The Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE) program is designed to integrate three academic disciplines that were once considered interrelated elements of a comprehensive study of society and politics. Their essential contributions to understanding the principles and practice of a just and thriving political and social order were recognized by Plato and explored by, among many others, St. Thomas Aquinas, Adam Smith, Karl Marx, and more recently by John Rawls and Milton Friedman.

The intersections are evident in most political issues and problems. The organization of economic life raises philosophical questions about justice, liberty, and equality that the discipline of economics cannot, by itself, answer. Similarly, political life confronts  the same moral questions as well as practical issues such as efficiency and the preconditions of sustainability and prosperity that political science cannot, by itself, answer. A comprehensive understanding can come only from studying all three disciplines.

The PPE program’s interdisciplinary curriculum offers various courses that cover: ground-breaking works that laid the foundations for political and economic systems throughout the world; major moral issues and theoretical arguments related to various types of political and economic organization; a solid foundation in contemporary economics; political economy from international and comparative perspectives; historical developments in economic and political organization; complex issues in particular public policy problems; and an introduction to methods of scholarly research. The central objective of the program is to engage majors--through lectures, seminars, and symposia—in rigorous and intellectually invigorating examinations of the competing practical and theoretical arguments and visions.  

The required and elective courses train students in various modes of analytical thinking and writing, which are keystones of success in law school, graduate school, and the wide variety of careers PPE majors have pursued.

Between the required courses and electives, a major can satisfy six Foundation requirements (F2i, F3, F6, F8, F9, F11) and complete the three course F1 requirement. 

Shameel Ahmad, Department of Economics
Stephen Ceccoli, Department of International Studies
Courtney Collins, Department of Economics, Chair
Daniel Cullen, Department of Philosophy, Director of the Program for the Study of Liberal Democracy

Erin Dolgoy, Department of Politics and Law, Chair
Rebecca Tuvel, Department of Philosophy, Chair
Stephen Wirls, Department of Philosophy, Chair of the PPE program

A total of 12 courses (48 credits) as follows:

Required courses (36 credits)
1. Philosophy, Politics and Economics: PPE/PHIL 110 (Foundation credit: F2i, F8)
2. Economics
       a. Introduction to Economics: ECON 100 (Foundation credit: F8)
       b. Intermediate Microeconomics Economics: ECON 201 or Intermediate Macroeconomics: ECON 202
       c. Classical and Marxian Economics: ECON 323 (Foundation credit: F2i, F3)
3. International Studies  
       Comparative Political Economy: INTS 310 or International Political Economy: INTS 311
4. Philosophy
       a. Justice, Equality, and Liberty: PHIL 225 or Markets and Morals: PHIL 221
       b. Modern Political Philosophy: PHIL 345
5. One research methods course: ECON 290 (Foundation credit: F6) or INTS 270 or PLAW 270
6. Senior Seminar: PPE 486

Elective Courses (12 credits), choosing from:
Economics:
201 or 202 (in addition to course taken in #2 above)
308: Industrial Organization
310: International Trade and Policy
312: Economic Development (Foundation credit: F9)
333: Health Economics
338: U.S. Economic History (Foundation credit: F3, F2i)
339: European Economic History (Foundation credit: F3, F2i)
343: Family Economics
407: Game Theory
Two-credit courses:  
     311: International Financial Economics
     318: Economics of Crime and Corruption
     319: Economics of Income Inequality

International Studies:  
310 or 311 (in addition to the course taken in #3 above)
263: Comparative Political Economy of East Asia
452: International Law

Philosophy:  
216: Philosophy of Law  
220: Philosophy of Race and Racism (Foundation credit: F8, F9)
221: Markets and Morals or 225: Justice, Equality, and Liberty (whichever was not chosen in #4a above)
222: Ethics (Foundation credit: F1)
228: Ethics in Action (two credits, F11 eligible with one semester of PHIL229)
229: Ethics Bowl Practicum (two credits, F11 eligible with two semesters) 
230: Environmental Ethics
301: Philosophy, Power and Politics
322: Medical Ethics (Foundation credit: F1)
332: Animal Ethics (Foundation credit: F8)
347: Children and the State (Foundation credit: F8)
355: Feminist Philosophy

Politics and Law
205: Introduction to Public Policy Analysis
305: Public Policy Analysis
361: State and Local Government
380: Topics in American Politics and Policy (requires PPE approval)
390: Utopias/Dystopias in Theory and Practice

Research methods:
One course in addition to the course taken in #5 above:  
ECON 290, INTS 270, PLAW 270

Philosophy, Politics, and Economics:
250: Topics in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
350: Advanced Topics in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
460: Internship