Global Economics and Management

The first year of study in the Global Economics and Management (GEM) program is designed to provide students with a broad foundation in the relevant disciplines. In this year, students will have the opportunity to select introductory modules totaling 45 credit points (CP) from a variety of study programs. Of these, 30 CP must be from the student's intended major.

Students can still change their major at the beginning of the second year of studies if they have taken the corresponding modules of their desired major in the first year.

GEM students take the following discipline-specific CHOICE Modules in their first year of study:

• CHOICE Module: Microeconomics (7.5 CP)
• CHOICE Module: Macroeconomics (7.5 CP)
• CHOICE Module: Introduction to International Business (7.5 CP)
• CHOICE Module: Introduction to Finance and Accounting (7.5 CP)

These lecture-tutorial combinations give the students a general overview of the basic concepts and theories in economics and business. The associated tutorials allow students to reinforce the material covered in the lectures through discussions, case studies, and exercises.

During the second year of study, students will have the opportunity to further deepen their understanding of their chosen major through 45 credit points (CP) of discipline-specific CORE modules. These modules will build upon the foundational knowledge gained in the first year and aim to provide students with a more in-depth and current understanding of key theories, principles, and methods in their major.

The GEM program requires students to take 30 CP of the following CORE modules:

• CORE: Development Economics (7.5 CP)
• CORE: Environmental and Resource Economics (7.5 CP)
• CORE: Comparing Economic Systems (7.5 CP)
• CORE: International Economics (7.5 CP)
• CORE: Marketing (7.5 CP)
• CORE: Organization and Human Resource Management (7.5 CP)

These modules will be delivered through a combination of seminars and tutorials, allowing students to learn through lecture inputs, paper discussions, and interactive group work. As students progress through the program, exams will become increasingly focused on essays and presentations.

In addition to the required 30 CP, students can choose an additional 15 CP in CORE modules, allowing them to pursue their interests or even a minor in another field of study.

During their third year, students focus on preparing for their post-graduation career by exploring their options and gaining professional experience through a mandatory summer internship.

The fifth semester offers a unique opportunity for students to study abroad and broaden their cultural and academic horizons. In the final semester, students hone their research skills by working on an extended Bachelor's thesis project.

In addition, GEM students take 15 CP worth of major-specific and related specialization modules to deepen their knowledge in areas of their choice. These modules allow students to consolidate their knowledge and stay up-to-date with the latest research in their field.

GEM students choose 15 CP of the following Specialization Modules:

• Specialization: Advanced Econometrics (5 CP)
• Specialization: Managing Public and Nonprofit Organizations (5 CP)
• Specialization: Information Economics (5 CP)
• Specialization: Lean Management (5 CP)
• Specialization: Managerial Accounting (5 CP)
• Specialization: Contemporary Topics in Marketing (5 CP)

At Constructor University, students are given a unique opportunity to boost their employability through a mandatory two-month internship worth 15 credits. This opportunity usually takes place during the summer between the second and third year of study, providing students with the chance to gain practical experience in a professional setting. Through this internship, students can apply the knowledge and understanding they have gained from their major to real-world contexts, evaluate the significance of their major in the employment sector and society, reflect on their role in employment and society, and make informed career decisions. For students interested in starting their own company, an alternative to the full-time internship is offered as a start-up option, which allows them to focus on developing their business plan.

The Jacobs Track, an important feature of Constructor University’s educational concept, runs parallel to the disciplinary modules across all study years and is an integral part of the study program. It reflects a university-wide commitment to in-depth training in scientific methods, fosters an interdisciplinary approach, raises awareness of global challenges and societal responsibility, enhances employability, and equips students with extra skills desirable in the general field of study. Additionally, it integrates (German) language and culture modules.

Methods and Skills modules
Methods and skills such as mathematics, statistics, programming, data handling, presentation skills, academic writing, and scientific and experimental skills are offered to all students as part of the Methods and Skills area modules. Students are required to take 20 CP in the Methods/Skills area.

GEM students take the following Methods modules:

• Methods: Applied Calculus (5 CP)
• Methods: Applied Statistics with R (5 CP)
• Methods: Qualitative Research Methods (5 CP)
• Methods: Econometrics (5 CP)

Big Questions modules
The modules of the Big Questions area intend to broaden the students’ horizon with applied problem-solving between and beyond the disciplines. The offerings comprise problem-solving oriented modules that tackle global challenges from the perspectives of different disciplinary backgrounds and that allow, in particular, a reflection of the acquired disciplinary knowledge in economic, societal, technological, and/or ecological contexts.

GEM students select 2-4 modules (10 CP) from a broad portfolio of Big Questions modules.

Community Impact Project
In their 5th semester, students must take a 5 CP Community Impact Project (CIP) module. Students engage in on-campus or off-campus activities that challenge their social responsibility, i.e., they typically work on major-related projects that make a difference in the community life on campus, in its neighborhood, in Bremen, or on a cross-regional level.

Language modules
Constructor University supports its students in acquiring and improving these skills by offering a variety of language modules at all proficiency levels. Emphasis is put on fostering the German language skills of international students as they are an essential prerequisite for non-native-speaking students to learn about, explore, and eventually integrate into their host country and its professional environment.
All students take four language courses in the first and second years.

The curriculum of the study program is outlined in the schematic study plan:

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