Philosophy, Politics and Economics (BA)

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This demanding major trains students in political economy, grounding their study in the historical, conceptual and moral foundations of our shared political and economic lives. The interdisciplinary major allows students to trace interconnections between political, economic and legal issues within a range of broader humanistic concerns. It also fosters the development of logical, quantitative and analytic skills needed for clear thinking and effective communication, leaving students with a wide range of options for further, more specialized study or careers in law, politics or economics.

The major requires eleven courses including an introductory lower-division course, a final capstone seminar and a range of further courses in the three disciplines.

Lower-Division Course

Students must complete one of the following courses.

PHIL 101 Free People, Free Thought and Free Markets Units: 4
PHIL 103g Philosophy, Politics and Economics in Europe, from Renaissance to Enlightenment Units: 4
PHIL 174gw Freedom, Equality, and Social Justice Units: 4
PHIL 178gw Moral Dilemmas in the Legal Domain Units: 4
PHIL 258g Probability and Rational Choice Units: 4
PHIL 260gw Ethical Theory and Practice Units: 4
POSC 130g Law, Politics and Public Policy Units: 4

Logic Course

Students must complete one of the following courses.

Lower-Division Political Science Recommendation

One lower-division POSC course is strongly recommended before taking any upper-division POSC courses.

Philosophy Gateway Course

Completing a gateway course is recommended prior to enrolling in any 400-level Philosophy course. This course will count toward the upper-division Philosophy requirements.

PHIL 311 The Quest for the Individual in Early Modern Europe Units: 4
PHIL 314 Origins of Free Market Thought in Early Modern Europe Units: 4
PHIL 315 History of Western Philosophy: Ancient Period Units: 4
PHIL 320 History of Western Philosophy: Modern Period Units: 4
PHIL 336 Philosophy of Mind and Language Units: 4
PHIL 337 Political Philosophy Units: 4
PHIL 339 Philosophy of Economics Units: 4
PHIL 340 Ethics Units: 4
PHIL 360 Epistemology and Metaphysics Units: 4

Philosophy of Economics, Political or Legal Philosophy

Students must complete one of the following courses.

PHIL 339 Philosophy of Economics Units: 4
PHIL 431 Law, Society, and Politics Units: 4
PHIL 437 Social and Political Philosophy Units: 4

History of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Students must complete one of the following courses.

PHIL 311 The Quest for the Individual in Early Modern Europe Units: 4
PHIL 314 Origins of Free Market Thought in Early Modern Europe Units: 4
PHIL 337 Political Philosophy Units: 4

Moral Philosophy

Students must complete one of the following courses.

PHIL 440 Contemporary Ethical Theory Units: 4
PHIL 442 History of Ethics to 1900 Units: 4
PHIL 443 Value Theory Units: 4

Upper-Division Political Science

Students must complete two of the following courses.

POSC 300 Principles, Institutions, and Great Issues of American Democracy Units: 4
POSC 311 Political Analysis Units: 4
POSC 334 Interest Groups and Elite Behavior Units: 4
POSC 340 Constitutional Law Units: 4
POSC 360 Comparative Political Institutions Units: 4
POSC 370 European Political Thought I Units: 4
POSC 371 European Political Thought II Units: 4
POSC 374 The American Founders: Visions, Values and Legacy Units: 4
POSC 375 American Political Thought Units: 4
POSC 380 Political Theories and Social Reform Units: 2, 4
POSC 422 Political Attitudes and Behavior Units: 4
POSC 424m Political Participation and American Diversity Units: 4
POSC 425 Legislative Process Units: 4
POSC 426 The United States Supreme Court Units: 4
POSC 427 Black Politics in the American Political System Units: 4
POSC 430 Political Economy of Mexico Units: 4
POSC 431 Political Economy of Central America Units: 4
POSC 435 Politics and the Economy Units: 4
POSC 437 Mass Media and Politics Units: 4
POSC 439 Critical Issues in American Politics Units: 4
POSC 440 Comparative Law and the Judicial Process Units: 4
POSC 441m Cultural Diversity and the Law Units: 4
POSC 442m The Politics of Human Differences: Diversity and Discrimination Units: 4
POSC 444 Civil and Political Rights and Liberties Units: 4
POSC 451 Politics of Resources and Development Units: 4
POSC 452 Critical Issues in Law and Public Policy Units: 4
POSC 476 Contemporary Political Thought Units: 4
POSC 479 Critical Issues in Political Thought Units: 4

Economics

Students must complete the following two courses in economics.

ECON 203g Principles of Microeconomics Units: 4
ECON 317 Introduction to Statistics for Economists Units: 4

Upper-Division Economics

Students must complete one of the following courses after having completed ECON 203g and ECON 317 .

ECON 318 Introduction to Econometrics Units: 4
ECON 330 The Political Economy of Institutions Units: 4
ECON 332 Contracts, Organizations and Institutions Units: 4
ECON 340 Economics of Less Developed Countries Units: 4
ECON 342 Economic Development of the Middle East Units: 4
ECON 343 Economic Development of East Asia Units: 4
ECON 344 Economic Development of Sub-Saharan Africa Units: 4
ECON 348g Current Problems of the American Economy Units: 4
ECON 350 The World Economy Units: 4
ECON 366 Urban Economics Units: 4

Capstone Course

Students must complete the following capstone course. In semesters when the capstone course is not offered, students may enroll in an acceptable course equivalent with departmental approval.

PHIL 475 Topics in Philosophy, Politics and Economics Units: 4

Note:

Eligibility to graduate with departmental honors distinction requires completion of all required major courses with a minimum 3.5 GPA in upper-division Philosophy course work, in addition to completing PHIL 495 Honors Capstone. In semesters when PHIL 495 is not offered, students may enroll in PHIL 494 Senior Thesis. Enrollment in either PHIL 494 or PHIL 495 is open to senior standing students only and prior completion of at least two 400-level Philosophy courses is highly recommended.