MS IDEC stands for the 
masters of international and

development economics.

And the idea is to take aspects 
of microeconomics, which

is very keen on development, 
and macroeconomics

in international economics, 
and combine the two so that you

as a practitioner can go 
out and do development

work on an international scale.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

IDEC IS A two-year 
master program

that trains do you then in 
the development economy stem.

I chose the master's 
degree because it gives you

an extra edge with 
quantitative skills

that you learn and sets 
you up in the job market.

They not only taught us 
kind of more traditional

econometric classes, but the 
professors and all the staff

are really active 
in trying to make

sure we have the most current 
technological skills, like data

analysis.

We're incorporating more 
Python and different programs

like that into the curriculums.

First year, the students take 
classes, micro, macroeconomics.

But especially, right 
from the beginning,

they started thinking 
about a research topic.

So it's a pretty mixed 
cohort, like multicultural.

It's really interesting 
to be in class

because everyone 
brings different ideas

from different 
parts of the world.

So you learn more 
than just the lecture.

You learn with the people 
that are surrounding you.

Obviously, the most 
unique and valuable part

of this I would say is the 
summer research component

because it really gives you a 
clear idea of exactly what you

want to do and a chance to 
apply the skills that we've

learned the whole first year.

From my summer internship, I got 
to go to Kenya, Eastern Africa,

and then went to a nonprofit 
organization called

Village Enterprise 
that eradicates poverty

by promoting innovation 
and entrepreneurship.

I went out to Campolo, 
Uganda with a company

called BRAC, Bangladeshi 
Resources Across Communities.

I think that each new 
and different experience

is important, especially 
to understanding

the global mindset.

It enabled us to be 
able to have the field

experience or the 
market experience

as you were doing your masters.

So once you graduate, you have 
the skills necessary in class

and also outside.

If students are 
not econ major, we

have a summer 
bridge program that

will help them get up to 
speed and at the level

of the other classmate.

So when we can 
start in the fall,

we are all speaking 
the same language.