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A Freshman Orientation by the SE Undergraduate Committee 9 May 2012 1

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2 Outline The UPSE Why an economics major? Overview of the BS Economics and BS Business Economics curricula The UP Grading System Rules on scholastic delinquency Rules on graduation and graduating with honors Other important notes

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University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE) The UPSE provides instruction leading to undergraduate and graduate degrees in economics. Its Ph.D. program has an international reputation and its faculty has the countrys largest concentration of economics Ph.D.s, including two National Scientist and two Academicians. Nobel laureates, such as Simon Kuznets, Paul Krugman, and Douglass North, and other world-renowned economists, have lectured at the School. After 43 years of dedicated pursuit of excellence in the fields of teaching, research and public service, the UPSE has produced some of the countrys prime movers in government, business, civil society and academia. 3

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Economics: the Just Right Liberal-Arts Major [Employers] want students who can think, communicate orally, write, and solve problems, and who are comfortable with quantitative analysis. They do not expect colleges to provide students with specific training in business skills. The economics major provides the appropriate middle ground of skill preparation, analytic rigor, and intellectual excitement that students look for in a major, and that employers look for when hiring students. - Colander, David, March 2009 (http://middlebury.edi/~econ) 4

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Undergraduate Programs The SE baccalaureate programs are designed to provide students with the basic tools of economic analysis, including quantitative methods, enabling students to think and communicate clearly about problems and issues, and preparing them for a wide range of jobs and graduate school options. BS Economics: A flexible liberal arts curriculum, which allows for an informal minor (30 units of free electives) BS Business Economics: Suitable for students who have, in effect, already chosen to minor in business management/administration. Focus on decision science. 5

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Undergraduate Programs BS Economics: 135 units BS Bus Economics: 135 units RGEP (8 required, including Econ 11, Math 17, and 7 free choices): 47 units Math 100, Math 102, Stat 101, PI 100, Accounting 1: 16 units Economics: 42 units (8 required; 5 electives) Free electives: 30 units (10 subjects) RGEP (8 required, including Econ 11, Math 17, and 7 free choices): 47 units Math 100, Math 102, Stat 101, PI 100, Accounting 1: 16 units Economics: 39 units (10 required; 2 electives) Business (M/F/B) subjects: 18 units (2 M; 1 F; 3 B) Free electives: 15 units (5 subjects) 6

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The RGEP (Revitalized Generalized Education Program) Students must take 15 units in each of 3 domains for a total of 45 units (47 in our case), 6 units of which must be in Philippine Studies The 3 domains: Arts and Humanities (reqd: Eng 10, Com3, Fil40) Social Sciences and Philosophy (reqd: Kas 1, Philo 1, Econ 11) Mathematics, Science, and Technology (reqd: STS, Math 17) [See http://www.upd.edu.ph/~ovcaa/rgep ] http://www.upd.edu.ph/~ovcaa/rgep 7

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Notes Kas 1 and Fil 40 satisfy Philippine Studies requirement Do not take English 1, Math 2 unless you are identified for the Bridge Program. You may take Math 1 (which is not listed in primer) 8

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Other requirements 8 units of (or 4 courses in) Physical Education 2 semesters of any one of the following National Service Training Program (NSTP) components: Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Civil Welfare Training Service (CWTS) for UPSE 9

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CWTS Semester 1: lectures by various resource persons; showing of socially relevant movies Semester 2: 40 hours of public service; students are deployed to partner agencies (e.g., Gawad Kalinga, PGH); activities include tutorials for school children, development of library facilities in public schools 10

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For BSE: How about the 10 free electives? (of which 7 must have course code > 100) Option 1: Variety! Play the field Option 2: Anticipate a profession, e.g. Professional teacher? Environmental planner? Lawyer? Foreign Service Officer? Multilateral organization (UN)? Business sector? NOTE: For BSBE, 3 electives must have course code > 100 11

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Academic Load Typically, subjects have 3 units each (3 hours per week) UP students are required to take a minimum of 15 units per semester Otherwise no honors. Please see UPD General Catalogue 2004- 2010 p. 31 Overloading > curriculum units + 2. So, limits are Freshmen max of 19 units Sophomores/Juniorsmax of 20 units Seniorsmax of 18 units Graduatingmax of 21 units To overload, students need their advisers consent 12

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The UP Grading System 1.0Excellent 1.25 1.5Very Good 1.75 2.0Good 2.25 2.5Satisfactory 2.75 3.0Pass 4.0Conditional 5.0Fail DRPDropped INCIncomplete 13

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Kwatro (4.0) means conditional may be removed by (i) successful repetition of the course or (ii) passing a re-examination within 1 academic year if the student passes the re-examination, the student gets a grade of 3.0; otherwise, a 5.0 if the student does not remove the grade within 1 academic year, the grade of 4.0 becomes a 5.0 14

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Inc Given to a student whose class standing is passing but fails to take the final examination or fails to complete other requirements of the subject due to valid reasons (e.g., illness) The student has 1 academic year to complete the course requirements 15

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Important grade averages WAG Weighted Average grade Weighted average of all subjects taken that are credited in your curriculum. EWA - Economics Weighted Average Weighted average of all Economics subjects taken (excluding Economics 11). 16

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University (General) Rule on Scholastic Standing A student is in good scholastic standing if at the end of the semester s/he obtains a final grade of 3 or higher in at least 75% of the total number of academic units in which s/he is registered. However, colleges/units may impose additional rules on good scholastic standing such as a minimum grade average or required number of units passed per semester/year. Source: UPD General Catalogue 2004-2010 page 29-30 and 31 17

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In other words, Colleges may have stricter rules than those of the University in general. For determining scholastic standing, SE rules are stricter. For determining eligibility for graduation, SE rules are stricter 18

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SE Rules on Scholastic Delinquency 1. By the end of the junior year or summer term of it, student must have cumulative WAG and EWA of no lower than 2.5, otherwise dismissed from the school. 19

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Rules on Scholastic Delinquency 2. At the end of every semester, a student must have: (i)a cumulative EWA of no lower than 2.5, (ii)a cumulative WAG of no lower than 2.5, AND (iii) must obtain regular grades (i.e., not INCs nor DRPs) in at least 60% of the total number of units registered Otherwise, he/she will be placed on PROBATION the following term Probation may be removed by satisfying requirements (i), (ii), and (iii) at the end of the semester that the student was on probation Note: no summer courses offered at UPSE 20

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Rules on Scholastic Delinquency 3. Any student who fails to satisfy (i),(ii), and (iii) at the end of the semester or summer he/she was on probation will be DISMISSED from the School 4. A student must pass Econ 106 and 131 within 4 semesters of first enrolling in Econ 101 or 102, including the semester first enrolled. Otherwise, he/she is dismissed from the School 21

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Rules on Scholastic Delinquency In exceptional cases the above rules on admission and scholastic delinquency may be waived by the Dean upon recommendation of the Committee on Undergraduate Admissions and Performance 22

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SE rules for computing EWA/WAG for purposes of scholastic delinquency If a 4.0 is successfully removed by re-examination, only the final grade of 3.0 is included in the average If a 4.0 is successfully removed by re-enrollment, the average of 4.0 and the new grade is included in the average, without doubling the number of units If a subject with grade of 5.0 is re-enrolled and passed, the average of 5.0 and the new grade is included in the average, without doubling the number of units 23

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Example for scholastic delinquency WAG EWA You receive a grade of 4.0 in Math 17 which has 5 units. You retake Math 17 and receive a grade of 2.0. For purposes of determining scholastic delinquency, the grade/units that will enter into your WAG will be 3.0 weighted by 5 units (and not 10 units). You receive a grade of 4.0 in Econ 101 which has 4 units. You retake Econ 101 and receive a grade of 2.0. For purposes of determining scholastic delinquency, the grade/units that will enter into your EWA will be 3.0 weighted by 4 units (and not 8 units). 24

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Rules for graduating and graduating with honors To be eligible for graduation from the SE, a student must have a cumulative WAG of 2.5 and EWA of 2.5. These averages are computed in the regular manner (using University Rules) For purposes of determining University awards, Latin Honors and School Awards, the WAG and EWA, computed using University Rules, will be used. 25

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Using the same example WAG EWA You receive a grade of 4.0 in Math 17 which has 5 units. You retake Math 17 and receive a grade of 2.0. For purposes of graduating, the grade/units that will enter into your WAG will be 3.0 weighted by 10 units. You receive a grade of 4.0 in Econ 101 which has 4 units. You retake Econ 101 and receive a grade of 2.0. For purposes of graduating, the grade/units that will enter into your EWA will be 3.0 weighted by 8 units. 26

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University awards and Latin Honors At the end of every semester, you may be a: University Scholar: semestral WAG of 1.0-1.45 College Scholar: semestral WAG lower than 1.45 to 1.750 Upon graduation: Summa cum laude: WAG of 1.0-1.20 Magna cum laude: WAG lower than of 1.20 to 1.45 Cum laude: WAG lower than of 1.45 to 1.750 27

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UPSE awards (upon graduation) Deans List: WAG lower than 1.75 to 2.00 Jos Encarnacio Jr. Award for Excellence in Economics: highest weighted average for all Economics courses taken (including Econ 11) Gerardo P. Sicat Awards for Best Undergraduate Theses (top 3) Best Undergraduate Thesis in the area of finance or financial economics 28

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Computing your WAG and EWA 29

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Cont 30

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Other relevant rules on graduating with honors Students must have completed in the University at least 75% of the total number of academic units and must have been in residence for at least 2 years prior to graduation Students guilty of cheating/dishonesty shall be barred from graduating with honors Students who have been suspended for 1 year or more due to misconduct as defined in various rules and regulations on student conduct are also barred from graduating with honors Students must have taken during each semester NOT LESS THAN 15 units of credit or normal load prescribed in the curriculum (with some exceptions, p31) 31

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The odds of making/ not making the grade In 2005, 168 Freshmen 29 (17%) were on probation after the first semester Of these 29: 6 were dismissed 13 graduated on time (3 Cum laudes, 7 in the Deans List) 10 shifted/still enrolled 32

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Some final remarks Unless you are under probation, our rule is SELF ADVISING Rules apply automatically. Students need not be advise or informed. Ignorance of the rules is not an excuse. Important sources of information: General Catalogue, SE 101, SE website If you have any problems or questions, please do not hesitate to consult the Undergraduate Committee 33

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For today: You will be advised if: You have (inadvertently) enlisted in Math 2 or English 1 You are not enlisted in the prescribed courses/number of units = 17 + (2) GE SSP (Econ 11 lecture + disc)2 + 1 GE Math (Math 17)5 GE A& H Fil 403 GE SSP free choice3 GE MST free choice3 PE (2) Otherwise, your form 5A has been signed. 34

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35 Welcome and good luck!