THE PPE CONCENTRATION

 

The Department of Philosophy and the Department of Finance, Economics and Quantitative Methods is proud to announce a new concentration in Philosophy and Political Economy.

 

The concentration focuses on topics in the intersection of Philosophy, Economics, and Political Science. There are many reasons why it makes sense to study these fields together. Recent disciplinary trends make any firm separation between economics, political economy, moral and social philosophy and philosophy of social science arbitrary. Th Morere is a standard set of problems and tools for dealing with them that belong to no one discipline. This means that an interdisciplinary approach is highly desirable.

 

Students in the PPE concentration will work with faculty in both departments. Many of these faculty specialize on topics in the intersection of Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and their work is recognized world-wide. Indeed, UAB probably has as strong a research and teaching profile in the philosophy of economics as any other university in the world. Hence, students with an interest in fundamental research will have ample opportunity to learn what is going on at the research frontier.

 

Because the PPE concentration trains students to attack a wide range of problems using rigorous s analytical techniques, it is an excellent basis for those who are interested in going to graduate school, whether in Philosophy, Economics, or Political Science; for those who want to go to law school; and for those who want to pursue careers in journalism, politics, management, intelligence, marketing, industrial organization, and many other fields.

 

There are two ways to get the PPE degree. One is to get a Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and satisfy additional requirements (see here). Another is to get a Bachelor's degree in Economics and satisfy additional requirements (see here). Notice that the spine courses are the same for all PPE students.

 

Students who may be interested in getting a PPE degree are encouraged to contact Dr. Erik Angner angner@uab.edu, who will be happy to answer your questions.

 

 

Requirements for a Philosophy degree with a PPE concentration:

 

 

All philosophy students wishing to get the PPE concentration must satisfy the requirements for a B.A. in Philosophy. In addition, the following requirements must be satisfied. All courses with a PHL designation can also count toward the Philosophy B.A.

 

 

Spine Courses

 

MA 109 Survey of Calculus

 

One of many introductory statistics courses offered in SBS or SOB

 

PHL 322 Behavioral Economics

 

PHL 290 Competition and Cooperation (Game Theory)

 

PHL 491 Philosophy and Political Economy

 

 

EC Courses

 

EC 210 Principles of Microeconomics

 

EC 211 Principles of Macroeconomics

 

EC 304 Intermediate Microeconomics

 

Any EC course on or above the 300 level OR any course approved by the Concentration Coordinator

 

 

Requirements for an Economics degree with a PPE concentration:

 

 

All Economics students wishing to get the PPE concentration must satisfy the requirements for a B.S. in Economics. In addition, the following requirements must be satisfied. All courses with an EC designation can also count toward the Economics B.S.

 

 

Spine Courses

 

MA 109 Survey of Calculus

 

One of many introductory statistics courses offered in SBS or SOB

 

EC 320 Behavioral Economics

 

EC 330 Competition and Cooperation (Game Theory)

 

EC 450 Philosophy and Political Economy

 

 

PHL Courses

 

PHL 120 Practical Reasoning

 

PHL 230 Social and Political Philosophy

 

PHL 470 Philosophical Problems in the Natural and Social Sciences

 

Any PHL course on or above the 300 level OR PHL 135 Rule of Law OR any course approved by the Concentration Coordinator