School of Economics and Social Sciences

Infobox_University
name = School of Economics
and Social Sciences


established = 2002
type = Private
dean = Roberto S. Mariano
undergrad = 602
city = 90 Stamford Road
country = Singapore
campus = Urban
website = [http://www.sess.smu.edu.sg www.sess.smu.edu.sg]

The School of Economics and Social Science (Abbreviation: SESS) was established on 1 July 2002 to launch Singapore Management University's Bachelor of Science undergraduate programme with principal disciplines in Economics, Sociology, Political Science and Psychology.

Economics and social sciences form a key factor in the development of Singapore Management University's vision of being a foremost academic institution in "generating cutting-edge research with global impact and producing broad-based, creative and entrepreneurial leaders for the knowledge-based economy."

Faculty

SMU recruits faculty from around the world to build an exciting diversity of talent. SESS faculty is forty-four strong in 2005-2006: twenty-six in Economics and Statistics, and eighteen in Philosophy, English Literature, Political Science, Psychology, and Social Anthropology. Endowed with a wealth of experience in teaching, research and consultancy, faculty members hold PhDs from top ranking universities such as the University of Chicago, Columbia University, Harvard University, Princeton University, Stanford University, Yale University, the University of Michigan, the University of Pennsylvania and the London School of Economics.

Programs

The school offers degrees in the Bachelor of Science (Economics) and the Bachelor of Social Science.

The Bachelor of Science (Economics) is a 4-year programme modeled after the best of America's undergraduate economics programmes. The curriculum is similar in structure to the two other degree programmes offered by SMU (the BBM and the BAcc) both of which have been developed in close collaboration with the consistently top ranked Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The school also has close collaboration with The School of Arts and Sciences of the University of Pennsylvania.

The BSc (Econs) programme is broad based, offers flexibility in the choice of subjects, and at the same time, allows the student to major in Economics or double major in Economics and Finance. The double major in Economics and Finance programme is especially attractive to students who wish to build a career in the financial sector. Moreover, further reflecting the synergy between the various SMU degree programmes, students are able to enroll for double degree programmes in Economics and Business, or Economics and Accountancy.

The Bachelor of Social Science is a 4-year programme. It is the first multi-disciplinary social sciences degree programme available in Singapore with a focus on business and economics applications in the Asian marketplace.

The interdisciplinary features of the social sciences programme will provide indispensable knowledge and skills to students considering a career in applied business and economic enterprises, - especially in communications, marketing, advertising, human resource management, and management consulting; policy formulation and analysis, public service, and international affairs. The curriculum is designed to provide sufficient flexibility for students to concentrate on their chosen major or declare a second major in another social science discipline, Economics, Law, Accounting, Finance, or Marketing. Students conclude the programme during their senior year with an integrative Capstone seminar, designed especially for the Social Science students.

Research

In Economics and Statistics, faculty members have published in journals such as Econometrica, American Economic Review, Review of Economic Studies, International Economic Review, Review of Economics and Statistics, Journal of Econometrics, Journal of International Economics, Social Choice and Welfare, Journal of Business and Economic Statistics, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Journal of the American Statistical Association, and Biometrics. A small group of faculty in Humanities and Social Sciences has been formed since the start of the SESS in July 2002. Research interests include experimental psychology, social anthropology and analytical philosophy.

The School has an active seminar programme and a Working Paper Series to disseminate research findings. There is a Research Collaboration Programme through which researchers are invited and supported by the SESS for short-term visits of about two weeks. Active research collaboration has been cultivated within the SESS as well as internationally.

*The SESS Research Collaboration Programme was launched in 2002 to inculcate a vibrant research environment and to promote global collaboration with research scholars of leading universities around the world.

*The SESS Distinguished Lecture Series invites eminent scholars to deliver lectures to the academic faculty and general public. Nobel Laureate Professor Lawrence Klein from the University of Pennsylvania, Professor Ronald McKinnon from Stanford University and Professor Edmund Phelps were amongst the speakers invited to deliver lectures under the Series.

*The SESS Seminar Series helps promote the dissemination of research findings. Since the inception of the School, many invited speakers have presented papers.

*The Working Paper Series is aimed to encourage faculty to publish their preliminary research findings. Twenty three papers were contributed since January 2002. In the same period, sixteen papers were published and nine papers have been accepted for publication in various journals.

Admissions

Admission to SESS has been both competitive and selective since the school's inception. Applications for Fall 2004 Bachelor of Social Sciences (BSoc Sci) programme saw over 1,000 students vie for 50 openings while the BSc (Econs) program attracted over 800 applications for its 100 places, witnessing applicants from a combination of top A-level students, polytechnics graduates, and international students.

Competition for entry in Fall 2006 is highly competitive as Singapore Management University (SMU) received 10,600 applications for the 1,260 places in its five full-time degree programmes.

External links

* [http://www.sess.smu.edu.sg SMU School of Economics and Social Sciences website]
* [http://www.economics.smu.edu.sg/events/seminar_series/econs_stats_2006.asp SMU Economics & Statistics Seminar Series 2006]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20060222084154/http://www.sess.smu.edu.sg/events/humanities_2006.htm SMU Social Sciences and Humanities Seminar Series 2006]