The Master of Arts in International Economics and Finance (MIEF) positions early- to mid-career professionals to excel in rigorous economic and financial analysis roles. The curriculum prepares students to understand advanced economic theories, master professional quantitative economics and econometrics skills, and assess a wide range of international economic and financial scenarios. Students in this cohort-based program take courses together that increase in complexity throughout the program.
Economics knowledge, analytical abilities and the capacity to apply economic analysis to real-world problems give our students a distinct professional advantage. Whether students are interested in pursuing a career in international finance, public policy, economic development, or research, the MIEF program provides students with a firm grasp of the theory and tools of international economics and finance.
International students in F-1 status who complete this program and obtain post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) may be eligible for the STEM OPT Extension. Students should consult the Office of International Services if they have questions about this benefit.
Degree Requirements
Campus: Washington, DC
Credits: 56
Duration: 2 academic years, Full-time or 10 months accelerated, Full-time
Course delivery: In-person
Curriculum
The MIEF degree is conferred upon successfully completing fourteen courses totaling 56 credit hours. In designing their academic plan, students are required to take the core MIEF courses, but students also choose a combination of international economics electives.
The program requires fourteen core courses, including three quantitative methods courses, five economics electives, skills workshops, an applied research project and the capstone course. Students are required to have a minimum 2.67 cumulative GPA to graduate.
2 Year
Coursework begins in the fall term and students enroll in two successive academic years (fall/spring). Students may complete optional skills courses in the intersession. Students do not enroll in courses during the summer term.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | ||
| SA.310.700 | Advanced Microeconomics | 4 |
| SA.310.701 | Advanced Macroeconomics | 4 |
| SA.310.770 | Quantitative Methods I: Basic Econometrics | 4 |
| SA.310.600 | Math for Economics (Optional) | |
| MIEF Skills Workshop | 1 | |
| January Intersession | ||
| MIEF Skills Workshop | 1 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SA.310.707 | International Trade | 4 |
| SA.310.724 | International Finance | 4 |
| SA.310.771 | Quantitative Methods II: Econometrics | 4 |
| MIEF Elective | 4 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| Choose one of: | 4 | |
| Cross-Sectional and Panel Data Econometrics: Applied Econometrics for Microeconomics | ||
| Macro and Financial Time Series Econometrics | ||
| Empirical Economic Modeling and Forecasting | ||
| International Economics and Finance (IEF) Elective | 4 | |
| MIEF Elective | 4 | |
| SA.310.790 | MIEF Applied Research Project | 2 |
| MIEF Skills Workshop (if needed) | 1 | |
| January Intersession | ||
| MIEF Skills Workshop (if needed) | 1 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| International Economics and Finance (IEF) Elective | 4 | |
| International Economics and Finance (IEF) Elective | 4 | |
| SA.310.995 | MIEF Capstone Course and Project | 4 |
| Optional Elective | 4 | |
Accelerated 10 Month
Coursework begins with a six-week summer term starting in mid-July, and follows the school's regular fall and spring semesters with the addition of a January intersession. The capstone course is completed during the spring semester.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | ||
| SA.310.700 | Advanced Microeconomics | 4 |
| SA.310.701 | Advanced Macroeconomics | 4 |
| SA.310.770 | Quantitative Methods I: Basic Econometrics | 4 |
| Fall Semester | ||
| SA.310.771 | Quantitative Methods II: Econometrics | 4 |
| SA.310.724 | International Finance | 4 |
| SA.310.707 | International Trade | 4 |
| MIEF Elective | 4 | |
| MIEF Elective | 4 | |
| MIEF Skills Workshop (Optional) | 1 | |
| January Intersession | ||
| SA.310.790 | MIEF Applied Research Project | 2 |
| MIEF Skills Workshop | 1 | |
| MIEF Skills Workshop (if needed) | 1 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Choose one of: | 4 | |
| Cross-Sectional and Panel Data Econometrics: Applied Econometrics for Microeconomics | ||
| Macro and Financial Time Series Econometrics | ||
| International Economics and Finance (IEF) Elective | 4 | |
| International Economics and Finance (IEF) Elective | 4 | |
| International Economics and Finance (IEF) Elective | 4 | |
| SA.310.995 | MIEF Capstone Course and Project | 4 |
- 1
Applied Research Project begins in the fall semester and continues into the January intersession. Credits are earned at the end of January intersession.
Sample MIEF Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SA.310.722 | Financial Decision-Making | 4 |
| SA.310.726 | The Modern Financial System: Money, Banking, and Beyond | 4 |
| SA.310.716 | Macro Measurement with Empirical Applications | 4 |
| SA.510.104 | Economic Development | 4 |
| SA.510.132 | Environmental Economics | 4 |
Note: Course offerings subject to change.
Sample IEF Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SA.510.108 | International Financial Markets | 4 |
| SA.510.106 | Multinational Financial Management | 4 |
| SA.510.110 | Project Finance | 4 |
| SA.510.101 | Business Strategies for Global Financial Institutions | 4 |
| SA.510.103 | Development Finance Fundamentals | 4 |
| SA.100.421 | Big Data | 4 |
| SA.310.706 | Foundation of Equity Valuation and Analysis | 4 |
| SA.310.727 | International Financial Organizations: Institutions and Analytical Methods | 4 |
| SA.310.728 | Central Banking in Emerging Markets | 4 |
| SA.510.100 | Advanced Topics in Trade Theory | 4 |
| SA.510.112 | Quantitative Global Economics | 4 |
| SA.510.107 | Impact Evaluation in Development | 4 |
| SA.510.134 | Topics in Development Economics | 4 |
| SA.510.137 | Development Finance: Addressing Today's Challenges | 4 |
| SA.510.128 | Credit Markets & Credit Risk | 4 |
| SA.510.129 | Investments: From Theory to Practice | 4 |
| SA.510.110 | Project Finance | 4 |
| SA.510.133 | Private Capital in Emerging Markets | 4 |
| SA.510.127 | Sustainable Finance and Impact Investing | 4 |
Note: Course offerings subject to change.
Skills Workshops
Students take two skills workshops to expand their professional skills and knowledge related to careers in international economics. Past workshops have covered working with economic and statistical analysis tools such as EViews, MATLAB, PcGive, R, and Stata, as well as, address topics related to working in strategic consulting, investment banking, and business strategy roles.
Applied Research Project
Applied Research Project prepare students to be able to provide reliable answers to practical research questions. This project requires students to organize data and develop suitable statistical methods to summarize the significance and attributes of the data into an intelligible answer to the question at hand.
Capstone Course
The capstone course consists of small groups of students working on a practical project or a current policy issue in their area of interest. Students will apply the knowledge, skills, and tools they have learned in the program to address an international economics issue impacting the public, private, or nonprofit sector through research projects. Students will prepare a detailed presentation to be made to the class, faculty, as well as outside professionals. Topics may include the following: current account sustainability, exchange rate exposure, investment case study, studies on financial markets, and growth and debt sustainability studies.