Offered jointly by the College of Arts and Sciences , Department of Economics , and the School of International Service , this program offers a rigorous combination of theoretical, empirical, and policy-oriented courses in economics, political economy, and policymaking focused on international trade and finance. It prepares students to analyze the most important issues in today’s global economy, including the macro- and microeconomic causes and consequences of trade and financial liberalization, exchange rate fluctuations, and capital-markets integration. The objective is to gain an in-depth understanding of the market, political, and other forces that have driven the economic globalization process, as well as the private and public actors and institutions shaping international trade and financial developments and policies.

During their course of study, students utilize state-of-the-art statistical software commonly used in applied economics research and policy analysis. The program culminates with a capstone experience addressing a major issue in contemporary international economics. Students are prepared for careers in government agencies, industry associations, financial institutions, multinational corporations, economic consulting firms, think tanks, multilateral institutions, and non-governmental organizations-whether in the United States or abroad.

Admission to the Program

Applicants must hold an accredited bachelor’s degree with a cumulative grade point average of at least B+ (3.30 or higher on a 4.00 scale). Admission is based on the academic record, two letters of recommendation, and the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test. Non-native English speakers are required to submit the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), unless they hold a degree from a U.S.-accredited institution. The minimum TOEFL score for full admissions consideration is 100 on the Internet-based test (IBT) or 600 on the paper-based test. The minimum IELTS score is 7.0.

Applicants must complete MATH-221 Calculus I , STAT-202 Basic Statistics , ECON-300 Intermediate Microeconomics , and ECON-301 Intermediate Macroeconomics , or their equivalents at other institutions, prior to enrollment in the program.

Degree Requirements

39 credit hours of approved graduate coursework, including 15 credit hours in economic theory, 9 credit hours in international economic theory and international trade and investment policy, 6 credit hours in research methodology, 6 elective credit hours, and a 3 credit hour capstone experience

Course Requirements

Core Courses (24 credit hours)

Research Methodology (6 credit hours)

Capstone Experience (3 credit hours)

Electives (6 credit hours)

6 credit hours of SIS courses at the 500-level or above, with approval of program director

SIS MA/MS and MBA

A dual master’s degree program is offered by the School of International Service and Kogod School of Business .

Admission to the Program

Applications are submitted to both SIS and Kogod. Students must be admitted separately to each program. While students are encouraged to apply for admission to both programs simultaneously, students can apply to the second program after admission and matriculation in the first program. Students must be admitted to the second program and begin their studies prior to conferral of the degree from the first program.

The full-time MBA is a cohorted two-year program. During the first year of the MBA students complete 26 or 29 credit hours in Kogod, and during the second year of the MBA students, including the MBA capstone in the spring semester. Sequencing and timing of SIS coursework depends on the chosen program. Generally, dual degree students begin their academic programs at Kogod, but this is not required. The dual degree between SIS and Kogod may not be completed in conjunction with any other dual degrees at AU.

SIS Degree Requirements

Dual degree students may count up to 9 credit hours from their Kogod degree requirements toward their SIS degree requirements with approval of the SIS program director. This typically includes the 6 credit hour methodology requirement and the 3 credit hour elective. Students must otherwise complete all requirements as listed for the SIS graduate degree. The SIS MA degrees are built around a multidisciplinary curriculum focused on preparing students for a wide variety of careers in global service, including public, private, and non-profit semesters. MA/MBA students can specialize in areas at SIS that include international development, security, global governance, conflict resolution, global environmental policy, regional studies, U.S. foreign policy, and public diplomacy. Students select a specialized concentration that allows them to tailor their studies to their individual interests. See relevant SIS degree requirements for more information.

MBA Degree Requirements

32 credit hours of approved graduate coursework that includes required business core courses, capstone course, and an electives course.
Capstone experience: KSB-613 Strategic Decision Making .
All students are required to participate in the full-time MBA orientation prior to the start of the program.
The MBA degree will be conferred no earlier than the semester in which the SIS graduate degree is completed.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite

Prerequisite knowledge in economics

Elective (3 credit hours)

3 credit hours in a business course

International Economics (MA) [SIS]