Master of Arts in International Economics
American University
Key Information
Campus location
Washington, USA
Languages
English
Study format
Distance Learning, On-Campus
Duration
18 months
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
USD 1,922 / per credit
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
Introduction
Markets and Policy with an International Focus
The MA in International Economics is an interdisciplinary, 36-credit program that offers a rigorous combination of theoretical, empirical, and policy-oriented courses in economics, political economy, and international trade and finance policy. A 24-credit core provides a solid foundation in economic theory, international trade, and international investment policy. The remaining coursework is balanced between study with the School of International Service and training in economic research methodology. The program culminates with a capstone experience addressing a major issue in contemporary international economics.
Over the course of your coursework and research, you will gain:
- An in-depth understanding of the market, political, and other forces that drive the economic globalization process, as well as the private and public actors and institutions shaping international trade and financial developments and policies.
- Expertise in econometric methods and the state-of-the-art statistical software commonly used in applied economics research.
- Analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills in high demand by all employers, including government agencies, industry associations, financial institutions, multinational corporations, economic consulting firms, think tanks, multilateral institutions, and non-governmental organizations.
Study in the Top City for Economic Policymakers
Washington, DC, which currently serves as the home to over one-third of all practicing economists, offers access to an extraordinary array of professional opportunities, including those in international institutions, embassies, research institutes, think tanks, NGOs, international corporations, and the federal government. Our MA in International Economics students have interned at such places as:
- American Enterprise Institute
- Center for Strategic and International Studies
- Asian Development Bank
- World Bank
- US State Department
- Council of Economic Advisors
Students can take advantage of unique DC opportunities, such as serving as a student participant in the World Bank annual meetings, or learning how to use primary data sources and tools firsthand from the researchers who develop these sources.
We have a new partnership with the National Association for Business Economics (NABE), the preeminent professional association for private-sector economists. The agreement is expected to dramatically increase job opportunities for new graduates of AU’s economics master’s programs.
Knowledgeable Faculty Dedicated to Your Success
At AU, you will take classes from and work with a diverse group of esteemed economists and highly cited scholars who are engaged with practitioners and policymakers around the world. Our faculty's wide-ranging research interests, along with the variety of methodological approaches they use, create a rich environment for innovations in theory and empirical studies.
Career Opportunities
Consistently ranked as one of the best cities for job seekers, DC offers access to an extraordinary array of professional opportunities for trained economists. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the DC metropolitan area is home to over one-third of all economists nationwide. Nationwide employment of economists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
Our faculty’s relationships with DC institutions open doors in the nation’s capital: 61 percent of our students complete internships with prospective employers. Our partnership with the National Association for Business Economics (NABE), the preeminent professional association for private-sector economists, further increases job opportunities — nearly 80 percent of jobs are never publicly listed — by giving our students access to NABE’s private listing of job openings.
Our students and graduates find successful careers and rewarding internships with some of the world’s most important institutions, including
- Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
- Freddie Mac
- Interamerican Development Bank
- International Monetary Fund
- PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics
- US Department of Health & Human Services
- The World Bank Group
In addition, many of our graduates go on to pursue PhDs in Economics.
Admissions
Gallery
Curriculum
Core (24 credit hours)
- ECON-600 Microeconomics (3)
- ECON-601 Macroeconomics (3)
- ECON-605 Introduction to Mathematical Economics (3)
- ECON-671 International Economics: Trade (3)
- ECON-672 International Economics: Finance (3)
- SIS-665 International Trade Relations (3)
- SIS-666 International Financial Relations (3)
- SIS-751 International Political Economy (3)
Research Methodology (6 credit hours)
Methods I
Complete 3 credit hours from the following:
- ECON-623 Applied Econometrics I (3)
- STAT-615 Regression (3)
Methods II
Complete 3 credit hours from the following:
- ECON-624 Applied Econometrics II (3)
- STAT-522 Time-Series Analysis (3)
- STAT-627 Statistical Machine Learning (3)
Capstone (3 credit hours)
Complete 3 credit hours from the following:
- ECON-680 Economics MA Capstone Seminar (3)
- SIS-793 Practicum in International Affairs (3) (topics)
Electives (3 credit hours)
3 credit hours from SIS coursework at or above 500-level, with approval of program director.