UBC Okanagan

Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE)

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Major in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE)

An interdisciplinary degree program at the UBC Okanagan campus.

Note: The UBC Okanagan campus offers other interdisciplinary programs, including the Major in International Relations and the Major in Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies. There are also Major programs in Economics, Philosophy, and Political Science.

The Major in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) is intended to provide a focused education in the economic, political, and philosophical issues facing Canadians. The program, jointly offered by Economics, Political Science, and Philosophy, is based on the PPE degree offered by Oxford University.

The PPE Major is recommended for students who wish to pursue a career in business or government, or those who intend to undertake studies in law, business, commerce, journalism, social work, education, or public administration.

To be admitted to the PPE program students must:

• have completed at least 3 credits in each of the PHIL, POLI and ECON disciplines and no fewer than 30 but not more than 90 credits toward a B.A. program with at least a 70% average in PHIL courses they have taken thus far; 70% in POLI courses; and 70% in ECON courses;
• satisfy the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences English requirement; and
• receive permission from the coordinator of the PPE program.

Admission is by formal application to the coordinator of the PPE program.

Students in the PPE program are required to take a common set of first- and second-year courses. They must also choose one of four options.

First and Second Years

• ECON 101, 102;
• One of ECON 204, 205, 221, 232;
• One of PHIL 111, 121;
• One of PHIL 120, 220;
• PHIL 230;
• Three of POLI 100, 220, 223, 240;
• STAT 121.

Third and Fourth Years

At the third- and fourth-year levels, students must choose to emphasize either Economics (Option A), or Political Science (Option B), or Philosophy (Option C), or Law (Option D).

All PPE students must complete the directed studies course numbered 497 in their discipline of emphasis during their final year of study. Students must consult with the PPE Coordinator during the term prior to the term in which they plan to complete their directed studies course.

Option A: Economics Emphasis

• ECON 497¹;
• 18 upper-level credits in Economics (in addition to ECON 497);
• 12 upper-level credits in Political Science;
• 12 upper-level credits in Philosophy;
• 3 credits from any upper-level course.

Option B: Political Science Emphasis

• POLI 497¹;
• 18 upper-level credits in Political Science (in addition to POLI 497);
• 12 upper-level credits in Economics;
• 12 upper-level credits in Philosophy;
• 3 credits from any upper-level course.

Option C: Philosophy Emphasis

• PHIL 497¹;
• 18 upper-level credits in Philosophy (in addition to PHIL 497);
• 12 upper-level credits in Economics;
• 12 upper-level credits in Political Science;
• 3 credits from any upper-level course.

Option D: Law Emphasis

• POLI 432
• One of POLI 497, PHIL 497, ECON 497;
• 15 upper-level credits in Political Science from POLI 303, 313, 352, 354, 356, 382, 383, 402, 465;
• 12 upper-level credits in Economics from ECON 345, 351, 352, 360, 361, 370, 371, 372, 386, 390;
• 12 upper-level credits in Philosophy from PHIL 314, 315, 331, 338, 345, 373, 425, 434, 435, 437;
• 3 credits from any upper-level course.

¹All 497 courses are directed studies courses.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate, a student must satisfy all B.A. requirements, including completion of 120 credits, 48 of which must be at the third- and fourth-year levels.