MA Development Economics and International Studies (DEIS)

The “Master of Arts in Development Economics and International Studies” (MA DEIS) is an economics-centred programme designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of students planning to work or seek leadership responsibilities in public, non-profit, and private sector organisations for international cooperation and development. It is also aimed at students intending to work at the intersection between research and practice and at those pursuing an academic career in study-related subjects. It is a two-year (four-semester) programme and includes rigorous training in analytical as well as qualitative and quantitative methods. In particular, with the increasing availability of micro data and the importance of evidence-based policy-making, students learn how to do applied empirical work, with a special emphasis on impact evaluations (using both experimental methods, such as randomised field experiments, and quasi-experimental methods). As part of this training, students will become acquainted with Stata, a statistical software. Each year, a group of about 20 to 25 students enrols in the programme with 60% to 80% of the students coming from abroad. The language of instruction is English. The DEIS course of study has three required core module pairs. These are designed to provide students with rigorous academic training. Each of these module pairs is taught over the course of two consecutive semesters, and they are compulsory for all students: Research Methods I + II: These modules introduce students to quantitative methods that are used in economics to empirically test theories and to evaluate the impact of policies. Students also learn to work with Stata statistical software. Development Economics I + II: These modules give an introduction to the economics of developing countries. A significant part of the modules is devoted to discussing empirical work, such as impact evaluations of programmes run by state and non-state actors in developing countries. International Business Ethics I + II: These modules introduce students to the theory and concepts of business ethics as well as to a series of ethical challenges currently facing the corporate world by taking an international and inter-cultural perspective of analysis and problem solving. Additionally, students in the DEIS programme take at least two international economics modules, such as Issues in International Political Economy, International Trade and Labour, International Finance, Foundations of International Management, and Managing Intercultural Relations, as well as at least two regional modules, such as Political Economy of the Middle East, Social Health Protection in South and East Asia, and Business and Society in Latin America. There is a choice of various elective modules and (ungraded) complementary elective modules, such as language courses, available. Students may also earn up to 10 ECTS for completing an internship related to the programme. Further information can be found here: https://www.madeis.study.fau.eu/.