Master of Arts (MA) in Economics

Statement of Purpose

The Master of Arts in Economics is a western-style graduate program in economics and prepares graduates to understand the complex interplay of economic activities in businesses, policy making and other analytical functions related to the performance evaluation of a business enterprise, a government project, or to the forecasting of various economic and business scenarios.

Mission

The Master of Arts in Economics provides its graduates with a strong foundation in economic knowledge, both theoretical and applied, that is required to advance their professional careers or to continue their studies in doctoral programs in economics or in related disciplines. Graduates possess the analytic skills that are necessary in the workplace whether as managers or as economic analysts for business, government, and nonprofit organizations.

Learning objectives

At the completion of MAE degree program graduates will have demonstrated

1.    an understanding of how a free market economy organizes production and exchanges among competing entities.

a)    Apply supply and demand analysis

b)    Derive the differing measures of costs, revenues and profits

c)    Explain the pricing and quantity implications of market conditions (perfect competition, monopolistic competition, oligopoly and monopoly)

2.    an understanding how the national economy works and how its performance is measured.

a)    Describe measures of inflation, unemployment and GDP

b)    Describe gains to trade

c)    Describe trade and currency barriers and their impacts

3.    an ability to valuate macroeconomic policies.

a)    Distinguish between fiscal and monetary policies, their goals and their controlling authorities

b)    Describe the nature of money and the tasks and tools of the Central Bank

c)    Describe and apply the major theories of growth and trade

d)    Compare competing analyses of economic policies

4.    analytical reasoning skills

a)    Interpret and present data

b)    Use appropriate statistical analysis tools

c)    Use appropriate mathematical modeling tools

d)    Use appropriate econometric analysis tools

e)    Be able to use various analytical reasoning tools to model and evaluate research questions

5.    effective problem solving skills

a)    Provide identification and formulation of the problem

b)    Develop appropriate problem solution techniques

c)    Interpret solution results

6.    an ability to learn the main economic issues of Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

a)    Describe and analyze issues in the labor market.

b)    Describe and analyze issues in international trade and finance

c)    Describe and analyze issues in macroeconomic adjustment.

Admission Requirements

1. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent from any recognized university. A KIMEP graduate with an overall grade point average of at least B- (2.67 on the KIMEP grade point average scale), or graduate of an equivalent English-language Bachelor’s program may be admitted to the MIR program.
2. Proficiency in English (a minimum score of 40 on the KIMEP English Entry Test (KEET) or other equivalent tests).

To apply for admission a candidate should submit:

1. Completed application form;
2. Certified copy of all academic degrees and transcripts or Spravka from the university certifying that an applicant has graduated or is soon graduating, and a copy of transcripts verified at the university;
3. KEET test score and, if available, TOEFL/IELTS scores;
4. Two Letters of reference;

Each eligible applicant will be interviewed in-person or by telephone, if necessary.

Foundation English

With the exception of students with a KEET score of 60 or above, MAE students must complete Foundation English courses according to the following matrix. A TOEFL score of 570 or an IELTS score band 5 or above is equivalent to a KEET score of 60.

Degree Requirements

The MAE program comprises 36  credits, made up of 33 required course credits and 3 elective course credits for those students with adequate background.

Program-specific Prerequisite Coursework

MAE  students must complete the following prerequisite courses or have completed equivalent coursework before taking any graduate-level courses (with the exception of CSS 5000 Critical Thinking and Writing and  ECN 5801 Research Methods and Methodology (Thesis I). The prerequisites may be waived at the discretion of the departmental Curriculum Committee if completed during the course of undergraduate study.

Requirements for the MA in Economics are as follows

Required Courses

The following courses are required for a total of 21 credits.

Program Electives

Students must complete 3 credits in graduate Economics electives. With permission of the chair some FIN graduate courses can be used as elective credits. Graduate Economic elective courses include:

Course Waiver Policy and Procedures

Students with undergraduate coursework in Economics may have up to 4 courses requirements waived based on their undergraduate academic record. Any students may qualify for a waiver of required courses and Internship (on the bases of current or past employment), but additional electives must be substituted. Waivers can only be granted by departmental admissions committee. Often students with a grades of “B+” or equivalent will have an opportunity to be considered for a waiver. Thus, the credit waiver policy is applied on a case-by-case basis by the Department of Economics. The maximum number of credits that can be waived for any student in the MAE program is 12 credits.

Program Plan

The following table is a sample program of study to finish the MAE degree in three semesters or one calendar year, an indicative study program for full-time fast-track students.

Igor Kim, MPA, Executive Assistant, Department of Economics
E-mail: igorkim@kimep.kz or economics@kimep.kz
Tel.: +7 (727) 270 42 63 ext. 3041
Office 222 / Valikhanov building

HOW TO APPLY

Want to know how to apply for programs at KIMEP, The Admission Office has the answers
Tel: +7 727 270 42 13; E-Mail: admis@kimep.kz