Focus on Majors: Philosophy, Politics, & Economics
Born at Oxford University in the 1920s and now offered at more than 150 universities globally, Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) isn't your typical single-subject major. Think of it as the academic equivalent of a Swiss Army knife– it gives you multiple tools to tackle today's most challenging problems. Whether you're passionate about climate change, social justice, or the future of technology, PPE provides you with three distinct lenses to analyze these issues.
Imagine you're trying to solve the puzzle of income inequality. Through philosophy, you'll explore what makes a society "fair." Politics will help you understand how governments can create (or prevent) change. Economics will show you how markets affect wealth distribution. It's like having three superpower perspectives in one degree.
According to an article in Forbes, students considering applying for a degree in PPE are advised to look beyond the multidisciplinary title. Prospective students should investigate how well the different fields are integrated into the coursework or research requirements for the degree, and whether the range and style of the courses suit their needs.
For instance, the University of Pennsylvania requires students in this major to specialize in a thematic concentration of their choice. This includes Choice and Behavior, Globalization, Public-Policy, Governance, and Distributive Justice.
Ohio State offers concentrations such as Justice and Moral Reasoning, Global Cooperation and Conflict, Law, Policy, Governance, and Choice and Behavior. Pomona College's PPE major requires students to take four courses in each of the three categories: philosophy, politics, and economics. Students will choose one department to focus on with two more courses from that discipline. All seniors are required to take the course Freedom, Markets and Well-Being.
PPE graduates leave with analytical skills and an interdisciplinary perspective. Many students go on to graduate school or work in a variety of careers.
PPE graduates can adapt to almost any career environment. Want to be the next tech entrepreneur? PPE's analytical skills will help you understand market trends and the ethical implications of new technologies. Dreaming of becoming a lawyer? The logical reasoning and argumentation skills you'll develop are exactly what law schools love. Interested in changing the world through public service or non-profits? PPE's comprehensive understanding of social systems will give you the tools to make meaningful changes.
PPE graduates participate in diverse fields. You'll find them working as management consultants helping companies solve complex problems, as journalists breaking down complicated global issues for the public, and as policy advisors shaping government decisions. Some become business leaders; others choose careers in international development; and, yes, some even become philosophers.
The skills you'll develop go beyond career preparation. PPE teaches you to think critically about big questions: What makes a society just? How should we balance individual freedom with collective good? What role should technology play in our future? These are the kinds of questions that don't just make you more employable– they make you a more engaged citizen of the world.
So if you're the kind of student who's curious about everything, who loves to debate big ideas, and who wants to understand how the world really works, PPE might be your perfect match. After all, in a world where problems don't fit into neat categories, we need thinkers who can cross boundaries and see the bigger picture.
Photo by Artem Podrez: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-white-ipad-near-macbook-pro-5716032/
