IE University is preparing to launch its newest dual degree in September 2023. We sat down with Manuel Peréz and Patricia Gabaldón—the academic directors of the Bachelor in Urban Studies and of the Bachelor in Economics, respectively—and asked them all about a program that will help graduates address some of today’s most pressing issues holistically and sustainably.
What is the Dual Degree in Economics + Urban Studies?
IE University’s Dual Degree in Economics + Urban Studies is a five-year undergraduate program. Upon graduation, students who complete the program receive not one, but two fully accredited diplomas: the Bachelor in Economics and the Bachelor in Urban Studies.
What makes this dual degree program unique? Why bring Economics and Urban Studies together?
Our Dual Degree in Economics + Urban Studies is unique precisely because it combines economics and the social sciences with sustainability and new technologies in an innovative and creative way.
All around the world, cities and nations are being reshaped by constantly evolving flows of population, finance and politics—and you can’t effect meaningful change in one field without a holistic overview and understanding of the issues and their impact.
This is a truly interdisciplinary program that integrates different areas of knowledge, blending impact economics, business performance and your immediate surroundings to promote creativity, innovation and opportunity.
Who is this dual degree program for?
The Dual Degree in Economics + Urban Studies was designed for individuals who are interested in analytical thinking and data, in understanding the complexity of the principles that underpin economics in the digital and tech era, and in seeing connections between people, places and processes—even when they’re less than obvious.
If you’re curious to discover more about cities and their impacts on the social, natural and built environments and want to practice sustainability in cities to improve people’s lives, leveraging economic transformation to drive urban change, this program is for you.
“Our students are curious to discover more about cities and their impacts on the social, natural and built environments and want to improve people’s lives.”
Patricia Gabaldón, Academic Director of the Bachelor in Economics
What does the Dual Degree in Economics + Urban Studies do for you? What skill set will students develop?
The Dual Degree in Economics + Urban Studies provides students with a solid foundation in the complex principles underpinning economics in the digital and tech era, as well as the conceptual and analytical frameworks needed for professions that deal with urban change.
The program leverages advanced tools and techniques, problem-based learning and a hands-on approach to real-world issues to prepare students for careers in such disparate areas as urban change, public policy or sustainability—whether in the public, private or nonprofit sectors.
Our graduates will have gained expert knowledge in a wide range of topics, including environmental sustainability, transportation, land use, community change, and social and economic justice. More importantly, the Dual Degree in Economics + Urban Studies will have helped them discover ways to improve people’s lives through a deep understanding of cities, human behavior, economic environments and markets.
How is the program structured?
The Dual Degree in Economics + Urban Studies is a full-time program with in-person classes in Segovia and Madrid. Students spend the first year at IE University’s campus in the beautiful and ancient city of Segovia, before moving to Madrid for the program’s second, third, fourth and fifth years.
- In the first year, the program delves into ecosystems, social structure and urban and territorial studies.
- In the second year, it focuses on how our daily lives are part of an ecosystem and the roles that concepts like technology, economics and monetary systems play in modern ways of living.
- In the third year, the program merges economic simulations with the study of social justice and accessibility—in the broadest sense of the word, which includes the flow of goods, people and energy, and access to basic services and needs.
- In the fourth year, students turn their attention to the digital direction that the economy is taking and how it fits into the management of cities. As our program has an international scope, they are encouraged to study abroad to expand their horizons even further.
- In the fifth and final year of the Dual Degree in Economics + Urban Studies, students merge their economics foundation with urban development and tackle real-world issues. The Capstone Project prepares them for their future career, readying them to make an impact whether they go into the public, private or nonprofit sectors.
The first intake of this truly interdisciplinary program is September 2023. If you’re looking to make a positive impact on urban living and gain a deep understanding of cities, people and economics, check out our Dual Degree in Economics + Urban Studies.
“The Dual Degree in Economics + Urban Studies uniquely combines economics and the social sciences with sustainability and new technologies.”
Manuel Peréz, Academic Director of the Bachelor in Urban Studies