Bachelor of Economics
Department of Economics
Equips students with rigorous theoretical, quantitative and econometric foundations and the practical data skills to carry out economic research, policy analysis and evidence-based decision-making for Somalia and the region.
Degree Awarded
Bachelor of Economics
Duration
5 Years (10 Semesters)
Total Credit Hours
204 Credit Hours
Total Courses
72 Courses
Language of Instruction
English
Campus Location
Mogadishu, Somalia
Overview
Somalia's economic reconstruction after decades of conflict depends on the availability of analysts who can turn scarce and often incomplete data into sound policy advice. Ministries, the Central Bank of Somalia, development agencies and research institutions all require staff who can construct and interrogate datasets, estimate economic relationships, and translate the results into decisions that affect public spending, monetary policy and investment. The Bachelor of Economics provides a strong foundation in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, mathematics and statistics, while building applied competence through a data-analysis practicum that runs in every semester of the degree phase, progressing students from spreadsheet work through SPSS, STATA and R to field survey design.
Background and Rationale
Economics provision in Somalia has historically been strong on theory and weak on applied quantitative skill, so graduates often leave university able to discuss economic concepts but unable to build a dataset, run a regression, or design a field survey. At the same time, demand for this capability is rising sharply: donor-funded programmes, the reconstruction of public financial management systems, and a growing private banking and Takaful sector all compete for the same small pool of data-literate economists. What distinguishes this programme is its explicit orientation toward the Somali economy: a dedicated course examines the structure, sectors and policy challenges of the Somali economy directly, and a parallel strand examines Islamic economic institutions, including zakat and endowment (waqf), and their contemporary application to poverty reduction and development finance.
Vision & Mission
To be a leading centre of economic analysis in the Horn of Africa, advancing evidence-based policy and producing economists who contribute to Somalia's reconstruction and long-term development.
The Bachelor of Economics programme equips students with rigorous theoretical, quantitative and econometric foundations and the capacity to apply them to the economic problems facing Somalia and the region. Through problem-based learning, data analysis using contemporary statistical software, and supervised research, it produces graduates capable of economic research, policy analysis and evidence-based decision-making in government, the private sector and development organisations.
Objectives & Learning Outcomes
- 1Provide Rigorous Theoretical Grounding — equip students with strong microeconomic and macroeconomic theory to intermediate level.
- 2Develop Quantitative Capability — build mathematical, statistical and econometric capability sufficient for independent applied research.
- 3Build Practical Data Skills — develop practical fluency in contemporary statistical software and in field data collection.
- 4Address the Somali Context — apply economic analysis to the specific structure and problems of the Somali economy.
- 5Establish Islamic Economic Literacy — build understanding of Islamic economic institutions and their contemporary application.
- 6Instil Ethical Standards — embed ethical standards in research, data handling, and the provision of economic advice.
- 1Explain microeconomic and macroeconomic theory at intermediate level and apply it to the analysis of markets, policy and aggregate outcomes.
- 2Apply mathematical and statistical methods to formulate and solve economic problems.
- 3Specify, estimate and interpret econometric models using appropriate software, and assess the validity of the results.
- 4Analyse development, monetary, fiscal, trade and sectoral policy questions with particular reference to the Somali economy.
- 5Evaluate the economic role of Islamic economic institutions, including zakat and endowment.
- 6Design and conduct an independent economic research study, from question formulation through to reporting.
- 7Interpret and present economic data and analysis clearly to policy and non-technical audiences.
- 8Apply ethical standards in research, data handling and the provision of economic advice.
Programme Duration
- Total duration: five (5) academic years, comprising ten (10) semesters, each sixteen (16) teaching weeks in length.
- Programme phases: Foundation Year (Semesters I–II, 44 credit hours) followed by the Degree Phase (Semesters III–X, 160 credit hours). A student must pass all 44 Foundation Year credit hours before registering for any Semester V course.
- Course load: minimum full-time load of 15 credit hours; a normal load of 18–21 credit hours; a maximum of 22 credit hours in the Foundation Year or 21 credit hours in the Degree Phase.
- Academic load: 72 courses and 204 credit hours in total, distributed across the ten semesters as prescribed in the Study Plan.
- Credit-hour equivalence: one (1) credit hour equals sixteen (16) contact hours of instruction per semester, together with the independent study needed to meet the course's learning outcomes.
Admission & Graduation Requirements
Entry Criteria
- Somali Secondary School Certificate or a recognised equivalent, with a minimum aggregate of 60%.
- Satisfactory performance on the English and mathematics placement tests, sat by all admitted students before Semester I registration.
Required Documents
- Original secondary school certificate and one certified copy.
- Four passport-size photographs, white background.
- Letter of good conduct from the applicant's secondary school.
- Transfer applicants may apply for credit transfer of up to 50% of the Foundation Year, assessed course by course against SIU learning outcomes.
- Complete all 72 required courses, totalling 204 credit hours, across ten semesters.
- Achieve a minimum grade of D (50%) in every course.
- Achieve a cumulative CGPA of at least 2.00 on a 4.00 scale.
- Complete all prescribed Skills, Professional Practice and Internship requirements, with a satisfactory supervisor report for each.
- Successfully complete and defend Graduation Project I and II.
- Pass the comprehensive exit examination assessing programme-level mastery of knowledge, skills and professional values.
- Clear all financial and library obligations.
Career Opportunities
Economic and Policy Analyst — in government ministries, the central bank, and regulatory bodies.
Development Economist — with development agencies, NGOs and international organisations.
Research Analyst — in economic research institutions, think tanks and universities.
Data Analyst / Econometrician — analysing economic and business data using SPSS, STATA and R.
Banking and Finance Officer — in commercial banks, Islamic financial institutions, and Takaful providers.
Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist — assessing the impact of development and policy programmes.
Entrepreneur — founding and managing a private business venture.
Academic and Research Roles — engaging in teaching, training, and economic research.
Delivery & Assessment
- Lectures for core concept delivery across all taught courses.
- Tutorials and problem classes for quantitative and technical courses.
- Seminars and discussion forums for theory, policy and ethics courses.
- Computer laboratory sessions for software, modelling and data-analysis courses.
- Case study analysis in applied and specialisation courses.
- Group projects and presentations, assessed within coursework.
- Industry visits, at least one per academic year.
- Practitioner-delivered sessions in specialisation courses.
- Supervised professional internships.
- Supervised research for the Graduation Project.
| Assessment Component | Weighting |
|---|---|
| Coursework (quizzes, assignments, reports, presentations, group projects, practical exercises) | 40% |
| Midterm Examination | 20% |
| Final Examination | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
Practical Training
The Bachelor of Economics programme places significant emphasis on hands-on, supervised practical training that complements classroom instruction throughout the five years of study.
- Data-Analysis Practicum — a dedicated Skills course runs in every semester of the degree phase, progressing from data entry and Excel through SPSS, STATA and R to survey design and data visualisation.
- Survey Design and Field Practice — Survey Design & ODK Practice trains students to design and field mobile-based surveys using industry-standard tools.
- Internship I and II — students complete two supervised professional placements (embedded in Survey Design & ODK Practice in Semester VIII and Research Attachment in Semester X), applying data-collection and research skills in a workplace setting under mentor supervision.
- Industry Visits — at least one organised industry or institutional visit per academic year.
- Graduation Project I and II — the capstone research project in Year 5 requires each student to design, conduct and defend an original piece of economic research.
Faculty and Learning Facilities
- Classrooms — equipped with projection and presentation facilities.
- Computer Laboratory — specialised software for business, financial and statistical analysis (including SPSS, STATA and R), with high-speed connectivity.
- Library — a print collection in business and economics, with access to online databases and journals.
- Learning Management System — SIU Online and the student portal for materials, submission and communication.
- Academic Staff — qualified lecturers with relevant postgraduate qualifications, and practitioner lecturers for specialisation courses.
- Student Support — academic advising, careers guidance, and internship placement services.
- Community Engagement — facilities for workshops, seminars, employer events, and outreach.
Contact Information
Faculty of Business and Economics, Somali International University (SIU)