Co-Directors: Audrey Flemming, Mark Hébert, and Daniel Nuckols
Given its interdisciplinary nature, the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) program offers students the opportunity to journey beyond the borders of any single discipline by offering an integrated study of philosophy, political science, and economics. Initiated at Oxford University in 1924 and now adopted by colleges and universities across the globe, the PPE’s mission is to cultivate a breadth of study not found in any one disciplinary field and hence, augment the student’s historical, theoretical, and methodological perspective as they address historical topics and contemporary affairs. Coming out of the PPE program, the student will be well prepared to enter both the public and private sector, taking positions in government, business, and the non-profit arena. The student will also be well-positioned to enter university graduate programs in philosophy, economics, political science, business, and policy/public affairs.
To complete the PPE program, the student will engage in an 8-4-4 course format, dispensing with the traditional Austin College requirement to graduate with a minor or additional major.
Select one of the following options to determine the major and minor concentrations:
Major concentration: philosophy (8 courses) – Minor concentrations: political science (4 courses) and economics (4 courses)
Major concentration: political science (8 courses) – Minor concentrations: philosophy (4 courses) and economics (4 courses)
Major concentration: economics (8 courses) – Minor concentrations: philosophy (4 courses) and political science (4 courses)
Major Concentration (select 1 Concentration)
| Philosophy concentration | Political Science concentration | Economics concentration |
| 1. | 1. | 1. |
| 2. | 2. | 2. |
| 3. | 3. | 3. |
| 4. | 4. | 4. |
| 5. | 5. | 5. |
| 6. | 6. | 6. |
| 7. Bridge course | 7. Bridge course | 7. Bridge course |
| 8. Capstone course | 8. Capstone course | 8. Capstone course |
| At least three courses at the 300 level or above | At least three courses at the 300 level or above | At least three courses at the 300 level or above |
| Supporting Courses | ||
| MATH 120 | ||
| MATH 151 |
Minor Concentrations (select 2 concentrations)
Consist of the two disciplines not selected as a major concentration. For instance, if students select philosophy as the major concentration then the minor concentrations would be in political science and economics.
| Philosophy concentration | Political Science concentration | Economics concentration |
| 1. Bridge Course | 1. Bridge Course | 1. Bridge Course |
| 2. | 2. | 2. ECO 101 |
| 3. | 3. | 3. ECO 102 |
| 4. | 4. | 4. |
| At least one course at the 300 level or above | At least one course at the 300 level or above | At least one course at the 300 level or above |
Other Considerations When Planning for the PPE program:
- Students must complete a “capstone” course, Philosophy 490, Political Science 490, or Economics 490 depending of the relative major concentration selected. Students complete an independent research paper that is specifically oriented toward a topic that calls for PPE multidisciplinary treatment. If it meets the PPE mission, an Honors Thesis (491 course) will also fulfill the capstone requirement.
- Students must take at least one “bridge” course in each of the disciplines that covers material/topics that offer notable integration of philosophy, political science, and economics. See the list of eligible bridge courses listed in the section called Eligible Bridge Courses.
Total Credits Requirement = 16 course credits (not including Supporting Courses)
Eligible Bridge Courses
Philosophy
| PHIL 205 | Ethics |
| PHIL 207 | Ethics and the Environment |
| PHIL 209 | Ethics and Medicine |
| PHIL 211 | Feminist Thought and Its Critics |
| PHIL 213 | Law and Morality |
| PHIL 302 | Ethical Theory |
| PHIL 314 | Social and Political Philosophy |
| PHIL 250, 350, 450 | When topic is appropriate, e.g. Justice and Difference; Public Health Ethics |
Political Science
| PSCI 120 | American Political Thought |
| PSCI 130 | Introduction to International Relations |
| PSCI 140 | Introduction to Global Comparative Politics |
| PSCI 410 | U.S. Constitutional Law |
| PSCI 420 | Political Theory |
| PSCI 428 | Origins of Modern Liberalism |
| PSCI 250, 350, 450 | When topic is appropriate, e.g. Identity Politics; Advanced International Relations; The Politics of Empire; Japanese Imperialism |
Economics
| ECO 234 | Development Economics |
| ECO 242 | Natural Resource and Environmental Economics |
| ECO 270 | Economic History |
| ECO 341 | Urban and Regional Economics |
| ECO 472 | Law and Economics |
| ECO 474 | Labor Economics |
| ECO 485 | History of Economic Thought |
| ECO 250, 350, 450 | When topic is appropriate, e.g. Energy Economics; Behavioral Economics |
Refer to the departments listed above for current course descriptions.