Brandeis International Business School

NABE launches inaugural CBE university partnerships

Boston College, the International Business School and the University of Cincinnati add NABE's Certified Business Economics degree programs.

The National Association for Business Economics (NABE) is partnering with a number of top universities to offer its Certified Business Economist® (CBE) professional certification to graduate students in economics. The initial partners are Boston College, Brandeis International Business School, and the University of Cincinnati. 

Students at each of these partnering universities may now elect to earn their graduate degree in economics and CBE certification simultaneously. NABE anticipates announcing additional university partners in the coming months.

“We are thrilled that Boston College, Brandeis, and the University of Cincinnati will be our first partners in this endeavor,” said NABE President Stuart Mackintosh, CBE, executive director of the Group of Thirty. “Students who earn their CBE certification alongside their economics degree will enter the job market with a distinct advantage, having mastered a body of applied economics knowledge sought after by employers and essential for a successful career in the field of economics and data analytics.”

Launched in 2015, the CBE is a comprehensive professional certification program of study and examination covering core topics in applied economics and data analytics. Students who matriculate in qualifying master’s degree programs at partner universities will be able to complete their CBE requirements while studying for their degrees and sit for the CBE Exam which will be offered on campus each year. 

"Partnering with NABE's Certified Business Economist (CBE) program expands the resources offered to our students and faculty in our MA program in international economics and finance--be it new teaching methods, networking opportunities, or career support,” said Aldo Musacchio, MA program director at Brandeis International Business School. “The CBE program designation strengthens our relationship with NABE — an organization that our students have actively engaged with on campus through our school chapter and the annual NABE Crisis Game. This partnership will continue to support our mission of preparing diverse individuals for roles in business, economics, and finance around the world."

Built by more than 50 chief economists and other senior-level NABE Members, the CBE certification program is designed to train and certify candidates on a battery of skills and knowledge employers expect effective economists to possess. The CBE adds clarity to decisions around hiring and promotion and establishes a platform for lifelong continuing education and career development.

Successful CBEs have proven their skills and knowledge in key areas including micro and macroeconomics; econometrics; managerial economics; economic measurement and statistics, as well as writing and communication skills. All CBEs must pursue continuing education throughout their careers and comply with the CBE Code of Ethics. The CBE program is administered by a Board of Governors which includes leading economists working in business, academia, and government.

Information on the CBE university partnership program can be found here.