The major in Philosophy, Politics, Economics and Law (PPEL) is an interdisciplinary undergraduate major that provides students with an integrated curriculum, drawing on the methods and insights of philosophy, political science, and economics. Its aim is to provoke critical reflection on the relationship between different social institutions-political, legal, social, and economic. It emphasizes grappling with the moral and historical bases of political and economic life, while also equipping students with rigorous analytic thinking skills that are increasingly important in business, policy, law, and other fields.
The program consists of 36 credit hours, divided into three groups. First, the Groundwork courses (12 credits) ensure that students have a foundation in philosophy, economics, and political science. Second, the Core courses are four PPEL major only courses (12 credits) that integrate the three fields, from formal analysis to history and original research. PPEL majors may then select a “Track” within the major that allows them to further pursue their research questions. Three tracks are offered: Law, Ethics and Policy, and National and International Perspectives. The tracks emphasize multidisciplinary skills.
Admissions Requirement
- Completion of 30 credit hours and at least three of the four groundwork courses, with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Under exceptional circumstances, a student may request admission review on an individual basis. Contact the PPEL program for information.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completing the major, students in Philosophy, Politics, Economics and Law are expected to:
- LO1: Inform: Demonstrate familiarity with key economic, political, and philosophical ideas necessary for identifying problems that require a multidisciplinary response.
- LO2: Inquire: Formulate concrete research questions with multidisciplinary tools.
- LO3: Investigate: Apply the research and writing skills necessary to conduct research using qualitative and/or quantitative evidence to provide answers to concrete research questions.
- LO4: Interact: Contribute to public deliberation concerning important political and economic questions in ways that respect cultural and intellectual diversity.
Assessment of LO1 will be conducted through entry and exit surveys in the Core courses, along with major assignments for each Core course. LO2-LO4 will be assessed based on the final PPEL research project, completed in PPEL 4800 , in the major’s senior year.
Students are required to take courses from three major fields of study: Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics. All students must take PPEL 2240 , PPEL 3000 , and PPEL 3100 . The senior capstone, PPEL 4800 , is taken in the senior year. Students must select a track, and may suggest substitutions, that can be granted by the PPEL director. These courses cannot count towards other majors.
Tracks: Law, Ethics and Policy, and National and International Perspectives. Course pools for each track listed in PPEL Major Checklist. (Note: students interested in policy are advised to take an introductory statistics course, either POLS 2900 , PSYC 2700 or SOC 2690 .)
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