MSc in
M.S. in International and Development Economics University of San Francisco - College of Arts & Sciences
Introduction
The rapid pace of globalization has increased the demand for professionals with training in international economics and economic development. Our one-of-a-kind Master of Science in International and Development Economics (IDEC) provides students with the knowledge and skills to understand how market forces can be harnessed to empower developing countries to break from cycles of poverty.
Graduates are prepared to pursue Ph.D. programs or professional work as development researchers, program analysts, policymakers, practitioners for government agencies, international businesses, nonprofits, and NGOs in developing countries.
International Fieldwork
During the summer, you’ll form a small group with fellow students to collect primary data and access secondary data as part of an internship or partnership with an international institution. Your research will be the basis for your master’s thesis, which you’ll develop under your adviser’s supervision.
Summer Bridge Program
The Summer Bridge program is uniquely offered to non-economics, non-math students.
STEM Program
We are designated as a STEM program (science, technology, engineering, and math). Eligible international students may apply to work in the United States for up to three years after graduation via the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program and STEM extension.
Admissions
Curriculum
Program Overview
The Master of Science in International and Development Economics is a two-year program in which students take three to four classes each semester, including an overseas field research project over the summer. Students desiring to go part-time can complete the program by taking two classes per semester for three years, undertaking their summer field research between the second and third years of the program.
Topics of Study
- Econometric evaluation of development project impacts
- Effects of globalization, international integration, and trade
- Macroeconomics of developing countries
- Agricultural economics and commodity markets in developing countries
- Microcredit and microinsurance
- Behavioral economics and studies of war and violence
- Health and environmental policy in developing countries
- Causes of poverty and famine
- Women and development
- International finance and currency stabilization
- International labor markets and migration
Curriculum
Foundation Requirements
The foundation requirements represent three bodies of knowledge that all graduate students must acquire before enrolling in the core courses. Requirements are waived if they have been met by previous studies or work experience. In addition, students are expected to have competence in standard spreadsheet applications.
- Economic Theory – The fundamentals of economic theory at the undergraduate level, including intermediate microeconomics and intermediate macroeconomics.*
- Mathematics – A fundamental understanding of college calculus and the ability to apply calculus and basic linear algebra to economic models.
- Statistics – A basic knowledge of statistics, including random variables, probability distributions, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing.
* Non-economics majors who have not taken Intermediate Microeconomics, Intermediate Macroeconomics, or Economic Methods (applications of mathematics and statistics to economics) take these classes as they begin the IDEC program. Students having taken these classes who did not earn a grade of B or higher are conditionally admitted. Conditional admission is removed when these requirements are satisfied, and such students are still able to complete the program in two years.
Overseas Field Study
Field study is coordinated with the help of a faculty adviser. The field research takes place in the summer between semesters of study at USF. Research collected during the field study can be applied toward the graduate research project. While the department and its faculty have developed relations with partner universities in the Philippines, India, El Salvador, and Guatemala, students are not limited to these partnerships and can identify and set up an internship at sites in other countries. Travel stipends are available from the university to help cover the costs of the summer internship, but are not guaranteed.
Master's Research Project and Oral Presentation
In this seminar, students study and discuss a number of published empirical papers in international and development economics, which will serve as a guide for their own empirical work.
Summer Bridge Program
The Summer Bridge program is uniquely offered to non-economics, non-math students.
Program Outcome
The goal of the program is to help students understand how market forces can be harnessed to free the poor in developing countries from cycles of poverty and examines the importance of institutions that regulate market forces.
The program integrates rigorous training in quantitative economics with overseas field study internship in a developing country.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Understand the application of modern micro and macroeconomic theory to the key problems of economic development, trade, and finance, including the analysis of market failures, poverty traps, the structure of incentives, the use of game theory to model institutional behavior, and open economy models of trade, migration, foreign direct investment, financial markets, and exchange rate determination
- Design and carry out a fieldwork-based research project, including the formation of an original research question, planning of an effective methodology, development of field protocols/survey instruments, and data collection in a developing or transition country
- Conduct original quantitative empirical analysis of an international or development economics problem. Specifically, students should be able to express an economic theory in terms of an observable model; determine the appropriate estimation method for the empirical model; utilize statistical software to conduct such estimation; and meaningfully interpret the results
- Effectively communicate research finding both in writing and orally, including the compilation of a professional literature review, clear presentation of theoretical and empirical models, econometric analysis, and the relevance of the study’s principal findings and implications for international and/or economic development theory and policy
Scholarships and Funding
MS in International and Development Economics Specific Financial Aid
Scholarships
We offer a limited number of merit-based scholarships to incoming students on a competitive basis. This department-based assistance ranges from $2,600 to $15,000. All applicants, both U.S. and international students, are considered for these scholarships when the applications are reviewed. There is no separate application for this type of financial assistance.
Teaching and Research Assistantships
Several teaching and research assistantships are available to qualified students after their first semester of graduate studies.
Overseas Field Study Internship
A limited number of travel stipends are available from the university to help cover the costs of the summer internship but are not guaranteed. Typically, in past years the graduate program has assisted in partially covering airfare and living expenses. However, each year the program's contribution varies. Students are advised to factor the costs of their overseas field study internship into the total cost of their program.
Career Opportunities
Our Alumni
Students are equipped for a future working professionally as program analysts in international agencies, international businesses, and non-governmental organizations, or as development researchers, practitioners, and policymakers for issues facing developing countries. Many also pursue further study in international and development economics in a PhD program.
Networking Forum
Every spring, current students, alumni, and the Bay Area international development community come together for an evening of networking and socializing. The evening includes presentations of research projects by USF graduate students, as well as time to visit information tables and socialize.
Employers
A select list:
- Agriteam
- Apple
- Asian American Civic Association
- Brilliant Earth
- CA Rural Water Assoc.
- Center for Economic and Social Studies
- Compassion International
- Environmental Defense Fund
- Escalera
- Findlaw, Thomson Reuters
- Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance
- Global Wealth
- Health Care Cost Institute
- Innovations for Poverty Action
- Instituto de Estudios Peruanos
- Intel
- International Labour Organization
- LitiNomics
- Mathematica
- Millennium Challenge Corporation
- National Bank of Kuwait
- North American Medical Services
- One Acre Fund
- Rand Corporation
- SalesForce
- SalesQualia
- Samasource
- Social Impact Inc.
- Societe Generale
- Sustainability Accounting Standards Board
- United Nations
- Urstadt Biddle Properties
- US Department of Defense
- Wazi Research
- WestEd
- World Bank
- Zoosk
Ph.D. Programs
A select list:
- Boston University
- Concordia University
- IMG Academy
- Jacobs University
- Max Planck Institute
- Purdue University
- Stanford University
- Texas A&M University
- Trident Technical College
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of California, Davis
- University of California, Riverside
- University of California, Santa Cruz
- University of Minnesota
- University of Montana
- University of Southern California
- University of Washington
- University of Wisconsin
- University of Ziuinchor
English Language Requirements
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