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Master of Arts in International Economics and Finance (MIEF)

  • Campus: Washington DC
  • Program Duration: 10 Months; Full-Time
  • Credits: 56 Credits

Overview

The Master of Arts in International Economics and Finance (MIEF) is an 10-month, cohort-based degree program delivered at the Washington DC campus providing an integrated framework through intensive classroom instruction and interaction.

Recognized as a STEM-designated degree program, the MIEF program prepares you to understand advanced economic theories, master professional quantitative and econometric skills, and assess a wide range of international economics and financial questions.

Become an Expert

Gain a distinct professional advantage with economics expertise, analytical abilities, and the capacity to apply economic analysis to real-world problems. Whether you are interested in pursuing a career in international finance, public policy, economic development, or research, the MIEF program provides you with a firm grasp of the theory and tools of international economics and finance.

Fall Electives

Cost-Benefit Analysis, Economic Development, Environmental Economics, Financial Decision Making, and The Modern Financial System: Money, Banking, and Beyond.

What Your Schedule Will Look Like

Gain an in-depth understanding of advanced economic theories, and master professional quantitative and econometrics skills through the MIEF curriculum.

Summer ​Term

Begin your coursework by developing the ability to use models to interpret the complex reality around us and gain an understanding of the theories governing the behavior of individual units in an economy.

Curriculum

  • Advanced Macroeconomics
  • Advanced Microeconomics
  • Quantitative Methods I

Duration

Mid July–August

Fall Term

Become conversant with contemporary issues in the practice of international finance and trade and acquire an advanced framework to solve practical problems through a variety of elective courses. 

Curriculum

  • Quantitative Methods II
  • International Finance
  • International Trade
  • Economics Elective (ex. Financial Decision-Making)
  • Economics Elective (ex. Cost-Benefit Analysis)

Duration

September–December

January Intersession

Conduct in-depth research on a particular area of international economics while developing professional skills and knowledge related to careers in the field.

Curriculum 

  • Applied Research Project
  • Skills Workshop (ex. R Programming)
  • Skills Workshop (ex. Data Science and Basic Machine Learning Techniques using Python)

Duration

January

Spring Term

Examine questions relevant to understanding the world economy while further expanding your knowledge on economics through a variety of elective courses.

Curriculum

  • Quantitative Methods III (Cross-Sectional and Panel Data Econometrics, Empirical Economic Modeling and Forecasting, Big Data Analytics (Data Mining), Macro and Financial Time Series Econometrics)
  • Economics Elective (Credit Markets & Credit Risks)
  • Economics Elective (Multinational Corporate Finance)
  • Economic Elective (Microeconomics of Development)

Duration 

January–May 

Sample Electives

  • Advanced International Macroeconomics
  • Advanced Topics in Trade Theory
  • Business Strategies for Global Financial Institutions
  • Central Banking in Emerging Markets
  • Credit Markets & Credit Risk
  • Development Finance
  • Global Risk Management and Valuation
  • International Economic Policy
  • International Financial Markets
  • International Financial Organizations: Institutions & Analytical Methods
  • Impact Evaluation in Development
  • Microeconomics of Development
  • Project Finance
  • Public-Private Partnerships: Creating Public Value in Economic and Social Infrastructure
  • Quantitative Global Economics
  • Sustainable Finance and Impact Investing
  • Topics in Development Economics

Overview

Students will apply the knowledge, skills, and tools you have learned in the program to address an international economics issue impacting the public, private, or nonprofit sector through research project.

Examples of MIEF Capstone Titles
"Chinese Natural Gas Market: The New Battleground"
 
"The Role of Public Finance in Economic Development: A Case Study of the U.S. Department of the Treasury State Small Business Credit Initiative Venture Capital Program"
 
"Financial Education and Investment Decision Making"
 
"Offsetting a Devaluation of the Trinidad and Tobago Dollar with an Import Tax Reduction"

"Climate Change and Crop Yields: Evidence from Rural Punjab, Pakistan"
 
"Valuation of a Solar Photovoltaic Plus Storage Plant in Chile"
 
Some of the MIEF capstone projects can be found in the Research Section of the International Finance and Economics Review (InFER). The International Finance and Economics Review (InFER) is a student-run, peer-reviewed publication of the Master of Arts in International Economics and Finance (MIEF) degree program at Johns Hopkins SAIS.

Learn From the Best

Study with world-class experts who are renowned for their scholarship, influence, and networks.

Jaime Marquez

Senior lecturer

Mine Senses

Associate Professor of International Economics


In the News

What kind of macroeconomics is useful when formulating policy?

Filipe Campante participated in London School of Economics webinar, 11/16

Fiscal cyclicality and market incompleteness.

Carlos Vegh wrote in MarketScreener, 05/28

Coronavirus in Brazil.

Filipe Campante interviewed on NTN24, 03/22

Hopkins professors call for Trump's removal after rioters storm Capitol building.

Filipe Campante and Sarah Parkinson quoted and Daniel Honig cited in Johns Hopkins News - Letter, 01/08

India cannot vaccinate itself, let alone the rest of the world.

Pravin Krishna cited in Nikkei Asian Review, 12/25

Financial sector in India's economy.

Pravin Krishna hosted Transforming India podcast, 11/30

Let’s assess the feasibility of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Pravin Krishna cited in The Sunday Guardian, 11/28

Johns Hopkins launches university-wide Tenure Advisory Committee.

Pravin Krishna cited in Johns Hopkins Hub, 11/20


Advance Your Career

From consultants to entrepreneurs, leaders of nongovernmental organizations to policymakers, Johns Hopkins SAIS graduates put their degrees to work.

94% of the one-year Master of Arts in International Economics and Finance Class of 2023 were employed, pursuing fellowships or internships, or had gone on for further study within six months of graduation.

Recent Employers

  • China International Capital Corporation (CICC)
  • Ernst & Young (EY)
  • Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
  • Great Wall Securities
  • International Monetary Fund (IMF)
  • PwC
  • Skyview Fund
  • U.S. Department of Commerce
  • U.S. Department of  the Treasury
  • World Bank Group

*Based on results of a survey of students who graduated in August 2022 and May and June 2023. MIEF survey participation rate was 61%.


Build Your Network

Join an influential alumni network of more than 20,000 professionals working across sectors in 140 countries around the world.

Master of Arts in International Economics and Finance world bank profile

Students attend the annual Word Bank and IMF meetings in Washington DC.

Master of Arts in International Economics and Finance Albright profile

Students meet with former US Secretary of State, and former Johns Hopkins SAIS student, Madeleine Albright.

Photo of Johns Hopkins SAIS student Neil Evan Bhatia

A Myriad of Opportunities Within Arm's Reach

I was able to leverage the Johns Hopkins SAIS name and talk about my MIEF quantitative coursework to get internships at the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the US Department of the Treasury.

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Joanne Profile Image

To Sharpen My Statistical and Programming Skills

While several challenges still need to be solved, I expect my programming skills to be improved when exploring the solutions. Besides, through the project, I have become familiar with trade data, international classification systems as well as the product quality mode

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Beyond the Classroom

Through study treks, practicum projects, staff rides, career treks, and internships, you will gain practical, hands-on experience.

International Finance and Economics Review (InFER)

Become a contributing writer to the student-run, peer-reviewed publication of the Master of Arts in International Economics and Finance program.

International Finance Club

Take advantage of seminars and training sessions that will provide you with technical skills and knowledge to advance your career.

Networking Events

Network with alumni and professionals and organize student-led events exploring your area of interest's challenges and opportunities outside the classroom.

World-Class Events

The school regularly hosts expert policymakers, CEOs, heads of state, and scholars to campus. Students are encouraged to explore topics of interest by attending lectures, presentations, and special programming.