Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Major: Philosophy, Politics and Economics
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Total Credit Hours: 189.0
Co-op Options: One Co-op (Four years); No Co-op (Four years); Three Co-op (Five years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 45.1004
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 25-1065

About the Program

Drexel University’s BA degree Philosophy, Politics & Economics, or PPE as it is often called, exemplifies Drexel’s commitment to comprehensive education at the intersection of thought and practice. A joint endeavor of the School of Economics, the Department of Politics and the Department of English and Philosophy, the BA in PPE provides a multidisciplinary foundation for professionals and researchers who want to address the complex, interconnected challenges of contemporary life. It prepares students for a wide variety of excellent careers that require thoughtful analysis and engaged leadership including but not limited to public service, government, international and domestic business, law, community organizing, publishing, journalism, education, academic research and more.

PPE began in the early Twentieth Century at Oxford University in the United Kingdom in an effort to ensure that scholars were ready to apply their learning in practical, governmental and business contexts to become leaders and change agents. Historically, political science and economics descend from what had been called “political economy.” PPE acknowledges what is often lost in the separation and specialization of these fields—the political wisdom that understands economic imperatives and the economic intelligence that recognizes the limits of political initiative. The philosophical dimension of PPE represents the vital reflective and critical aspects that are essential to bringing political and economic insights into conversation for understanding and leadership. PPE is devoted to the idea that great learning should inspire and empower students to have an impact on the world.

Students in the Drexel BA in PPE begin with the interdisciplinary class PPE 101 Introduction to Philosophy, Politics and Economics, which presents the field through a discussion of how the aims and methods of the three constitutive disciplines work together and discussion of the political, economic and philosophical dimensions of specific topics and themes. The Philosophy classes in the major are mainly focused on issues in ethics, logic, philosophy of law, and social and political philosophy. The Politics classes cover a variety of subjects and constitute a solid foundation in Political Science covering topics that include Comparative Politics, History of Political Thought, Qualitative or Quantitative Research Methods, Theories of Justice, American Foreign Policy, Social Protest Movements in Comparative Perspective and more. The Economics classes are designed to give the student a foundation for profound analysis and insight. These include Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Economic Ideas, Public Finance, and electives chosen from courses which include Game Theory and Applications, Economics of Small Business, Labor Economics, Comparative Economic Systems, Resource and Environmental Economics, and more.

PPE majors also take electives in Sociology, choosing from courses like Race, Ethnicity and Social Inequality, Wealth and Power, Gender and Society, Development and Underdevelopment in the Global South, Environmental Justice and more. In the interactive seminar capstone course, PPE 450, students work with an instructor as they formulate, evaluate and criticize public policy proposals, research and/or theoretical perspectives on political and economic issues using the research tools, arguments and methods drawn from the three fields. PPE majors at Drexel have access to the widest range of co-op positions related to public service, government, international and domestic business, law, community organizing, education, publishing, journalism, academic research and many more areas.

Admission Requirements

The interdisciplinary Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) program exemplifies Drexel's commitment to comprehensive education at the intersection of thought and practice. A joint endeavor of the School of Economics, the Department of Politics, and the Department of English and Philosophy, the BA in PPE provides a multidisciplinary foundation for professionals who will address the complex, interconnected challenges of contemporary life. It prepares students for careers that require careful analysis, clear foresight, and thoughtful leadership: government, politics, law, public policy, public service, and business. Our program starts from the idea that the economy is fundamentally political, politics are fundamentally economic, and both are shaped by centuries of philosophical inquiry. We build on a foundation of rigorous philosophical thought, political and economic theory, and applied research skills.

Degree Requirements

Students participating in the cooperative education program will be enrolled in the required prep course, COOP 101, generally three terms before their co-op begins. As of September 2020, COOP 101 will be one credit.

Sample Plan of Study

Students participating in the cooperative education program will be enrolled in the required prep course, COOP 101, generally three terms before their co-op begins. As of September 2020, COOP 101 will be one credit.

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