Economics in International Development (M.A.)

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This program is specially designed for students who wish to acquire in-depth understanding and knowledge in the field of development. An interdisciplinary approach is adopted as an essential requirement for gaining a broader and more integrated perspective of this dynamic field of study.

The program should be of interest to those who plan to seek a position or a career with a wide range of development-related institutions at the macro or micro levels. Examples include United Nations agencies, The World Bank, bilateral donor representative offices/projects, NGOs, and development-finance institutions. In addition, the program equips students to assume technical positions in government departments directly concerned with development planning and evaluation.

Admission

The applicant for admission to this program should have a good knowledge of the concepts and analytical tools of economics. An applicant whose bachelor’s degree is in a discipline other than economics may be admitted provisionally, but in such cases the applicant must either display competence in economics by passing required examinations or develop the necessary competence by completing additional undergraduate courses.

Applicants to the M.A. in Economics in International Development must obtain an acceptable score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) within the first semester of enrollment in the program. Students are strongly urged to apply for the GRE exam immediately upon receipt of their admission letter in order to allow enough time for the reservation of an exam slot and the receipt of results by AUC.

Courses

A minimum of 36 credit hours is required. All students must:

1. Take seven core courses

Five from economics and two from allied disciplines as indicated below:

ECON 500 - The Economic Setting for Development (3 cr.)
ECON 503 - Economic Growth & Development (3 cr.)
ECON 505 - International Economics (3 cr.)
ECON 519 - Project Evaluation (3 cr.)
ECON 526 - Development Research Workshop (3 cr.)
POLS 502 - Scope and Method of Developmental Analysis (3 cr.)

Choose one course from the following:

SOC/ANTH 530 - Theorizing the State (3 cr.)
SOC/ANTH 535 - World Systems and Development (3 cr.)
SOC/ANTH 560 - Population Dynamics (3 cr.)

2. Choose four electives

One from each of the following groups of courses as indicated below:

Practicum

The program does not require a comprehensive examination or a thesis. Instead, students are required to undertake a 200-hour practicum over a 4-6 week period with a development-related institution, preferably after completing six core courses. The Department will assist students in identifying appropriate hosts for the practicum and in placing them. The practicum is an essential requirement of the program, giving it a distinct feature that is expected to add a pragmatic exposure to students in a serious development work setting. The Department and host institutions will be jointly responsible for supervising and evaluating student practicum work.

A research paper is required as part of the practicum assignment. The paper will address a topic closely related to the student’s practicum work and is expected to follow sound research methods, drawing on the support that will be provided in ECON. 526 Development Research Workshop.

While the Department is responsible for arranging practicum placements, some flexibility may be exercised in setting the timing of the practicum in view of the need to take due note of host institutions’ work schedules and select meaningful assignments for students. In no case, however, will students be eligible for the practicum until they complete at least three core courses, and undertake ECON. 526 before or concurrently with the practicum assignment.

AUC New Cairo Campus

AUC Tahrir Square Campus

New York

Economics in International Development (M.A.)

Admission

Courses

1. Take seven core courses

Choose one course from the following:

2. Choose four electives

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

Group 4

3. Undertake a practicum with an approved host organization

Practicum