BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE)
Overview
A PPE major or minor would be the natural choice for students who wish to pursue careers or graduate study in politics, government, foreign policy, law, academia, research, or business. Each of the three PPE disciplines provides the skills to succeed in graduate school and to climb organizational ladders. In keeping with Belmont Abbey College’s Catholic values and Liberal Arts tradition, the program aims to develop both integrated understanding and virtue.
Honors students can meet all requirements of a PPE Major with just 13 courses: PE300W Seminar in Contemporary Problems, Senior Thesis in one of PH or PO or EC (this replaces the Honors Senior Thesis), PH250 Ethics, EC352 Business Economics and Catholic Social Teaching, PO309 Constitutional Law I, PO310 Constitutional Law II, PO315 Research Methods in Politics, EC201 Intro Macroeconomics, EC202 Intro Microeconomics, an EC elective, and three more courses as part of a minor in PH or PO or EC or International Relations.
Students are encouraged to take an additional minor or electives in History (HI), Public Speaking, Moot Court, and Model UN.
Curriculum Requirements
The Core Curriculum (47-53 hours)
Please reference the
Core Curriculum Requirements.
| PH200 | Intro to Philosophy | 3 |
| Or | |
| HO202 | Plato and Aristophanes | 3 |
| | |
| And either | |
| PO250 | Justice and the Good Society | 3 |
| Or | |
| HO206 | Aristotle I | 3 |
Major Program Requirements (42 hours)
| PE300W | PPE Seminar Contemporary Problems | 3 |
Philosophy Requirements
Politics Requirements
The PO elective must be chosen in consultation with your advisor.
The following Honors courses count toward the PO elective requirement: HO311, HO312, HO314, HO316, HO403, HO407, and HO410.
| PO309/CJ309 | Constitutional Law | 3 |
| PO310/CJ310 | Civil Rights and Civil Liberties | 3 |
| One Politics (PO) course at the 300- or 400-level | 3 |
Economics Requirements
The EC elective must be chosen in consultation
with your advisor.
| EC201 | Introductory Macroeconomics | 3 |
| EC202 | Introductory Microeconomics | 3 |
| One Economics (EC) course at the 300- or 400-level | 3 |
Capstone Requirements
With the Program Director’s approval, the Senior Thesis may be replaced by a rigorous internship in Criminal Justice (CJ), Economics (EC), Politics (PO), or Philosophy (PH) together with a public presentation of PPE-related learning during the internship. The PPE Senior Thesis fulfills the Honors College Senior Thesis requirement. (Students are never required to write two senior theses, and Honors College students majoring in PPE are required to write a senior thesis in one of PH, PO, or EC.)
Required Minor
Complete a required minor by declaring a minor and completing 9 additional credit hours in one of the following disciplines: Philosophy (PH), Politics (PO), Economics (EC), or International Relations.
Honors courses taken to satisfy Honors College requirements cannot count towards these required 9 credit hours.
General Electives (25-31 hours)