Department of Public Administration & Policy

Math & Economics Boot Camp

The objective of Boot Camp is to improve your math and economics skills while you get to know your peers.

Boot Camp is tailored exclusively for incoming MPP students wishing to prepare for the advanced economic and mathematical requirements of that degree, as well as for those MPA students committed to pursuing a policy analysis concentration (i.e., taking PUAD 601 and/or 670 in their first semester at AU).

The August 2013 math and economics boot camp will be Friday August 16 2013 to Sunday August 18 2013 from 9 AM to 5 PM in Ward Rooms 2 and 3. Please RSVP by Friday August 2nd to Mitch Dowd at dowd@american.edu.

2013 Syllabus Coming Soon!

Download 2012 Syllabus

 

Basic Mathematics Review

  • Greek notation
  • Operators
  • Order of operations
  • Basics of probability
  • Logs
  • Exponents
  • Properties of expected values
  • Equation of a line
  • Tangencies

 

 

Algebra

  • Manipulating mathematical equations
  • Solving equation(s) with one or two unknowns, including equations with logs & exponents

Microeconomics

  • What is economics?
  • Microeconomics vs. Macroeconomics
  • Positive vs. Normative analysis
  • Opportunity cost
  • Thinking on the margin: Marginal benefit and Marginal cost
  • Comparative advantage vs. absolute advantage
  • Low-Hanging Fruit Principle
  • International trade and specialization
  • Excessive specialization?
  • What is a market? What are prices?
  • Supply, demand, and market equilibrium
  • Using algebra to answer economic questions

News

Professor Alison Jacknowitz, director of the MPP program, and SPA prof. David Pitts at SPA boot camp. (Photo: Bill Petros)

First SPA Boot Camp Reinvigorates Skills

Public administration, policy master’s students brush up on math, economics.

Learn More


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