International Economics | Specializations in Economics

Your specialization application along with a copy of your transcript must be submitted before the beginning of your last semester at SAIS to the International Economics Program office (BOB 705).

The International Economics program offers specializations within economics for those students with a strong background or interest in economics who wish to pursue a set of elective courses in one particular area.  All of the specializations involve completion of the basic and core required economic courses:

300.700  Microeconomics  or  300.699  Accelerated Microeconomics
300.701  Macroeconomics   or  300.706  Accelerated Macroeconomics
300.707  International Trade Theory  or  300.851  Accelerated International Trade Theory
300.708  International Monetary Theory  or  300.852  Accelerated International Monetary Theory

PLUS a combination of required/elective courses from area-specific lists.

Specializations are offered in four areas of economics.  The links below define the requirements for each specialization above the basic and core required courses for the International Economics concentration:

Specialization in Quantitative Methods and Economic Theory - focuses both the technical (quantitative) skills of economics and the analyticals (theoretical) aspects of the disciplines.

Specialization in International Finance - focuses on financial markets and financial decision making in the area of international economics.

Specialization in Development Microeconomics - focuses on a range of issues of developing and transitioning countries emphasis on microeconomics development.

Specialization in Economic Policy - focuses on market and regulatory/institutional aspects of policy problems of either the micro or macro variety and practical applications of economic thought to policy problems in any of the trade, monetary/finance, or growth/development arenas.

Completion of the requirements in a specialization will result in a formal indication of the specialization on the student's transcript. Completion of the requirements for any of the specializations satisfies the International Economics concentration requirement for the SAIS M.A. degree. 

These specializations do not change the requirement of a concentration in an examination field outside of International Economics. They are simply an option for students wishing to indicate a focus of study within the field of international economics.

It should be recognized that these specializations are significantly more demanding in terms of economics knowledge and workload than the general economic requirement.  Students with no prior background in economics, as well as those students who do not fulfill the basic requirements (Microeconomics and Macroeconomics) before starting their first full semester are discouraged from considering a specialization.

Double Counting Courses for Specializations
Courses that appear in multiple specialization lists may be counted towards only ONE specialization.

Note on Cross Listed Courses:
Be aware that the International Economics Program reviews the elective courses listed in each specialization yearly and that non-economics department courses may be added or deleted.  Any changes will be announced at the beginning of each academic year.

Specialization in Quantitative Methods and Economic Theory

CLICK FOR CHECKLIST FORM FOR CLASS 2013                          

(CHECKLIST FORM WITH REQUIREMENTS FOR CLASS OF 2012 AND PRIOR )

Required Courses for the Specialization:  

     1. 340.710  Econometrics (advanced math section in DC is recommended)

     2. 340.731  Applied Econometrics or
         340.735  Macroeconometrics

PLUS at least TWO additional courses from the following lists:

     3.  ONE of the following courses:

       300.743  Advanced Topics in Trade Theory
       300.744  Advanced Topics in Monetary Economics
       320.740  Cost-Benefit Analysis
       340.734  Quantitative Global Economics
       300.713  Game Theory

     4.  ONE of the following courses:

        300.713  Game Theory
        300.717  International Trade System
        300.718  International Monetary System
        300.743  Advanced Topics in Trade Theory
        300.744  Advanced Topics in Monetary Economics
        300.754  Public Finance
        320.740  Cost-Benefit Analysis
        340.731  Applied Econometrics
        340.734  Quantitative Global Economics
        340.735  Macroeconometrics
        380.760  Corporate Finance

GRADE REQUIREMENT
In order to receive the Quantitative Methods and Economic Theory Specialization, students must maintain a B+ average in the four courses used for the specialization. Students not maintaining a B+ average in the four required courses will not be awarded the specialization and will just be credited with completing the International Economic Concentration requirement.

If you have questions pertaining to the specialization in Quantitative Methods and Economic Theory please contact:  Professor Cristino Arroyo.

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Specialization in International Finance

Click for Checklist Form

Required Courses for the Specialization:

   1.    380.761  Multinational Corporate Finance

    2.   ONE of the following case courses:

        380.763  Case Studies in International Financial Transactions
        380.776  Financial Sector Reform and Development
        380.778  Private Equity in Developing Countries
        380.834  Project Finance

PLUS at least TWO additional courses from the following lists:

    3.   ONE of the following international finance field courses:

        380.722  International Financial Markets
        380.771  Financial Derivatives and Risk Management
        380.772  Global Investment Management
        380.783  Regulation of International Financial Markets
        380.817 Fixed Income Securities (Bologna)

   4.  ONE course from the following list (not counting courses used to satisfy requirements above):

        300.727  Understanding & Managing Risks to the International Financial System
        320.726  Financing Development
        380.725  Global Bond & Structured Financial Instruments
        380.760  Corporate Finance
        380.763  Case Studies in International Financial Transactions
        380.771  Financial Derivatives and Risk Management
        380.772  Global Investment Management
        380.776  Financial Sector Reform and Development
        380.778  Private Equity in Developing Countries
        380.781  Applied Corporate Finance (Bologna)
        380.783  Regulation of International Financial Markets 
        380.834  Project Finance
        380.840  Global Financial Markets/ Institutions
        390.101  Global Business Strategy
        380.777  International Financial Institutions (Bologna)
        TBD Applied International Financial Issues (Bologna)

ACCOUNTING REQUIREMENT

The finance specialization also requires that students develop a minimum proficiency in Financial Accounting.  This involves two parts:

Part 1:  Financial Accounting - basic accounting and introduction to financial statements

Pass the on-line Introductory Financial Accounting Course (SA380.100) through the Professional Development Skills Course Program offered by Career Services.  This course can be taken at any time and requires about 10 - 15 hours and a small registration fee.

        for more information or to register please click here 

    OR

Show transcript evidence of at least a semester of financial accounting within the past 5 years with a grade of B- or better.

Part 2:  Applied Financial Accounting - ratio analsysis and/or financial statement building and modeling

Students must take AT LEAST ONE of the following skills courses offered through the Professional Development Skills Course Program of SAIS Career Services to complete Part 2 of the accounting requirement.  The courses are: 

• Finance  (on-line HBSP course) (SA380.101) - financial statement analysis and basic corporate finance concepts 

                       for more information or to register please click here

• Corporate Valuation  (SA380.102) - a live one-weekend seminar at SAIS in DC offered by Training the Street  (fall semester)

                       for more information or to register please click here 

• Financial Modeling (SA380.103) - live one weekend seminar at SAIS in DC offered by Training the Street (spring semester) 

                        for more information or to register please click here

GRADE REQUIREMENT
To receive the International Finance Specialization, students must maintain a B+ AVERAGE across the four courses used for the specialization.  Students not maintaining a B+ AVERAGE across the four required courses will not be awarded the specialization and will just be credited with completing the International Economic Concentration requirement.

Please click the link below for some helpful suggestions on structuring your finance course selections:

Note on sequencing Finance courses

If you have questions pertaining to the specialization in International Finance, please contact:  Professor Gordon Bodnar.

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Specialization in Development Microeconomics

Click for Checklist Form         

(Click for Checklist Form for Class of 2012 and prior )

Required Courses for the Specialization:

  1.   340.710  Econometrics (standard or advanced math)
                   (Must be taken in the first year; many other courses in the
                    specialization will require Econometrics as a prerequisite)

   2.   320.744  Economic Development

   3.   320.731  Microeconomics of Development

   4.   ONE of the following courses

          340.731   Applied Econometrics
          320.738   Trade Policy in Transition & Development
          380.743   Economic Growth and the Environment (Bologna)
          300.754   Public Finance
          320.740   Cost-Benefit Analysis
          840.715   Economics of Immigration
          840.712   Dynamics of Commodity Economics

  5.   Participate in at least THREE International Economics Program seminars, held on Thursdays, 4:30-6pm.  Contact Sherry Russo (sherryrusso@jhu.edu) to be placed on the mailing list for these seminars.  (Must sign in at the seminar  to receive credit for attending the seminars.)

  6.  Participate in at least TWO of the following professional development skills courses or workshops through Career Services.  Some of these can be done online and can be completed from the Bologna Center.  See the Career Services website (http://www.sais-jhu.edu/students/career-services/programming/skills-courses.htm) or contact Martina Leinz (mleinz@jhu.edu) for further information.

        
GRADE REQUIREMENT
In order to receive the Specialization in Development Microeconomics, students must maintain a B+ average in the four courses for the specialization.  Students not maintaining a B+ average in the four required courses will not be awarded the specialization and will just be credited with completing the International Economics Concentration requirement.

If you have questions pertaining to the specialization in Development Microeconomics please contact:  Prof. Monica Martinez-Bravo (mmb@jhu.edu) or Prof. Leo Feler (lfeler@jhu.edu).

Specialization in Economic Policy

Click for Checklist Form

Required Courses for the Specialization:

1. Basic Quantitative Tools Course (Required):  Choose one (1) 
   340.710  Econometrics (either regular or advanced math)
   320.740  Cost-Benefit Analysis
   
2. Policy and Applied Theory Course:  Choose one (1) course
   300.743  Advanced Topics in Trade Theory
   300.744  Advanced Topics in Monetary Theory
   300.717  International Trade System
   300.718  International Monetary System
   320.738  Trade Policy in Transition and Development
   320.735  Topics in Growth and Development
   300.754  Public Finance
   
3. Micro and Macro Policy/Issues:  Choose two (2) courses (Separately from the course used for Requirement 2 above.)
   300.743  Advanced Topics in Trade Theory
   300.744  Advanced Topics in Monetary Theory
   300.717  International Trade System
   300.718  International Monetary System
   320.738  Trade Policy in Transition and Development
   320.735  Topics in Growth and Development
   300.754  Public Finance
   300.736  Organization and Regulation of Infrastructure
   300.727  Understanding and Managing Risks to the International Financial System
   320.750  Comparative Perspectives on Economic Growth and Development
   320.735  Topics in Growth and Development
   380.776  Financial Sector Reform and Development
   380.722  International Financial Markets
   380.783  Regulation of International Financail Markets
   400.820  Financial Globalization, Currency Crisis and Emerging Markets
   400.819  Financial Sector Developments and Reform in Emerging Markets
   680.851  Economics of Natural Resources
   840.712  Dynamics of Commodity Economies
   840.715  Economics of Immigration
   300.728  Public Sector Economics (Bologna course)
   300.719  European Economic Integration (Bologna course)
   300.737  Economic Growth and the Environment (Bologna course)
   300.729  Asian Economic Development (Bologna course)
   

If you have questions pertaining to the specialization in Economic Policy please contact:  Professor Cristino Arroyo, carroyo@jhu.edu

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