SCHOOL of INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

American University · Washington, D.C.

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC RELATIONS

IER Web Pages

IER Degree

MA, International Affairs, International Economic Relations

Fields of Study

International Economic Relations provides students with the range of analytical skills needed to understand international economic and financial problems in a policy setting. What distinguishes the field is its focus on specific international trade and financial policies and business transactions using analytical tools from economics, political science, business, and law. Students come to understand the fundamentals and peculiarities of trade in goods and services, and of cross-border capital flows, and study the processes by which private actors behave and government officials develop policies in the areas of international trade and finance.

Our curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for careers in government, international organizations, and the private sector – business, non-governmental organizations, and trade associations. Students learn to critically analyze economic issues and the processes by which policy is made in the areas of international trade, finance, investment, and development assistance. IER courses include International Finance and the Emerging Markets, International Economic Organizations: Public and Private, International Trade Law, Global Financial Architecture, and Financial Issues in Latin America. IER students usually supplement their studies by taking advantage of courses and seminars in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Economics, at the Kogod School of Business, or at the Washington College of Law.

Themes in International Economic Relations include:

International commercial and financial policies, such as protectionism and currency regimes.
The globalization of commodity and financial markets, and the role of the World Trade Organization; bilateral and regional trade agreements; and private-sector actors and organizations.
Foreign direct investment and conflicts between multinational corporations and national governments.
Transformation of the international monetary system and the appearance of monetary regionalism, e.g., European monetary union.
Recurrence of financial crises and efforts to stabilize the system through reforms of domestic currency regimes and international financial institutions.
Democratic accountability, transparency, and management of international economic organizations.
Practices and techniques typical of international trade and financial transactions.
Trade-offs between economic efficiency and political considerations that underlie choices about international economic policies.

We believe that the program's course content, the diverse offerings of the School of International Service, the unmatched opportunities in Washington, D.C. for research, internships, part-time work, and leisure activities, and the strengths of the full-time and adjunct faculty collectively provide an extraordinary learning experience. The continued success of our graduates in finding exciting and rewarding career opportunities demonstrates the long-term value of the International Economic Policy Program.

Depending on intellectual interests and career goals, masters students in the Program choose a cluster of courses, including Trade and Investment, Money and Finance, International Business, Law and Policy, and the South and the Global Economy. Masters students have the option of taking courses in the School of International Service, the Kogod School of Business, the Washington College of Law, or the Economics Department.

We appreciate your interest in our program and invite you to explore the website for detailed information on requirements, course options, syllabi, faculty, location, and links to websites dealing with international economic issues.

For information on admissions and financial aid, please contact the Graduate Admissions Office at 202-885-1646 or e-mail at sisgrad@american.edu. For more specific information on the academic content of the field, you may contact any of the three full-time professors in the field: Dr. C. Randall Henning at henning@american.edu, tel. 202-885-1707; Dr. Arturo Porzecanski at aporzeca@american.edu, tel. 202-885-1602; or Dr. Stephen Silvia at ssilvia@american.edu, tel. 202-885-2462.