Philosophy, Politics, and Economics

Affiliated Faculty:

Benjamin Berger (Political Science)
Jonny Thakkar (Political Science)
Krista Thomason (Philosophy)

The Academic Program

Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) is a tried and tested course of study that brings together three of the most prominent approaches to understanding the social world with the aim of integrating their insights and thereby giving students the skills and understanding required to bring about positive change. PPE is one of the oldest interdisciplinary courses in existence, having begun at Oxford University in the early 1920s. Justly renowned for training future public servants and politicians, not to mention academics, PPE has now spread to over a hundred schools worldwide. US institutions with PPE programs include prominent liberal-arts colleges.

Students will complete a total of 12 credits, exclusive of senior work. There are a few differences depending on which department you are based in, including the Senior exercise. Additionally, you can be a course major or an honors major. More information about these paths can be found under each deparment below.

PPE students can be based in either Philosophy or Political Science; students cannot be based in Economics.

When students complete their sophomore plan, they should indicate which department they would like to be based in (Philosophy or Political Science).

Other than courses taken the fall semester of first year, none of the credits needed to complete the major may be taken CR/NC; shadow grades for introductory courses taken CR/NC the fall of first year will be used for GPA purposes.

Credits from outside Swarthmore can be applied to the major but will not count towards specific requirements. Honors preparations must be taken at Swarthmore.

Philosophy Based Course Requiremets

Acceptance Requirement: 2.67 GPA in Philosophy Courses
Completion of two Philosophy courses 1 intro + 1 other

Must include each of these following categories of courses:

6 Credits in Philosophy
PHIL 11 Moral Philosophy or 101 Moral Philosophy seminar
The remaining (4 or 5) credits are of the student’s choosing, but at least two must come from the following list:
PHIL 21 Social and Political Philosophy
PHIL 27 Ethics & Technology
PHIL 34 Marx & Marxism
PHIL 35 Environmental Ethics
PHIL 37 Contemporary Political Philosophy
PHIL 41 Peace & Political Philosophy
PHIL 52 Bioethics
PHIL 55 Philosophy of Law
PHIL 121 Social & Political Philosophy
PHIL 155 Philosophy of Law
or other related courses as they are added

3 Credits in Political Science
At least one course in American Politics, Comparative Politics, or International Relations
2 other POLS credits of the student’s choosing

3 Credits in Economics (not counting ECON 1)
ECON 11 Intermediate Microeconomics *
ECON 21 Intermediate Macroeconomics
1 other ECON credit of the student’s choosing - ECON 41 is particularly recommended

*In practice, students must take MATH 15 Elementary Single-Variable Calculus, although that will not be counted toward the 12 credits, since it is treated as a prerequisite.

1 Credit Senior Exercise (does not count towards the total 12 credits)
PHIL Senior Exercise - PHIL 99 Senior Course Study

Philosophy Based Honors Requirements

Acceptance Requirement:
3.33 GPA in Philosophy Courses & 3.33 GPA overall courses
Completion of two Philosophy courses 1 intro + 1 other

Must include each of these following numbered categories of courses:

6 Credits in Philosophy
1 PHIL honors preparation - either PHIL 101 Moral Philosophy, or 121 Social & Political Philosophy, or PHIL 155 Philosophy of Law
4 other credits, at least two of which must come from the following list:
PHIL 21 Social and Political Philosophy
PHIL 27 Ethics & Technology
PHIL 34 Marx & Marxism
PHIL 35 Environmental Ethics
PHIL 37 Contemporary Political Philosophy
PHIL 41 Peace & Political Philosophy
PHIL 52 Bioethics
PHIL 55 Philosophy of Law
PHIL 121 Social & Political Philosophy
PHIL 155 Philosophy of Law
or other related courses as they are added

3 Credits in Political Science
1 POLS honors preparation
1 other credit of the student’s choosing
Of the above, at least one credit must be in International Relations, American Politics or Comparative Politics

3 Credits in Economics (not counting ECON 1)
1 ECON honors preparation
ECON 11 Intermediate Microeconomics *

*In practice, students must take MATH 15 Elementary Single-Variable Calculus, although that will not be counted toward the 12 credits, since it is treated as a prerequisite.

0.5 Credit Senior Exercise (does not count towards the total 12 credits)
PHIL Senior Exercise - PHIL 199 Senior Honors Study

Political Science Based Course Requirements

Acceptance Requirement:
2.67 Political Science courses, 2.33 outside department
Completion of two Political Science courses (1 intro [POLS 2, 3 or 4] + 1 other)

Must include each of these following numbered categories of courses:

6 Credits in Political Science
1 course in Political Theory
1 course in International Relations
1 course in American Politics or Comparative Politics
3 other POLS credits of the student’s choosing

3 Credits in Philosophy
PHIL 11 Moral Philosophy or 101 Moral Philosophy seminar,
The remaining (1 or 2) credit(s) are of the student’s choosing, but at least one must come from the following list:
PHIL 21 Social and Political Philosophy
PHIL 27 Ethics & Technology
PHIL 37 Contemporary Political Philosophy
PHIL 41 Peace & Political Philosophy
PHIL 55 Philosophy of Law
PHIL 121 Social & Political Philosophy
PHIL 155 Philosophy of Law
or other related courses as they are added

3 Credits in Economics (not counting ECON 1)
ECON 11 Intermediate Microeconomics *
ECON 21 Intermediate Macroeconomics
1 other ECON credit of the student’s choosing - ECON 41 is particularly recommended

*In practice, students must take MATH 15 Elementary Single-Variable Calculus, although that will not be counted toward the 12 credits, since it is treated as a prerequisite.

0.5 Credit Senior Exercise (does not count towards the total 12 credits)
POLS 92 Senior Comprehensive or POLS 95 Thesis - must integrate at least two of the three disciplines

Political Science Based Honors Requirements

Acceptance Requirement:
3.67 Political Science courses, 3.5 outside department
Completion of two Political Science courses (1 intro [POLS 2, 3 or 4] + 1 other)

Must include each of these following numbered categories of courses:

6 Credits in Political Science
1 POLS honors preparation
The remaining 4 credits are of the student’s choosing
Of the above, at least one credit must be in Political Theory; at least one in International Relations; and at least one in either American Politics or Comparative Politics

3 Credits in Philosophy
1 PHIL honors preparation - PHIL 101 Moral Philosophy, or 121 Social & Political Philosophy, or PHIL 155 Philosophy of Law
1 other PHIL credit of the student’s choosing

3 Credits in Economics (not counting ECON 1)
1 ECON honors preparation

ECON 11 Intermediate Microeconomics *
*In practice, students must take MATH 15 Elementary Single-Variable Calculus, although that will not be counted toward the 12 credits, since it is treated as a prerequisite.

0.5 Senior Exercise (does not count towards the total 12 credits
PHIL Senior Exercise - PHIL 199 Senior Honors Study

Philosophy Courses

Political Science Courses

American Politics

Comparative Politics

International Relations

Political Theory

Economics Courses

*In practice, students must take MATH 015 Elementary Single-Variable Calculus, although that will not be counted toward the 12 credits, since it is treated as a prerequisite. ECON 041 is particularly recommended.