The School of Economics (SOE) plans to divide the undergraduate degree Bachelor of Science (BS)-Applied Economics (BS-AEC) into two tracks: (1) BS-AEC major in Industrial Economics, and (2) BS-AEC major in Financial Economics. This was planned after the SOE’s recognition of the increasing demand for economics graduates with a strong background in finance.
Dr. Winfred M. Villamil, SOE Dean, shares that there is a lack of students with a strong background in finance, and financial institutions have approached DLSU asking for tie-ups with the University. Companies plan to give students internship opportunities and send professors to teach finance. “The investment houses want to locate here and they want economics students,” he adds.
Economics Professor and University Fellow Dr. Tereso S. Tullao, explains that majoring in Industrial Economics, will train students for a career in the corporate world. The track will follow the curriculum of the current BS-AEC. On the other hand, majoring in Financial Economics will prepare students in the field of finance, which involve the stock market and securities trading.
In addition, SOE is studying the feasibility of pairing the Bachelor of Arts in Economics (AB-ECM) undergraduate program with some courses from the College of Liberal Arts (CLA).
The University currently offers double degrees in AB-ECM and business courses in the undergraduate program. Villamil shares that students under certain courses such as the Development Studies program (AB-DSM) or the International Studies program (AB-ISE, AB-ISJ, and AB-ISA) are inclined towards and would likely benefit from acquiring a strong background in economics.
Students taking the International Studies program, for example, need to understand international trade and European and Australian single market and tax, which are economics related. SOE has tasked a committee to look into the feasibility of a double degree in economics and a liberal arts course.
Opportunities and obstacles
In addition, SOE now has a ladderized BS-Master of Science (MS) Honors Economics program. The program gives students the opportunity to take their BS degree followed by their MS in a span of four years. The BS courses will take three years and the MS can be finished in a year.
The aforementioned changes are a product of discussion between the students and the faculty, says Tullao. “We [as the school] want to reach out to as many students as possible by making the program understandable to parents and students,” he furthers.
Future in finance education
DLSU already offers eight BS-Economics programs, eight AB-Economics programs, two Physics degrees with minor in Economics, as well as a Master’s degree in Applied Economics.
Villamil explains that the upcoming changes will require hiring new faculty members with expertise in finance by next year. BS-AEC major in Industrial Economics as well as BS-AEC major in Financial Economics will be offered beginning AY 2013-2014 to incoming freshmen.
