Economics and Social Sciences

The undergraduate and graduate study programs are offered by a highly qualified and dedicated faculty body within the department, contributed additionally by faculty and experts from other universities or institutions from home and abroad. More than half of the faculty members obtained their respective PhD degree from internationally reputed universities of the world, and have strong teaching, research and publication records. The department’s young bright teachers are dedicated to developing their academic careers and contributing to development of students’ all round quality and development. All faculty members are committed to close engagements with students to develop their intellectual curiosity and motivation for learning.

Faculty members, Economics and Social Sciences

Founded in 2003, the Department of Economics and Social Sciences (ESS) Brac University, has now expanded to 26 full time faculty members, 500 students and an alumni body of over 300 graduates. ESS seeks to make students understand the economic and social realities they live in, both in Bangladesh and the globalized world, and to develop critical insights and analysis to help them determine solutions. Along with emphasis on growth as well-rounded individuals with strong ethical values, ESS prepares students both for the job market and for graduate studies and research at home and abroad.

Study Programs

Bachelor of Social Science in Economics (BSS in Economics)
Bachelor of Social Science in Anthropology (BSS in Anthropology)
Master of Science in Applied Economics (MS in Applied Economics)

The department also offers three minors

Minor in Economics
Minor in Anthropology
Minor in Sociology

Why BRAC University

Highest ranked (#1) among private universities in Bangladesh (QS Asian University Ranking 2018).
Brac University’s Residential Semester (RS) at Savar campus is unique amongst higher education experiences in Bangladesh. This residential semester provides a support system that aids students in becoming confident and self-reliant.
Over the years, Brac University has partnered with the reputed academic and research institutions around the world to enhance our own educational experience by learning from others.
Brac University Ayesha Abed Library is the first among the university libraries in Bangladesh with the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) System in the library.
Research opportunity with Brac Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), Brac Research and Evaluation Division (RED), School of Public Health (JPGSPH), Centre for Climate Change & Environmental Research (C3ER).

Bachelor of Social Science (BSS) in Economics

Why study Economics at BRACU

Other than the BracU-wide broad based education that imparts critical and global thinking, quantitative and communication skills, ESS offers its students a comprehensive, demanding and innovative curriculum for BSS in Economics. The major in Economics:

Provides a strong and broad-based foundation in economics that prepares students for the job market in government, private sector, research institutions and organizations, economic think tanks, consulting enterprises, development agencies and international organizations.
Provides a firm grounding in modern economic theory and a strong theoretical base for graduate study in economics in internationally reputed economics departments.
Develops the capacity for doing analytical and quantitative research.
Sharpens understanding of the intricacies of the global economy.
Fosters independent, analytical thinking on economic problems and policies.

Curriculum Structure

The program requires 120 credit hours in total where:

A student, doing major in economics, must have to complete 48 credit hours of economics core courses.
The core courses include microeconomics, macroeconomics, quantitative methods (statistics, mathematics), econometrics, international trade and finance, Bangladesh economy, money and banking, research methodology and thesis.
The elective courses include environmental economics, labour economics, health economics, urban economics, and industrial economics.

Minor in Economics: For doing a minor in economics, students require to complete 24 credit hours from economics core courses and 3 credit hours from economics elective courses. In total 27 credit hours are required.

Bachelor of Social Science (BSS) in Anthropology

Why study Anthropology at BRACU

ESS has been offering a major in Anthropology since the Spring of 2013. The program is committed to rigorous teaching, writing and analytical skill-building on issues such as development, modernity, nationalism, sovereignty and culture. Close mentoring of students, both in the class room as well as in the field, ensure high-quality social science training, with prospects for advanced degrees and interesting careers in the development sectors and elsewhere. The Anthropology program thus offers the following:

Intensive course work covering theoretical advances and practical experiences
Extensive field work
Research with faculty members
Internship with research organizations and NGOs
Participation in workshops and conferences
Career planning advice for graduate studies and for employment opportunities.

Curriculum Structure

The program requires 120 credit hours in total where:

A student, doing major in anthropology, must have to complete at least 60 credit hours in Anthropology. This will include sixteen (16) core courses that are compulsory and at least four (4) courses from the list of electives provided by the Anthropology department.
The core courses focus on introduction, history and contemporary issues of anthropology; politics, domination and society; anthropology of development; kinship, marriage and family; gender and society; religion and society.

Minor in Anthropology: To be eligible for a minor in anthropology, students are required to complete a total of 27 credits where 12 credits must be in the core areas of Anthropology.

Minor in Sociology: To be eligible for a minor in sociology, students are required to complete a total of 24 credits where 9 credit hours are required from core sociological theories. Among the rest of 15 credits, at least 9 credits are required from 300-level and 3 credits are from 400-level courses.

Master of Science in Applied Economics (MSAE)

Why study for a graduate degree in Economics at BRACU

The Master of Science in Applied economics (MSAE) aims to creating highly competent economics professionals for serving in the private and public sectors of the country. The Master of Science in Applied Economics (MSAE) degree is designed to:

Strike a balance between theory and practice
Strengthen application of economic tools in practical settings
Apply economics in professional works
Create highly competent economic professionals
Provide a career opportunity in banks; development agencies and think-tanks; financial organizations such as leasing, insurance; non-governmental organizations; international agencies and also enable students to carry on to the PhD level

Curriculum Structure

The program requires 36 credit hours in total where:

A student must have to complete 15 credit hours from core courses and 9 credit hours from concentration courses.
The core component consists of graduate level microeconomics, macroeconomics, quantitative methods and econometrics, students will have the option of concentrating in one of three key fields, namely: econometrics, financial economics and public policy.