OVERVIEW

In the International Economics (IECO) major, students receive rigorous training in economic analysis and quantitative methods.

Through the core economics courses and courses on international trade, international finance, economic development, and globalization students acquire the skills required to understand markets, to understand economic relationships among countries, and to evaluate the effects of policy on the economic welfare of individuals, firms, and countries. This ability is essential to understanding the economic forces at work in the world and making sound decisions in the face of them. All students are expected to master the theoretical and empirical tools necessary to conduct such analysis.

Qatar and other Gulf countries are becoming more important in the global economy. As this trend continues, the demand for skilled economists in the public and private sectors will increase. The international economics major provides students with strong analytical and quantitative skills that distinguish them on the job market and among applicants to graduate and professional schools.

REQUIREMENTS

IECO majors must take:

• MATH 035: Differential Calculus
• ECON 101: Microeconomic Theory
• ECON 102: Macroeconomic Theory
• ECON 121: Economic Statistics
• ECON 122: Introduction to Econometrics
• IECO 401: IECO Senior Seminar (400 level courses may be substituted with permission)

In addition, IECO majors may choose five electives, at least two of which must be applied economics courses at the 400 level)

SAMPLE COURSES

SFS-Q offers a variety of courses that fulfill the requirements of the IECO major. Below are some recently offered elective courses:

• ECON-211: Economic Development
• ECON-255: The American Economy
• ECON-275: Environmental and Natural Resources
• ECON-342: Multinational Corporations
• ECON 364: Economics of the Middle East
• ECON 384: Topics in International Economics
• ECON 387: Money and Banking

HONORS

The honors program allows the student to examine a significant scholarly issue in detail and to focus his or her time and attention on an important issue in which he or she is deeply interested. Honors theses are original works of thought and research, not merely summaries of the work and ideas of others.
By writing an honors thesis, the student gets a sense of how much he or she enjoys the kind of original research done in graduate school. The student also demonstrates that he or she can independently design and carry out a long-term research project - a skill that both employers and graduate and professional schools find very attractive.

To apply for Honors track:

• GPA of 3.3, or strong evidence of the capacity to achieve it.
• Letter of Intent due March 1 of junior year.

To qualify for Honors:

• Earn A or A- in ECON-101 Intermediate Microeconomics and ECON-102 Intermediate Macroeconomics or successfully complete ECON-103 Honors Intermediate Microeconomics and ECON-104 Honors Intermediate Macroeconomics on the DC campus during junior year abroad (or similar opportunity).
• Enroll in IECO-401 Senior Seminar in the spring semester of fourth year and submit a senior thesis on an approved topic which is judged to be of honors quality by the economics faculty. The thesis should be in the range of 50-80 pages. The student should speak with his or her thesis adviser to determine a paper length. The student will give a formal presentation attended by all IECO faculty in residence during the spring semester in which the thesis is completed.
• Earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.33 and a grade point average of 3.67 in the major by the date of graduation.

HOW TO DECLARE

During the second semester of their sophomore year, students meet with their advisory dean to declare their major. When declaring a major, sophomores prepare a declaration proposal outlining the reasons why they are pursuing one of the majors offered at SFS-Q, including how the intended major coincides with academic interests and possible career goals.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. What kind of careers do IECO major enter upon graduation?

A. Students who elect this major often pursue careers in finance, consulting, law, management, media, international development, international organizations, research institutes, government, non-profit organizations, and academia.

Q. What level of mathematical ability must I possess to major in IECO?

A. All prospective IECO students must pass Calculus I to be admitted into the IECO major. The skills mastered in Calculus I will form the basis upon which students will learn to conduct innovative, well-informed, rigorous, quantitative analyses of all aspects of the world economy.

Q. Can I enroll in Honors and complete a certificate at the same time?

A. One cannot pursue Honors and a Certificate simultaneously, given the heavy workload. If the student insists to do both, he or she MUST complete the Certificate thesis in the junior year. The deadline for submitting the certificate thesis in its approved form would be the first day of classes in the student’s senior year.