international affairs – Elliott School Graduate Student Services

September Spotlight on: David Okun

GradAdvisorSeptember 10, 2015Leave a comment

david okun

David is a second year in the M.A. Latin American and Hemispheric Studies program and a Brazil Initiative Fellow, with specializations in Security and Economic Development. He serves as an editor on the GWU International Affairs Review, was an Orientation Leader this summer, and is active in the DC performing arts community.

While at the Elliott School, he has interned with Freedom House; the Organization of American States; and the State Department as a summer intern and currently as a Pathways Intern.

Prior to grad school, David taught in a bilingual classroom in Texas through Teach For America. David graduated from the University of Georgia in 2012 with bachelor's degrees in Spanish and International Affairs.

Recruiting Global Ambassador Volunteers

GradAdvisorJuly 20, 2015Leave a comment

The International and Academic Initiatives office is seeking Global Ambassador volunteers for the International Graduate Student Orientation from August 17 to August 21 to show international students around campus, around DC, and to help them get settled into the United States. Volunteers are especially needed on the afternoon of the 17th, 18th, and 21st. We already have a few volunteers for the evenings, so volunteers with availability during the afternoons are preferred. This is a great way to meet people from other cultures!

Interested students should contact Katherine Safon at esintl@gwu.edu.

FAQ of the week: What are the ECON Review Courses?

GradAdvisorMay 4, 2015Leave a comment

The most commonly asked question among incoming students this week was regarding preparing for economics coursework and/or meeting the micro- and macrcoeconomics admissions requirement. Here is one available option to review economics prior to your first semester:

The Institute for International Economic Policy will offer two separate sets of economics review sessions immediately prior to the fall semester, located on the Foggy Bottom campus.

Introductory economics sessions (one in Microeconomics and one in Macroeconomics) will provide a review for students who have only taken one or two previous economics courses. The introductory sessions are particularly appropriate for those students preparing to take ECON 6250 (Survey of Development Economics) and ECON 6280 (Survey of International Economics). If you can only attend one, micro is more helpful for ECON 6250.Intermediate economics sessions (one in Microeconomics and one in Macroeconomics) will provide a review for students who have a more extensive economics background. The intermediate sessions are more helpful for students planning to take ECON 6283 (International Trade Theory and Policy) and ECON 6284 (International Macroeconomics Theory and Policy). Also note, Micro sessions are a better preparation for ECON 6283 and the Macro sessions are better for ECON 6284.Students will not receive graduate credit for these sessions.

Students who are required to complete an introductory OR intermediate Micro and Macroeconomics requirement may do so by passing a proficiency exam, offered on the afternoon of September 12th.

(Note: The Security Policy Studies program's economics requirement cannot be fulfilled by taking the summer review sessions and passing the proficiency exam).

Review Session Dates:

August 17-22, 24-27, 29 (a total of 11 sessions of review)

Proficiency exams will be offered on Saturday, September 12.

For more information, visit the Institute for International Economic Policy (IIEP) website.