Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Minor
Curriculum
What You'll Study
Our social world is characterized by complex individual and collective decision-making problems that often cut across the artificial boundaries of academic disciplines. The integrated study of three disciplines trains students to make decisions that are not only economically sound but also socially, ethically, and politically informed.
The minor allows students to develop a unique set of skills that arises from actively engaging in the social sciences and related fields combined with philosophical reflection. It equips students with foundational skills to address some of the major socioeconomic problems of our globalized world.
The minor is a great addition for students who are majoring in Philosophy, Political Science, International Studies, and Economics, and who would like to apply some of their core competencies to an interdisciplinary field of study. The PPE Minor allows students to deepen their understanding of the foundations of their core disciplines as well as explore some of their implications for other fields of study and society. In addition, in its unique form at Virginia Tech, the PPE Minor represents an ideal complementary degree for students who are majoring in degree programs in the following fields:
- Business
- Engineering
- Urban Affairs and Planning
- Agricultural and Applied Economics
- Geography
- Fish and Wildlife Conservation
- Forest Res. and Environmental Conservation
The PPE Minor allows students in these fields, and other fields that, in some form, engage with topics and/or analyses that entail social, ethical, political, and economic dimensions, to complement their knowledge and skills with relevant studies in the humanities and social sciences.
This minor is part of the Pathways to General Education.
18 hrs
Total Credit Hours
Beyond the Classroom
Experiential Learning
Due to its interdisciplinarity, analytical rigor, a combination of normative and empirical analyses, and emphasis on the development of transferable skills, the PPE Minor prepares students well for a wide variety of careers in the private and public sectors, such as careers in management, marketing, consulting, industry, investment banking, finance, business administration, law, journalism, government, public administration, public policy, health care, international affairs, international development, and non-profit organizations.
In addition, the PPE Minor prepares students well for academic programs, especially for law school, medical school, business school, and masters and doctoral programs in philosophy, political science, and economics, as well as related social sciences.
It is worth mentioning that the PPE Minor allows students to develop valuable transferable skills, such as verbal skills, quantitative skills, and writing skills, that prepare students exceptionally well for some of the most common standardized admission tests for graduate school, such as the GRE, LSAT, and GMAT.
By working in the field, you'll earn job experience and apply your knowledge. You will have the opportunity to explore potential career paths and network with professionals.
You will develop an advanced research project that considers the interaction between philosophy, politics, and economics. You will work closely with a faculty mentor to plan a course of action, discuss your findings, and write a report on a topic that interests you.
You also have the opportunity to submit your original research to The Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Review for publication.
Contact Us
If you have questions about pursuing a philosophy, politics, and economics minor, please contact:
Heath Furrow
431 Major Williams Hall
hafurrow@vt.edu