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Do you find yourself glued to the television during the election season? Is a copy of the Wall Street Journal in your backpack? Do you look forward to family reunions to debate public policy with your uncle? Are you genuinely interested in the study and application of philosophy, politics or economics? If the answer is yes, you may be interested in Minnesota State University, Mankato’s new bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE). This unique combination of disciplines allows you to focus on the dynamic relationships between the economic, political and legal systems of our society. The PPE major will prepare you for a career in law, business, public policy, journalism, civil service or international affairs.
The PPE program requires students to complete in-depth study and analysis of the relationships between the political, economic and legal systems of our society. Only after this in-depth study and analysis can we begin to understand, evaluate and influence these complicated relationships.
PPE allows students the flexibility to determine their area of concentration—philosophy, political science or economics—and to position themselves for a variety of careers or areas of graduate study. The content of the major can be broad and diverse, but all students who work through the curriculum develop an appreciation of our society's complex central institutions and problems. At the same time, PPE students acquire the analytical skills required to engage and critically evaluate these institutions.
When you decide to major in PPE, you are required to take core courses in philosophy, political science, and economics. In addition, you must choose an area of concentration and complete a senior thesis in philosophy, political science or economics. A PPE major requires 44 general education credits, 33-34 major core credits, 15 credits in your chosen area of concentration, and 15 credits of free electives. This structure ensures that you will receive a solid understanding of each of the three disciplines, as well as develop an area of expertise.
General Education: 44 credits
Major Core: 33-34 credits
Concentration area: 15 credits
Free Electives: 15 credits
Required Language:
8 credits required for Bachelor of Arts
None required for Bachelor of Science
Required Minor:
None
Required courses: Core (33-34 credits)
Course # |
Course Title |
Credits |
PHIL 120 |
Introduction to Ethics |
3 |
PHIL 240 or PHIL 224 |
Law, Justice, and Society orBusiness Ethics |
3 or 3 |
PHIL 440 |
Philosophy of Law |
3 |
|
Subtotal |
9 |
POL 111 |
U.S. Government |
3 |
POL 231 or POL 241 |
World Politics or Intro to Comparative Governments |
3 or 3 |
Any ONE of the following: POL 311 or POL 312 or POL 313 or POL 410 or POL 414 or POL 415 or POL 416 |
Ancient and Medieval Political Philosophy or Modern Political Philosophy or Contemporary Political Philosophy or Topics in Political Theory or Early U.S. Political Thought or Recent U.S. Political Thought or Nonwestern Political Philosophy |
3 or 3 or 3 or 3 or 3 or 3 or 3 |
|
Subtotal |
9 |
ECON 201 |
Principles of Macroeconomics |
3 |
ECON 202 |
Principles of Microeconomics |
3 |
ECON 355 |
Intermediate Microeconomics |
3 |
|
Subtotal |
9 |
Any statistics course in PSYC, SOC, MATH, ECON, or POL |
Statistics |
3-4 |
|
Subtotal |
3-4 |
PHIL 495 & 496 or POL 492 or ECON 482 |
Senior Thesis I & II or Individual Study |
3 |
|
Subtotal |
3 |
|
Total Requirement of Core Courses |
33-34 |
Philosophy Concentration Requirements (15 credits)
Students must take 5 courses from among the following:
Course # |
Course Title |
Credits |
PHIL 321 |
Social and Political Philosophy |
3 |
PHIL 322 |
Ethical Theory |
3 |
PHIL 334 |
Classical Philosophy |
3 |
PHIL 336 |
Renaissance and Modern Philosophy |
3 |
PHIL 337 |
19th Century Philosophy |
3 |
PHIL 338 |
American Philosophy |
3 |
PHIL 358 |
Eastern Philosophy |
3 |
PHIL 437 |
Contemporary Philosophy |
3 |
PHIL 450 |
Special Topics (subject to approval by advisor) |
3-9 |
PHIL 455 |
Existentialism and Phenomenology |
3 |
PHIL 474 or PHIL 480 |
Philosophy of the Mind or Philosophy of Science |
3 or 3 |
PHIL 499 |
Individual Study |
1-6 |
|
Total Requirement of Philosophy Concentration |
15 |
Political Science Concentration Requirements (15 credits)
Course # |
Course Title |
Credits |
PHIL |
Choose one PHIL course from options listed in table above |
3 |
POL 450 or POL 451 or POL 453 or POL 454 or POL 455 |
Topics in Public Law or Administrative Law or Constitutional Law or Civil Liberties or American Legal Philosophy |
3 or 3 or 3 or 3 or 3 |
Choose three additional POL courses listed in table above (two of which must be 300-400 level). |
9 |
|
Total Requirement of Political Science Concentration |
15 |
|
Economics Concentration Requirements (15 credits)
Course # |
Course Title |
Credits |
Choose five additional 300-400 level courses offered by the Department of Economics. |
15 |
|
Total Requirement of Economics Concentration |
15 |
|
Mission:
The mission of the Philosophy, Politics & Economics major is to prepare students for a variety of careers in law, business, public policy, journalism, civil service, and international affairs. In addition, the program serves as an excellent pre-law major, and prepares students for a variety of graduate fields of study.
Dr. Craig Matarrese
Dr. Doran Hunter
Dr. Ved Sharma
A member or the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. MSU is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity University.
