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AEA Summer Training Program at American University

AU quad with sunset clouds.

American University is proud to serve as the host institution for the American Economic Association Summer Training Program (AEASP)—a prestigious and intensive experience preparing talented undergraduates for doctoral programs in economics and related fields for more than 50 years.

Each summer, participants engage in an 8-week, rigorous curriculum in mathematical methods, microeconomics, econometrics, and research methods taught by our leading faculty. Participants will get to engage in hands-on research and become part of a lasting professional network. While at American University, the program offers students the chance to take advantage of DC’s unparalleled concentration of economists, think tanks, research institutions, and policy organizations.

2027 AEA Summer Program runs May 31 – July 23:

  • Application Deadline: January 31, 2027
  • Application Portal for the 2027 AEA Summer Program is now open

AEA Summer Program Details

For more about the summer program, please see the sections below or

Every student in the AEA Summer Training Program takes four core courses: mathematical economics, microeconomic theory, econometric analysis, and research methods.

Alongside their coursework, students work one-on-one with a research mentor and complete a research project tailored to their experience level:

  • Foundational Cohort: Students build essential research skills, from literature reviews to data analysis, while working with their mentor throughout the summer. They finish by translating their mentor's research into a policy brief that speaks to real-world audiences.
  • Advanced Cohort: Students with stronger math and research preparation go further, working with their mentor to produce an original empirical research paper in economics.

The summer culminates in the AEA Summer Training Program Research Conference, where all students showcase their work to the AEASP community.

Every student is paired with a research mentor matched to their interests. Mentors and students meet at least once a week, and receive guidance to help them get the most out of the relationship. Under their mentor's supervision, students gain hands-on experience with the work economists do every day, from literature reviews to data cleaning.

Our mentors work at leading universities, government agencies, research organizations, and consulting firms, including the Brookings Institution, Congressional Budget Office, International Monetary Fund, Urban Institute, and the World Bank. Interested in mentoring or hosting experiential learning opportunities? Contact us at [email protected].

Economics doesn't stop at the classroom door. Students spend the summer inside the institutions where economics happens, hear from leading researchers, and build the skills that graduate schools and employers look for:

  • Students have visited such leading institutions as the International Monetary Fund and the Brookings Institution.  
  • Weekly research seminars expose students to cutting-edge research across labor, trade, macroeconomics, and public policy. Students learn to follow a research argument, ask sharp questions, and connect academic work to real policy decisions.  
  • Hands-on workshops introduce students to a variety of tools used by economists, including Stata, LaTeX/Overleaf, and ArcGIS. 
  • Career panels and workshops on applying to graduate help students map their next steps.
AEASP cohort on AU campus

Next Generation of Economists Spends the Summer at AU

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Support the Future of Economics

The AEA Summer Training Program would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors: the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, Analysis Group, Stata, and the National Association for Business Economics. Their commitment opens doors for talented students from a wide variety of backgrounds, giving them the skills, mentorship, and networks to pursue careers in economics.

You can help us expand access to a career in economics. Donate directly to the program to support scholarships and program activities, or contact us at [email protected] to learn about sponsorship and experiential learning opportunities for your organization. If you're a working economist or researcher, consider sharing your time and expertise as a mentor. Whether through a gift, a partnership, or an hour of your time, you can help shape the next generation of economists.

 

Faculty