MSc in Economic and Social Sciences

This program provides a solid foundation in quantitative methods and economic theory: graduates will develop the ability to interpret the economic and social processes that are typical at all stages of development.

Its main strength is its wide-ranging interdisciplinarity, achieved through both flexibility in the selection of electives and the organization of ad-hoc events. Students will be able to customize their study path considerably, depending on their interests and their scientific research areas.

Students will also benefit from close interaction with faculty and research centers at Bocconi, with the possibility of being involved in research projects in economics or other social sciences. They also have the opportunity to choose from several PhD-level Bocconi courses as electives.

Career opportunities are mainly focused in professions with strong research content within corporations, international organizations, public or private research centers, consulting firms, regulatory authorities, central banking, other professions requiring strong analytical skills within consultancies and financial institutions, as well as professional academic careers in the areas of economics, statistical analysis, economic history, social sciences and applied mathematics.

Program Structure

The program is made up of courses which can be divided into the following areas: analysis and statistics, economics, and social sciences.

In the second semester of the first year, students personalize their curriculum through elective courses, which pertain to the three main areas: General Economics, Applied Economics, and Econometrics and Quantitative Methods.

Main topics:

• Advanced Mathematics

• Advanced Statistics

• Advanced Econometrics

• Institutions and Social Sciences

• Law

• 3 electives which pertain to three main areas: General Economics, Applied Economics, and Social and Quantitative Fields

The first two semesters enhance analytical skills on economic and social dynamics by the knowledge and concrete use of quantitative methods, allowing students to acquire interdisciplinary perspectives towards comprehending economic and social dynamics. The specific interests of each student can be accommodated by selecting three electives in the second semester.

Students personalize their curriculum through 4 more electives which pertain to three main areas: General Economics, Applied Economics, and Social and Quantitative Fields.

Students are allowed to develop solid skills in economics (both from a theoretical and from an applied perspective) for nonlinear and interdisciplinary pathways. There are very flexible rules for selecting electives, from three main areas as well as from the wide offer at Bocconi, including the opportunity to select up to three PhD-level courses as electives. Students will also focus on the final thesis, which allows them to pursue their own research interests, to fine-tune analytical skills and to develop critical thinking.

Study Abroad Programs

• Double Degrees with:
  HEC École des Hautes Etudes Commerciales (Paris, France)
  Keio University (Tokyo, Japan)
  MGIMO Moscow State University for International Relations (Moscow, Russia)

• Joint Degrees with:
  Université Catholique de Louvain (Louvain, Belgium)

• Advanced Economics Exchange program: a unique, challenging program for up to 6 students to spend the entire second year attending the Ph.D. program in Economics at either:
  University of Wisconsin-Madison (Madison, US)
  Yale University (New Haven, US)

• Exchange Programs

Internship (compulsory)
Foreign languages (two languages)
Thesis

Learning Objectives

The Master of Science in Economic and social sciences has the following educational objectives:

• Provide advanced studies in theoretical and applied economics, to understand key aspects of current economic and social systems necessary to carry out highly qualified professional activities in the socio-economic field.

• Allow the student to personalize advanced studies in specific areas of theoretical economics (e.g. microeconomics, macroeconomics, monetary economics, development economics) aimed at pursuing the required competencies or to enroll in a Ph.D. program at national or international level or to access in roles of the applied economist in companies or institutions.

• Complete the economic and quantitative studies providing competences in subjects like business and juridical, so as to develop interdisciplinary problem analysis skills.

• Develop competences via educational activities inside and outside the classroom which promote student-teacher interaction and interaction between the students themselves as well as complex problem analysis and problem-solving skills, ability to present and discuss the results of one’s work.

• Promote competence (in the business area) in the use of English and of a second EU language to work effectively and efficiently in one’s profession.

Career Opportunities

Possible career opportunities are:

• Professions with strong research content, such as positions within international organizations, public or private research centers, consulting firms, the economic press, and professional academic careers in the areas of economics, statistical analysis, economic history, social sciences, and applied mathematics.

• New professional contexts in which economists are strongly required, such as regulatory authorities, central banking, nonprofit organizations, innovative areas in public administration, such as diplomacy and international commerce.

• Applied statistician analyzing sociodemographic trends on behalf of firms and corporations, and other economic or financial organizations.

• Company positions that require high-level analytical skills.