Effective Fall 2019
Advising
PPE is governed by the director of PPE and a PPE committee composed of one faculty member from each of Philosophy, Economics, and Political Science. It is administered by the Philosophy Department. PPE advising is managed by the Undergraduate Studies Committee in Philosophy. Appointments with a department advisor may be scheduled online at: https://webapps.lsa.umich.edu/advappts/AA_StuSelfSvc1.aspx?ctgy=PHIL.
Grade Policies
Admission to PPE is conditional on earning C- or better in all prerequisites. No course will count toward the major unless the student receives a grade of C— or better.
Prerequisites
- one 100- or 200-level PHIL course other than PHIL 180, 183, 201, 296 (logic)
- one introduction to political science: POLSCI 101 or 111 or 140 or 160
- ECON 101 and ECON 102
- One course in calculus (MATH 115, 116, 121, 156, 176, 185, 186, 215, 285, 295, or 296).
Application
Students must apply for and be accepted into the major. Students are declared into the major by a department advisor only.
Due to the rigorous and interdisciplinary nature of its subject matter, and to ensure a high quality educational experience, the PPE program will be selective (as it is in many other PPE programs in the U.S.) and require an application. Applications are considered for a limited period in the Winter term. Applicants will be notified of admission before registration for Fall term classes. Newly entering transfer students who need to declare a major may apply in the Fall term. Application deadlines will be announced on the PPE website. The optimal time for a student to apply to PPE is the Winter term of the sophomore year.
It is advisable for second-year applicants to have completed or be currently enrolled in the prerequisites to the major, and at least one further course that can be counted toward the major. However, applications are welcome from all students who have concrete plans to promptly complete all prerequisites. Admissions will be primarily based on the grade point average in the prerequisite courses and other courses satisfying PPE requirements, overall grade point average, and a brief personal statement. Admission to PPE is conditional on earning C- or better in all prerequisites (with a C or better in the calculus prerequisite).
Requirements
The major consists of 12 courses. Courses must be distributed as follows:
- PPE Core Courses:
- Economics: ECON 401: Intermediate Microeconomics
- Gateway: PPE 300: Introduction to Political Economy
- Capstone: PPE 400: Senior Seminar in Political Economy (Honors students take PPE 401-2 instead)
- Core Distribution Requirements PPE integrates normative inquiry and formal analytical tools with the substantive study of politics and economics. The PPE major therefore requires two courses each in normative theory, political economy, and formal methods.
- Formal Reasoning: one course in statistics and one additional course in statistics, logic, decision theory, or game theory from the list below.
- One course in statistics. Choose from among:
- ECON 404: Statistics for Economists
- ECON 405: Introduction to Statistics
- POLSCI 300: Quantitative Empirical Methods of Political Science
- STATS 250: Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis
- STATS 280: Honors Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis
- STATS 426: Introduction to Theoretical Statistics
- A course in other formal methods central to political economy – statistics, logic, decision theory, or game theory from the following:
- ECON 398: Strategy
- ECON 409: Game Theory
- PHIL 296: Honors Introduction to Logic
- PHIL 303: Introduction to Symbolic Logic
- PHIL 305: Introduction to Formal Philosophical Methods
- PHIL 413: Formal Philosophical Methods
- PHIL 414: Mathematical Logic
- PHIL 443: Foundations of Rational Choice Theory
- PHIL 444: Groups and Choices
- POLSCI 381: Political Science Research Design
- POLSCI 391 / CMPLXSYS 391: Introduction to Modeling Political Processes
- POLSCI 488: Political Dynamics
- POLSCI 490: Game Theory and Formal Models
- POLSCI 499: Quantitative Methods of Political Analysis
- CMPLXSYS 391 / POLSCI 391: Introduction to Modeling Political Processes
- MATH 425 / STATS 425: Introduction to Probability
- SOC 315: Economic Sociology only section titled, "Money Markets & Power" (F18); all topics (W18)
- STATS 425 / MATH 425: Introduction to Probability
- One course in statistics. Choose from among:
- Normative Theory: two 300- or 400- level courses in political philosophy, political theory, or welfare economics from the list below. One philosophy course must be taken to satisfy either the normative theory requirement or one of the three required theme courses.
- ECON 408 / PHIL 408: Philosophy and Economics
- ECON 496. History of Economic Thought
- PHIL 359: Law and Philosophy
- PHIL 361: Ethics
- PHIL 366: Introduction to Political Philosophy
- PHIL 367: 19th Century Social and Political Philosophy
- PHIL 369: Philosophy of Law
- PHIL 384: Applied Epistemology: Race, Ethnicity & Knowledge
- PHIL 408 / ECON 408: Philosophy and Economics
- PHIL 430: Topics in Ethics
- PHIL 431: Normative Ethics
- PHIL 433: History of Ethics
- PHIL 441: Social Philosophy
- PHIL 442: Topics in Political Philosophy
- PHIL 445: Philosophy of Law
- PHIL 446: Social and Political Philosophy of Language
- POLSCI 301: Development of Political Thought: To Modern Period
- POLSCI 302: Development of Political Thought: Modern and Recent
- POLSCI 306: American Political Thought
- POLSCI 400: Selected Topics in Political Theory (appropriate sections)
- POLSCI 401 / WGS 422 (WOMENSTD 422): Feminist Political Theory
- POLSCI 402: Liberalism and Its Critics
- POLSCI 403 / CLCIV 403: Greek Political Thought
- POLSCI 404: Foundations of Modern Political Thought
- POLSCI 405: Political Philosophy of the Enlightenment
- POLSCI 409: Twentieth Century Political Thought
- POLSCI 495: Undergraduate Seminar in Political Theory (appropriate sections)
- CLCIV 403 / POLSCI 403: Greek Political Thought
- WGS 422 (WOMENSTD 422) / POLSCI 401: Feminist Political Theory
- Political Economy: two courses engaging the economics of government or the politics of economic activity or institutions from the list below.
- AAS 347 / RCSSCI 343 / SOC 335: Urban Inequality in America
- CMPLXSYS 391/POLSCI 391: Introduction to Modeling Political Processes
- ECON 330 American Industries (prior to Fall 2017)
- ECON 398: Strategy
- ECON 402: Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
- ECON 408 / PHIL 408: Philosophy and Economics
- ECON 409: Game Theory
- ECON 425 / POLSCI 425: Inequality in the United States
- ECON 432: Government Regulation of Industry
- ECON 481: Government Expenditures
- ECON 482: Government Revenues
- PHIL 408 / ECON 408: Philosophy and Economics
- POLSCI 322: Legislative Process
- POLSCI 337: Comparative Constitutional Design
- POLSCI 340: Governments and Politics in Western Europe, section titled "A Game-Theoretic Approach to West European Politics"
- POLSCI 341: Comparative Politics of Developed Democracies
- POLSCI 343: Political Economy of Developed Democracies
- POLSCI 348: Political Economy of Development
- POLSCI 363: International Organization & Integration
- POLSCI 364: Public International Law
- POLSCI 369: Politics of International Economic Relations
- POLSCI 387: Comparative Analysis of Government Institutions
- POLSCI 389: Topics in Contemporary Political Economy, section titled "Political Strategy & Debate"
- POLSCI 391 / CMPLXSYS 391: Introduction to Modeling Political Processes
- POLSCI 425 / ECON 425: Inequality in the United States
- POLSCI 432: Law and Public Policy
- POLSCI 462: Strategic Interaction in World Politics
- POLSCI 496: Undergraduate Seminar in American Government and Politics, sections titled "U.S. State Economic Development Policies", "Modern Debates in U.S. Constitutional Law"
- RCSSCI 343 / SOC 335 / AAS 347: Urban Inequality in America
- SOC 335 / AAS 347 / RCSSCI 343: Urban Inequality in America
- Formal Reasoning: one course in statistics and one additional course in statistics, logic, decision theory, or game theory from the list below.
- Themes: three additional courses (or two additional courses plus the Honors thesis sequence for Honors students) in a single theme in political economy. At least two of these courses must be at the 400-level, and two must come from distinct academic disciplines. PPE students are advised to start planning their themes as soon as they are admitted to the major. One philosophy course must be taken to satisfy either the normative theory requirement or one of the three required theme courses.
Students will devise a plan for advanced study focusing on a single theme in political economy, which may be normative, methodological, theoretical, or applied. Each student will write up a rationale for their theme in consultation with their PPE advisor and submit it to their advisor for approval. Possible themes could include advanced studies in any of the core areas, or focus on particular subjects/methods – for example, decision-making & strategic interaction, globalization, justice & equality, or comparative political economy. Courses listed under the core requirements may be used to satisfy the theme requirement as long as they are not also being used to satisfy the core requirement. The PPE committee will recommend courses for the theme requirement and post those to the PPE website. Students may propose courses not on the list that make a coherent fit with their theme. PPE advisors are authorized to approve such courses for the theme requirement.
Non-Honors students would follow their theme with the capstone seminar.
Other Department Policies
PPE Majors may use introductory Political Science, Philosophy, or Economics courses toward their College Area Distribution requirement.
Residency
At least 16 credits must be taken in residence.
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the PPE subject area may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.
Honors
To be admitted to the Honors PPE program, students must have at least a 3.4 cumulative GPA and a 3.5 in courses used to satisfy PPE requirements, or permission of the director of PPE. Prospective PPE Honors students should begin planning their Honors program with their advisor as soon as possible.
In addition to fulfilling the prerequisites, PPE core, and distribution requirements, Honors students will take two courses in their theme and dedicate their thesis to a research project in that theme.
Honors students will fulfill their thesis requirement using the vehicles offered for that purpose by one of PPE’s 3 sponsoring departments (Philosophy, Political Science, or Economics). Students should choose the appropriate thesis track depending on their primary disciplinary orientation and the content of their theme. Honors students will submit a thesis proposal for approval by the director of PPE, and must in addition meet all prerequisites and requirements for honors in the sponsoring department supervising the thesis.
- For a thesis oriented toward Philosophy: Seniors will first enroll in PHIL 401, the thesis-preparation seminar in Philosophy. The following term, they will enroll in PPE 402, in which they will work with an individual advisor who has agreed to supervise their research.
- For a thesis oriented toward Political Science: Students must fir complete POLSCI 381: Political Science Research Design with an A- or better. They must then submit a research proposal and secure a thesis advisor by the end of their junior year by applying for honors through the Political Science major application process, which is normally open from February until the end of Winter term. Seniors whose applications are accepted will enroll in POLSCI 493 and POLSCI 494, a two-semester thesis-writing sequence that runs in conjunction with supervision under an individual thesis advisor.
- For a thesis oriented toward Economics: Seniors will enroll in ECON 495: Seminar in Economics or ECON 498: Honors Independent Research, and secure an advisor in consultation with their instructor. Most economics-oriented PPE theses would be expected to enroll in ECON 495, which is the primary Honors thesis vehicle for Economics majors.
Honors in PPE will be recommended by a two-person committee consisting of the student’s advisor plus a second reader in one of the other units, on the basis of the written thesis and an oral defense. The final award of Honors is conditional on achieving a 3.5 GPA overall and in PPE, and on approval by the Director of PPE.
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (Major) (Winter 2017 - Summer 2019)
Effective Winter 2017
Advising
PPE is governed by the director of PPE and a PPE committee composed of one faculty member from each of Philosophy, Economics, and Political Science. It is administered by the Philosophy Department. PPE advising is managed by the Undergraduate Studies Committee in Philosophy. Appointments with a department advisor may be scheduled online at: https://webapps.lsa.umich.edu/advappts/AA_StuSelfSvc1.aspx?ctgy=PHIL.
Grade Policies
Admission to PPE is conditional on earning C- or better in all prerequisites. No course will count toward the major unless the student receives a grade of C— or better.
Prerequisites
- one 100- or 200-level PHIL course other than PHIL 180, 201, 296 (logic)
- one introduction to political science: POLSCI 101 or 111 or 140 or 160
- ECON 101 and ECON 102
- One course in calculus (MATH 115, 116, 121, 156, 176, 185, 186, 215, 285, 295, or 296).
Application
Students must apply for and be accepted into the major. Students are declared into the major by a department advisor only.
Due to the rigorous and interdisciplinary nature of its subject matter, and to ensure a high quality educational experience, the PPE program will be selective (as it is in many other PPE programs in the U.S.) and require an application. Applications are considered once each Fall and Winter academic terms. Application deadlines will be announced on the PPE website. Students may apply for admission to the major as early as the winter term of their second year. Second-year applicants must have completed (with final grades showing) at least the prerequisites to the major, and should be enrolled in, or have completed, at least one further course that can be counted toward the major. Students who apply in the fall of their junior year must have completed the prerequisites and be enrolled in, or have completed, at least two further courses that can be counted toward the major. Admissions will be based on the grade point average in the prerequisite courses and other courses satisfying PPE requirements, overall grade point average, and a brief personal statement. Admission to PPE is conditional on earning C- or better in all prerequisites.
Requirements
The major consists of 12 courses. Courses must be distributed as follows:
- PPE Core Courses:
- Economics: ECON 401: Intermediate Microeconomics
- Gateway: PPE 300: Introduction to Political Economy
- Capstone: PPE 400: Senior Seminar in Political Economy (Honors students take PPE 401-2 instead)
- Core Distribution Requirements PPE integrates normative inquiry and formal analytical tools with the substantive study of politics and economics. The PPE major therefore requires two courses each in normative theory, political economy, and formal methods.
- Formal Reasoning: one course in statistics and one additional course in statistics, logic, decision theory, or game theory from the list below.
- One course in statistics. Choose from among:
- ECON 404: Statistics for Economists
- ECON 405: Introduction to Statistics
- POLSCI 300: Quantitative Empirical Methods of Political Science
- STATS 250: Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis
- STATS 280: Honors Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis
- STATS 426: Introduction to Theoretical Statistics
- A course in other formal methods central to political economy – statistics, logic, decision theory, or game theory from the following:
- ECON 398: Strategy
- ECON 409: Game Theory
- PHIL 296: Honors Introduction to Logic
- PHIL 303: Introduction to Symbolic Logic
- PHIL 305: Introduction to Formal Philosophical Methods
- PHIL 413: Formal Philosophical Methods
- PHIL 414: Mathematical Logic
- PHIL 443: Foundations of Rational Choice Theory
- PHIL 444: Groups and Choices
- POLSCI 381: Political Science Research Design
- POLSCI 391 / CMPLXSYS 391: Introduction to Modeling Political Processes
- POLSCI 488: Political Dynamics
- POLSCI 490: Game Theory and Formal Models
- POLSCI 499: Quantitative Methods of Political Analysis
- CMPLXSYS 391 / POLSCI 391: Introduction to Modeling Political Processes
- MATH 425 / STATS 425: Introduction to Probability
- SOC 315: Economic Sociology only section titled, "Money Markets & Power" (F18); all topics (W18)
- STATS 425 / MATH 425: Introduction to Probability
- One course in statistics. Choose from among:
- Normative Theory: two 300- or 400- level courses in political philosophy, political theory, or welfare economics from the list below. One philosophy course must be taken to satisfy either the normative theory requirement or one of the three required theme courses.
- ECON 408 / PHIL 408: Philosophy and Economics
- ECON 496. History of Economic Thought
- PHIL 359: Law and Philosophy
- PHIL 361: Ethics
- PHIL 366: Introduction to Political Philosophy
- PHIL 367: 19th Century Social and Political Philosophy
- PHIL 369: Philosophy of Law
- PHIL 384: Applied Epistemology: Race, Ethnicity & Knowledge
- PHIL 408 / ECON 408: Philosophy and Economics
- PHIL 430: Topics in Ethics
- PHIL 431: Normative Ethics
- PHIL 433: History of Ethics
- PHIL 441: Social Philosophy
- PHIL 442: Topics in Political Philosophy
- PHIL 445: Philosophy of Law
- PHIL 446: Social and Political Philosophy of Language
- POLSCI 301: Development of Political Thought: To Modern Period
- POLSCI 302: Development of Political Thought: Modern and Recent
- POLSCI 306: American Political Thought
- POLSCI 400: Selected Topics in Political Theory (appropriate sections)
- POLSCI 401 / WOMENSTD 422: Feminist Political Theory
- POLSCI 402: Liberalism and Its Critics
- POLSCI 403 / CLCIV 403: Greek Political Thought
- POLSCI 404: Foundations of Modern Political Thought
- POLSCI 405: Political Philosophy of the Enlightenment
- POLSCI 409: Twentieth Century Political Thought
- POLSCI 495: Undergraduate Seminar in Political Theory (appropriate sections)
- CLCIV 403 / POLSCI 403: Greek Political Thought
- WOMENSTD 422 / POLSCI 401: Feminist Political Theory
- Political Economy: two courses engaging the economics of government or the politics of economic activity or institutions from the list below.
- AAS 347 / RCSSCI 343 / SOC 335: Urban Inequality in America
- CMPLXSYS 391/POLSCI 391: Introduction to Modeling Political Processes
- ECON 330 American Industries (prior to Fall 2017)
- ECON 398: Strategy
- ECON 402: Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
- ECON 408 / PHIL 408: Philosophy and Economics
- ECON 409: Game Theory
- ECON 425 / POLSCI 425: Inequality in the United States
- ECON 432: Government Regulation of Industry
- ECON 481: Government Expenditures
- ECON 482: Government Revenues
- PHIL 408 / ECON 408: Philosophy and Economics
- POLSCI 322: Legislative Process
- POLSCI 337: Comparative Constitutional Design
- POLSCI 340: Governments and Politics in Western Europe, section titled "A Game-Theoretic Approach to West European Politics"
- POLSCI 341: Comparative Politics of Developed Democracies
- POLSCI 343: Political Economy of Developed Democracies
- POLSCI 348: Political Economy of Development
- POLSCI 363: International Organization & Integration
- POLSCI 364: Public International Law
- POLSCI 369: Politics of International Economic Relations
- POLSCI 387: Comparative Analysis of Government Institutions
- POLSCI 389: Topics in Contemporary Political Economy, section titled "Political Strategy & Debate"
- POLSCI 391/CMPLXSYS 391: Introduction to Modeling Political Processes
- POLSCI 425 / ECON 425: Inequality in the United States
- POLSCI 432: Law and Public Policy
- POLSCI 462: Strategic Interaction in World Politics
- POLSCI 496: Undergraduate Seminar in American Government and Politics, sections titled "U.S. State Economic Development Policies", "Modern Debates in U.S. Constitutional Law"
- RCSSCI 343 / SOC 335 / AAS 347: Urban Inequality in America
- SOC 335 / AAS 347 / RCSSCI 343: Urban Inequality in America
- Formal Reasoning: one course in statistics and one additional course in statistics, logic, decision theory, or game theory from the list below.
- Themes: three additional courses (or two additional courses plus the Honors thesis sequence for Honors students) in a single theme in political economy. At least two of these courses must be at the 400-level, and two must come from distinct academic disciplines. PPE students are advised to start planning their themes as soon as they are admitted to the major. One philosophy course must be taken to satisfy either the normative theory requirement or one of the three required theme courses.
Students will devise a plan for advanced study focusing on a single theme in political economy, which may be normative, methodological, theoretical, or applied. Each student will write up a rationale for their theme in consultation with their PPE advisor and submit it to their advisor for approval. Possible themes could include advanced studies in any of the core areas, or focus on particular subjects/methods – for example, decision-making & strategic interaction, globalization, justice & equality, or comparative political economy. Courses listed under the core requirements may be used to satisfy the theme requirement as long as they are not also being used to satisfy the core requirement. The PPE committee will recommend courses for the theme requirement and post those to the PPE website. Students may propose courses not on the list that make a coherent fit with their theme. PPE advisors are authorized to approve such courses for the theme requirement.
Non-Honors students would follow their theme with the capstone seminar.
Other Department Policies
PPE Majors may use introductory Political Science, Philosophy, or Economics courses toward their College Area Distribution requirement.
Residency
At least 16 credits must be taken in residence.
Distribution Policy
No course used to fulfill a major requirement may be used toward the LSA Distribution Requirement. In addition, courses in the PPE subject area may not be used toward the Distribution Requirement.Honors
In addition to fulfilling the prerequisites, PPE core, and distribution requirements, Honors students will take two courses in their theme and dedicate their thesis to a research project in that theme. Honors students take PPE 401-402 as their capstone course.
To be admitted to the Honors PPE program, students must have at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA and a 3.5 in courses used to satisfy PPE requirements, or permission of the director of PPE. Prospective PPE Honors students should begin planning their Honors program with their advisor as soon as possible.
Honors students will submit a thesis proposal for approval by the director of PPE. They will write a thesis in their theme under one of the following options:
- PPE 401 (thesis preparation seminar) and PPE 402 (an independent study thesis-writing course under the principal supervision of a faculty member in one of the three departments).
Honors in PPE (PPE 401-402) will initially be run as meet-togethers with the respective Honors offerings of the three departments, and Honors PPE students will sort themselves into the different Honors thesis courses according to their primary disciplinary orientation. Thus, Honors PPE students may take PPE 401 as a meet-together with PHIL 401, POLSCI 493, or ECON 495 (the respective thesis-prep courses for each department). In the second term of their Honors sequence, PPE students will continue with PHIL 499 or POLSCI 494, if their theses are oriented to philosophy or political science, and may continue with ECON 495/498, if their economics-oriented thesis calls for a second academic term of work. - ECON 495: Seminar in Economics or ECON 498: Honors Independent Research for students intending to write an economics-oriented Honors thesis for PPE. Most economics-oriented PPE theses would be expected to enroll in ECON 495, which is the primary Honors thesis vehicle for economics majors.
Honors will be awarded by a two-person committee consisting of the student’s advisor plus a second reader in one of the other units, on the basis of the written thesis and an oral defense.