Department of Economics

Department of Economics
  • MS in Economics
  • Master in Development Studies
  • Bs in Economics
    		•

    Economics is one of the most prestigious and intellectually demanding pursuits of knowledge. From its inception, therefore, North South University established the Department of Economics on a sound footing with a set of dynamic academic programs managed by a highly qualified faculty for competent teaching and research in this rich field of knowledge. Most of the faculty members are reputed and known at home and abroad for their teaching and research achievements. They are dedicated to make the department a Center of Excellence in Economics in Bangladesh.

     Chairman

    Dr. Gour Gobinda Goswami
    Ph.D. in Economics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA
    MSS in Economics, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
     Email:  gour@northsouth.edu, gour_67@yahoo.com
    Click Here to visit the profile of Chairman

    Academic Programs:

    The Department offers programs at both graduate and undergraduate levels. The bachelor degree program, BS in Economics, started in 1993 and master degree program, MS in Economics, started in 1994. Master in Development Studies (MDS) was introduced in January 2002 with an objective to enhance the competence and skills of the students as development practitioners. Besides, the department offers minor in economics for students enrolled in other bachelor programs at NSU.

    MS in Economics   (REVISED CURRICULUM)

    Economics is the first academic department at NSU to offer graduate studies. The Master of Science (MS) in Economics at NSU is a degree program specially designed for students with a research bent of mind. MS in Economics is a 30 credit program and it has six broad spe-cializations: International Economics, Financial Economics & Banking, Development Eco-nomics, and Environmental & Natural Resource Economics, and Econometrics. It has two alternative modes: one with thesis, and another without thesis.

    Requirements for the MS degree in Economics are:
    1. Core Courses: (12 credits, Minimum CGPA requirement 3.0)

    Courses

    		 Titles  [ Click on Course Title to see in details ]

    Credits
    ECO 501 Mathematical Economics 3
    ECO 502 Econometric Method 3
    ECO 503 Microeconomic Theory 3
    ECO 504 Macroeconomic Theory 3
    Total: 12
    2. Field Courses: (6 credits, Minimum CGPA requirement 3.0)
    a) International Economics

    Courses

    		 Titles  [ Click on Course Title to see in details ]

    Credits
    ECO 611 International Trade Theory 3
    ECO 612 International Financial Economics 3
    Total: 6
    b) Financial Economics & Banking

    Courses

    		 Titles  [ Click on Course Title to see in details ]

    Credits
    ECO 621 or Financial Economics 3
    ECO 612 International Financial Economics 3
    ECO 622 Banking and Financial Institutions 3
    Total: 6
    c) Development Economics

    Courses

    		 Titles  [ Click on Course Title to see in details ]

    Credits
    ECO 631 Development Economics 3
    ECO/DEV 570 Methods and Tools in Development Research 3
    Total: 6
    d) Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

    Courses

    		 Titles  [ Click on Course Title to see in details ]

    Credits
    ECO 641 Economics of Exhaustible Resources 3
    ECO 649 Special Topics in Environmental Economics 3
    Total: 6
    e) Econometrics

    Courses

    		 Titles  [ Click on Course Title to see in details ]

    Credits
    ECO 651 Panel and Limited Dependent Variable 3
    ECO 652 Time Series Model 3
    Total: 6
    3. Elective Courses: (6 credits)

    Courses

    		 Titles  [ Click on Course Title to see in details ]

    Credits
    ECO 681 Advanced Mathematical Economics 3
    ECO 682 Contemporary Economic Ideas* 3
    ECO 683 International Trade Policy 3
    ECO 684 Monetary Economics 3
    ECO 685 Quantitative Modelling 3
    ECO 686 Game Theory 3
    ECO 687 Agricultural Economics 3
    ECO 688 Applied Econometric Forecasting 3
    ECO 689 / DEV 584 Project Analysis and Evaluation 3
    ECO 691 Selected Readings in Economics 3
    ECO 692 Special Topics in Economics 3
    **

    3

    * ECO 682 is compulsory for students with no coursework background in economic thought.
    ** This list also includes any 500 or 600 level courses from MS in Economics, MDS, or MBA or from other Departments.
    4. Research Courses: (6 credits, must pass in Thesis or Supervised Research Paper)

    Courses

    		 Titles  [ Click on Course Title to see in details ]

    Credits
    ECO 695 Research Based Term Paper 3
    ECO 5xx Course 3
    ECO 699 Thesis 6
    Total: 6

    Note:The following courses of MS in Economics which follow the new curriculum can be used as a substitute for the following courses from the old curriculum and may be considered as cross-listed.
    New Curriculum
    Equivalent Old Curriculum
    ECO 502
    ECO 572
    ECO 611
    ECO 528
    ECO 612
    ECO 530
    ECO 631
    ECO 550
    ECO 641
    ECO 589
    ECO 649
    ECO 590
    ECO 682
    ECO 505
    ECO 683
    ECO 580
    Total:
    8(eight courses)

    MS in Economics   (OLD CURRICULUM)

    Economics is the first academic department at NSU to offer graduate studies. The Master of Science (MS) in Economics at NSU is a degree program specially designed for students with a research bent of mind. MS in Economics is a 30 credit program and it has three broad specializations: International Economics, Development Economics, and Environmental & Natural Resource Economics. It has two alternative modes: one with thesis, and another without thesis.

    Requirements for the MS degree in Economics are:

    (a)  Core Courses: (12 credits)

    Minimum CGPA requirement 3.0
    Course ID Course Title Credits

    ECO 503

    Advanced Micro Economic Theory

    3

    ECO 504

    Advanced Macro Economic Theory

    3

    ECO 528

    Advanced International Trade Theory

    3

    ECO 572

    Advanced Econometrics

    3

    Total: 12

    (b)  Courses for specialization : (6 credits)

    International Economics (6 credits):

    Minimum CGPA requirement 3.0
    Course ID Course Title Credits

    ECO 580

    Trade Policy Analysis

    3

    ECO 530 or

    International Financial Economics

    3

    FIN 544

    International Financial Management

    3
    Total:

    6

    Development Economics (6 credits):

    Minimum CGPA requirement 3.0
    Course ID Course Title Credits
    ECO 550

    Advanced Development Economics

    3
    DEV 570

    Methods and Tools for Development Research

    3
    Total:

    6

    Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (6 credits):

    Minimum CGPA requirement 3.0
    Course ID Course Title Credits

    ECO 589

    Economics of Exhaustible Resources

    3

    ECO 590

    Special Topics in Environmental Economics

    3
    Total:

      6

    (c) Elective Courses: (6 credits)
    Two courses from a list of selected 500/600 level Economics, MDS & MBA courses.

    (d) Research Courses: (6 credits)

    Must pass in Thesis or Supervised Research Paper

    Course ID

    		 Course Title Credits

    ECO 699
    or

    Thesis

    3

    ECO 595
    and

    Supervised Research Paper

    3

    One other 500 level course from Economics, MDS and MBA Programs

    3

    Total:

    6

    (e)  Comprehensive Examination:

    Students must also pass through comprehensive examination in micro economics, macro economics and quantitative economics to earn master degree in Economics.

    An economics graduate student might be allowed to transfer a maximum of six credits if the credits were completed by the students at NSU or any other respectable university but not used to fulfill their undergraduate degree requirements.

    Back To Top

    Master in Development Studies

    Department has introduced Master in Development Studies program to create efficient development workers and program managers. Graduates from this program will be able to conceptualize development problems, design need-oriented development projects, negotiate development funds with donors, and manage development projects with confidence. The program will also help the students who have been away from academic works for some time but are involved in development programs or projects.

    MDS is a 39 credit program. It includes courses on theoretical approaches to development, key development issues at national and international levels and applied courses on development management with policy-oriented focus, as well as internship for field experience.

    Credit Waiver Policy

    A maximum of 9 credits may be waived by the department in appropriate cases if the such courses were taken outside the curriculum of the entry requirements and are acceptable in terms of its academic contents and standards.

    Graduation Requirements

    Qualifying Grade:  Minimum CGPA 3.0
    Credits requirements:  39 credits
    Residency requirements:   24 credits

    Foundation Courses: (12 Credits )

    Courses

    		 Titles  [ Click on Course Title to see in details ] Credits
    DEV 501 Basic Economics 3
    DEV 502 Basic Sociology and Social Anthropology 3
    DEV 503 Economic Analysis for Development Practitioners 3
    DEV 504 Research Methodology in Social Science 3
    Total: 12

    Core courses : (18 Credits )

    Courses

    		 Titles  [ Click on Course Title to see in details ]

    Credits
    DEV 563 Economic Development 3
    DEV 564 Dynamics of Rural Development 3
    DEV 565 Issues in Sustainable Development 3
    DEV 566 Studies of Development Organization 3
    DEV 567 Program and Project Analysis 3
    DEV 573 Dynamics of Urban Development 3
    Total: 18

    Elective Courses: (6 Credits )

    Courses

    		 Titles  [ Click on Course Title to see in details ]

    Credits
    DEV 569 Development Organization Management 3
    DEV 570 Advanced Methods and Tools in Development Research 3
    DEV 571 Gender and Development 3
    DEV 572 Micro Credit and Small Enterprise Development 3
    DEV 574 Healthcare and Education Management 3
    DEV 575 Environmental Management 3
    DEV 576 Poverty and Hunger 3
    DEV 577 Corruption and Governance 3
    DEV 592 Special Topics in Development Studies 3
    At most one open elective may be taken from MBA level courses.

    Internship / Fieldwork / Research Paper: (3 Credits )

    Courses

    		 Titles  [ Click on Course Title to see in details ]

    Credits
    DEV595 / DEV596 / DEV597 Research Paper / Internship / Field Work

    3

    Waiver:   Maximum 2 from Foundation
    Transfer:  Maximum 1 from Core/Foundation
    Back To To

    BS in Economics

    BS program emphasizes on all round competence in economics. Students in this program will have all the necessary skills for jobs in the related fields and ability to complete successfully higher studies in Economics at home and abroad.

    BS in Economics is a 125 credit hour program including a research paper/internship or a thesis. These credits are divided into core, elective, and general education courses. Students must complete 42 credits of general education courses, 47 credits of economics core courses, and 30 credits of elective courses (of which 15 credits must be economics courses). Of the remaining 6 credits students may opt for a 6 credit thesis or a 3 credit supervised research/internship and additional 3 credits course.

    Requirements for the BS degree in Economics are:
    I. General Education/Science/Liberal Arts/Humanities/Social Science/
       Business Course Requirements:    		 42 Credits
    (To be completed during the first two years in the program)

    Courses

    		 Titles  [ Click on Course Title to see in details ]

    Credits
    English 6

    ENG103

    		 Intermediate Composition

    ENG105

    		 Advanced Composition
    Mathematics

    MAT125

    		 Introduction to Linear Algebra

    ECO134

    		 Applied Mathematics- I

    EC0244

    		 Applied Mathematics-II
    Computer Science

    MIS105

    		 Introduction to Computers

    MIS205

    		 Computer Information Systems
    Business

    BUS251

    		 Business Communication

    Any 200 level business course
    Basic Science

    Physics/Chemistry/Biology
    Environmental Science

    EC0260

    		 Introduction to Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
    Liberal Arts and Social Science
    Open Electives

     II. Economics Core & Research Courses:

    A. Economics core courses: (47 Credits)

    Courses

    Titles  [ Click on Course Title to see in details ]
    ECO 101 Introduction to Microeconomics
    ECO 104 Introduction to Macroeconomics
    ECO 172 Introduction to Statistics
    ECO 173 Applied Statistics
    ECO 203 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory I
    ECO 204 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory I
    ECO 249 Economy of Bangladesh
    ECO 303 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory II
    ECO 304 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory II
    ECO317 Money, Banking and Financial Markets
    ECO 328 International Trade Theory & Policy
    ECO 350 Development Economics
    ECO 372 Introduction to Econometrics
    ECO 406 History of Economic Thought
    ECO 455 Research Methods and Seminar
    ECO 450 Topics in Economic Growth & Development
    B. Research (6 Credits)
    ECO499 Thesis
    or
    ECO495
    or
    ECO496    		 Supervised Research Paper
    or
    Internship
    and
    ECO4XX One Course
    III. Elective courses: 30 Credits
    (At least 15 credits must be from Economics prefix courses)

    200 level courses

    3 Credits

    300 level courses

    12 Credits

    400 level courses

    15 Credits
    200 level elective courses pool includes the following: 3 Credits
    (a) Economics:

    Courses

    Titles  [ Click on Course Title to see in details ]
    ECO 250 Economic History of Selected Countries
    ECO 253 Economic Development in Asia
    ECO 255 Comparative Economic Systems
    (b) Non-economics:
    ACT202, FIN254
    MGT210, MGT247, MGT274,
    MKT202, POL260, POL280, PSY245, LAW200
    (c) Other approved 200 level courses
    300 level elective courses pool includes the following: 12 Credits
    (a) Economics:

    Courses

    Titles  [ Click on Course Title to see in details ]
    ECO 309 Urban Economics
    ECO 314 Public Finance
    ECO 315 Agricultural Economics
    ECO 329 Contemporary issues in Global Economy
    ECO 341 Econ of Labor and Labor Markets
    ECO 343 Health Economics
    ECO 354 Environmental & Natural Resources Economics
    ECO 360 Regional Economics
    ECO 380 Industrial Organization
    ECO 388 Law and Economics
    ECO 399 Foreign Trade of Bangladesh
    (b) Non-economics:
    ACT331. ACT341. ACT345
    MGT314. MGT315, MGT32I, MGT323, MGT343, MGT346, MGT351, MGT39I , MGT392, MGT393 FIN354, FIN357
    MKT317, MKT320, MKT337, MKT344, MKT372, MKT380, MKT382
    POL328, POL361, POL385
    PSY335, PSY357
    ENV315, ENV319.
    (c) Other approved 300 level courses
    400 level elective courses pool includes the following: 15 Credits
    (a) Economics:

    Courses

    Titles  [ Click on Course Title to see in details ]
    ECO 417 Financial Economics
    ECO 430 International Finance
    ECO 435 Trade, Technology Transfer and Environment
    ECO 436 The WTO & Globalization
    ECO 451 Welfare Economics
    ECO 460 Mathematical Statistics
    ECO 465 Public Choice
    ECO 472 Applied Time Series Forecasting
    ECO 474 Mathematical Economics
    ECO 475 Game Theory with Application in Economics
    ECO 482 Model Building in Economics
    ECO 484 Project Analysis & Evaluation
    ECO 485 Mathematical Programming
    ECO 486 Energy Economics and Policy
    ECO 489 Economics of Exhaustible Resources
    ECO 491 Readings in Economics
    ECO 492 Special Topics in Economics
    (b) Non-economics:
    FIN417, FIN433, FIN435, F1N437, FIN444, MGT489, MKT 472
    ACT403, ACT421
    ENV403, ENV404, ENV409, ENV410, ENV418
    (c) Other approved 400 level courses
    Internship

    Internship is OPTIONAL for students of BS in Economics. However, students are encouraged to complete a semester of internship (available on request by the Department of Career Services of NSU). Internship is mentioned in the student transcripts.

    Minor in Economics

    Students doing major in other areas can do a minor in Economics during their undergraduate studies. To receive a minor in economics a student must complete at least 30-credit hours in selected economics courses with a minimum CGPA of 2.5. Twenty-one credits of this shall be from the list of core courses and the rest from the list of elective courses in Economics. The course requirements for Minor in Economics are:

    (a) Core Courses:                                                                      21 Credits

    Courses

    Titles  [ Click on Course Title to see in details ]
    ECO 101 Introduction to Microeconomics
    ECO 104 Introduction to Macroeconomics
    ECO 172 Introduction to Statistics
    ECO 173 Applied Statistics
    ECO 203 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory I
    ECO 204 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory II
    ECO 249 Economy of Bangladesh
    (b) Elective Courses (any three):                                                 9 Credits
    From 200 and above level approved Economics Courses.(At least two should be 300 & above level)
    Grand Total:                                                                             30 Credits

    The Department also offers a large number of service courses for students of Business, Computer Science, Environmental Studies and English.

    Economics as a Second Major

    Department of Economics also offers students of other academic discipline to take economics as their second major. To earn a second major in Economics by a non-econ student, he/she may have to take some additional courses beyond his/her required 120 credits. These students will not, however, receive a BS in Economics degree. Their degree will be named after the program they are already enrolled for but their degree will have a suffix '& Economics', for example, a BBA concentration in Finance student will now get BBA (Finance & Economics). a B.Sc. in Computer Science will get B.Sc. (Computer Science & Economics), BA (Environmental Studies & Economics), B.Sc. (Environmental Science & Economics), etc.

    The following list of courses with a total of 42 credits are required to be completed with a minimum CGPA of 2.5 by non-econ students to receive a second major in Economics. (However students of other discipline, particularly business, are in anyway required to take many courses from this list. Therefore, additional course requirement for them to have a second major is not so much.)

    Courses

    Titles  [ Click on Course Title to see in details ]
    ECO 101 Introduction to Microeconomics
    ECO 104 Introduction to Macroeconomics
    ECO 172 Introduction to Statistics
    ECO 173 Applied Statistics
    ECO 203 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory-I
    ECO 204 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory-I
    ECO 249 or Economy of Bangladesh
    ECO 260 Introduction to Environmental & natural Resource Economics
    ECO 303 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory-II
    ECO 304 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory-II
    ECO 372 Introduction to Econometrics
    ECO 3XX Any TWO courses
    ECO 4XX Any TWO courses
    Back To Top