A solid understanding of economic concepts and theory is important for understanding a variety of topics in international affairs. Microeconomics and Macroeconomics are the critical foundational courses that provide a basis for further coursework in international economics as well many courses offered through other academic departments. As such, all SAIS M.A. students must demonstrate proficiency in the analytic approaches, concepts and basic theories/models of the economics discipline covered in these core courses. In particular, it is essential that students develop an understanding of microeconomics and macroeconomics at the "intermediate level" of U.S. universities. This includes the use of mathematic concepts and techniques--multivariate algebra, logarithms/exponentials, basic derivatives and constrained optimization--that are integral to professional economic and policy analysis. All students who accept an admissions offer from SAIS shoud receive a DVD set entitled "Interactive Pre-Calculus Course" and "Interactive Basic Calculus for Economists Course". These DVDs review the math concepts, namely algebra and simple pre-calculus that stsudents are expected to have mastered before taking the Microeconomics and Macroeconomics courses at SAIS. Students have three alternative avenues to demonstrate proficiency in Microeconomics and Macroeconomics including: (1) passing the Waiver Exams; (2) taking the courses in Pre-Term, or (3) taking the courses in normal course sessions. Microeconomics and Macroeconomics courses are offered in fall, spring, summer semesters and Pre-Term. Microeconomics and Macroeconomics are prerequisites for many other courses in the economics program. Students must fulfill the Microeconomics requirement before enrolling in International Trade Theory and the Macroeconomics requirement before enrolling in International Monetary Theory. Many other economics electives require Microeconomics or Macroeconomics as prerequisites. Therefore, we encourage students to complete these two courses as soon as possible in their SAIS academic career. All students who accept an admissions offer from SAIS shoud receive a DVD set entitled "Interactive Pre-Calculus Course" and "Interactive Basic Calculus for Economists Course". These DVDs review the math concepts, namely algebra and simple pre-calculus that stsudents are expected to have mastered before taking the Microeconomics and Macroeconomics courses at SAIS. Students that have already taken the required corresponding courses and can meet all qualifications can consider waiving out of micro and/or macro economics
(Click here for: Waiver Exams). Pre-Term is an intensive 4-week session offered just prior to the start of the regular academic year. It is held in both Washington, DC and Bologna, Italy to allow students the opportunity to begin work on the fundamental economics courses. For students with a solid background in algebra and a year of high school or semester of college calculus, and would like to see the material in more detail to gain a deeper understanding, we offer accelerated versions of micro and macro economics courses. These courses are for students with a stronger interest in learning economics for professional or personal reasons or for those who have previously acquired this level of economics but would rather enroll in a course again than study for the waiver exam. These courses act somewhat like college honors courses in that they are smaller and somewhat more intense than the larger regular course sessions. They also presume that students are comfortable with the quantitative tools mentioned above. For 2007-2008, Accelerated Microeconomics is offered in Pre-Term and the fall semester. Accelerated Macroeconomics is offered in the fall semester only. If you are unsure whether or not you should take the accelerated courses, please contact the International Economics Program office at 202-663-5684 or by e-mail: econwaiver@jhu.edu. For more content information on these courses please (Click here for: Course Descriptions). | 
