Overview of the Program

The Summer Program in Economics is an intensive program designed to prepare prospective students wishing to pursue graduate studies in the field of Economics, Agricultural Economics and allied fields at the UPLB or in other universities abroad.

The Program began during the summer of 1977 under the auspices of the Department of Economics of the University of the Philippines Los Baños. It is conducted by a selected pool of faculty from the Department, the Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Physics, and the Institute of Statistics. The main purpose of the Program is to provide the students with a foundation on the rudiments of economic principles and its tools of analysis.

Since 1977, the Program has serviced many students, Filipinos and foreigners alike. Majority of these students have pursued further studies in Economics leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees here and abroad.
A combination of a well-selected faculty and staff as well as rigorous and comprehensive lectures and discussion of the economic concepts and tools have helpd these students in understanding and appreciating this discipline in social science.

The Program, however, is not only designed to provide an intensive immersion into economic theory and its tools. It aims to produce well-rounded economists. Thus, it also hosts social activities where the students have the opportunity not only to get to know each other and the faculty but the only as well.

The SPE is divided into two parts:

• economic principles (microeconomic theory and macroeconomic theory); and
• economic tools of analysis (econometrics and mathematical economics)

Courses taught in the SPE include

• Microeconomic Theory - introduces students to the theory of consumer behavior and demand, the thoery of production and supply, resource allocation and market equilibrium.
• Macroeconomic Theory - focuses on aggregate economic analsis, the measurement of the level of economic activity, and the analysis of key macroeconomic variables as well as the interaction in a modern market economy.
• Mathematical Economics - deals with quantitative tools most frequently used in economics based on set theory, differential and integral calculus, and linear algebra.
• Econometrics - orients students with the basic concepts and theory in statistics as applied to empirical problems in economics

Schedule of Activities

The SPE is usually held from April 2 to March 31 at the College of Economics and Management, U.P. Los Baños. The schedules of the different program modules are as follows:

• Macroeconomic Theory: Mondays and Wednesdays in April
• Mathematical Economics: Tuesdays and Thursdays in April
• Microeconomic Theory: Mondays and Wednesdays in May
• Econometrics: Tuesdays and Thursdays in May

Application Procedure

The SPE is designed for

• applicants admitted to the M.S./Ph.D. Agricultural Economics program or to the M.S. Economics program at U.P. Los Baños;
• students who have been admitted to graduate programs in Economics and related fields in other universities; and
• individuals who are interested in a refresher course on basic economic theory.

To signify your attendance of the SPE, send to the SPE coordinator the following information: applicant's name, mailing address, telephone/fax number, and email address (if any). Applications must be submitted to the SPE coordinator no later than March 25 of each year.

There is no application fee. The fees for attending the program are as follows:

• foreign students: USD 600.00
• Filipino students: PHP 6000.00

The fees above are exclusive of books and accommodations. Arrangements can be made for applicants who wish to take selected subject modules of the SPE.

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