2024-2025 Academic Catalog
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Head: Michael Moehler
Professor: M. Moehler
Associate Professor: G. Hersch
Assistant Professors: D. Gibbs, M. Miller, F. Wendt
PPE Student Advisor: H. Furrow
Undergraduate Coordinator: H. Belcher
The Kellogg Center for Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) oversees two highly interdisciplinary, research-driven undergraduate degree programs, a major and minor in PPE. The degree programs provide students with the tools, methods, and knowledge to develop comprehensive solutions to complex interdisciplinary decision-making problems, solutions that are not only economically sound, but also socially, ethically, and politically informed. The degree programs prepare students to become leaders in the fast-changing and complex social world of the 21st century.
Due to its analytical rigor, combination of normative and empirical analyses, and emphasis on the development of transferable skills, PPE prepares students for a wide variety of careers in the private and public sectors. PPE graduates have successful careers in management, marketing, consulting, industry, investment banking, finance, business administration, law, journalism, government, public administration, public policy, think tanks, health care, international affairs, international development, and non-profit organizations. In addition, PPE prepares students exceptionally well for academic programs, especially for law school, medical school, business school, and master's and doctoral programs in philosophy, political science, and economics, as well as related social sciences.
To enrich its undergraduate curriculum and allow students to develop professional skills, the Kellogg Center organizes research-focused events, in particular a research speaker series, research fellow panels, conferences, workshops, and public lectures. In addition, it offers student-centered events and activities, such as an undergraduate journal, reading groups, discussion colloquia, and a PPE Club. The Center’s programming fosters dialogue among faculty, students, and the public and supports the integration of research and teaching.
The graduation requirements in effect during the academic year of admission to Virginia Tech apply. Requirements for graduation are listed on checksheets. Students must satisfactorily complete all requirements and university obligations for degree completion. The university reserves the right to modify requirements in a degree program.
Please visit the University Registrar's website at https://www.registrar.vt.edu/graduation-multi-brief/checksheets.html for degree requirements.
The PPE major allows students to study systematically some of the most important social, ethical, economic, and political problems that our contemporary societies face. It offers a highly interdisciplinary curriculum with distinct learning outcomes centered on an undergraduate research project. The PPE major is structured around four central integration courses and an optional complementary internship course:
1. The PPE First-Year Experience Course (PPE 1004) introduces students to important classic and contemporary texts in PPE. The course acquaints students with basic principles of research and writing as well as helps students to adjust to university life.
2. The PPE Gateway Course (PPE 2894) integrates the quantitative techniques, conceptual tools, and core principles of philosophy, political science, and economics.
3. Led by a faculty expert, the PPE Topics Course (PPE 3884) allows students to discuss an interdisciplinary topic in PPE in depth.
4. The PPE Capstone Course (PPE 4884) allows students to work on an advanced research project of their choice at the intersection of philosophy, politics, and economics and its application to the real world.
The PPE minor trains students to apply knowledge in the humanities and social sciences to related fields, and thus to examine the world from multiple perspectives and integrate knowledge across disciplines. The PPE minor requires 18 credit hours to be obtained from the PPE Gateway Course, the PPE Capstone Course, and four elective courses that include one applied area course. The PPE minor is an approved as a Pathways minor at Virginia Tech. Relatedly, it is worth stressing that Virginia Tech is currently the only top engineering school that integrates engineering courses into its PPE curriculum. The PPE minor allows engineering students to create synergies between their engineering studies and the humanities and social sciences.
The Kellogg Center encourages students to participate in study abroad programs as part of their educational experience. PPE students have recently studied in continental Europe and the U.K., among other places. In general, if coordinated in advance, coursework completed abroad can count towards the PPE major and PPE minor.
The Kellogg Center has also established an international partnership with the PPE Program at the Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) in Germany. The partnership allows selected PPE students at Virginia Tech to spend a semester abroad, taking courses in PPE and related departments at HHU while exploring Europe. The courses will contribute to students’ PPE degree programs at Virginia Tech.
For further details, please refer to the program description, including application details, on the Global Education Office website. The application cycle for the spring semester for the following year opens in mid-March.
To learn more, go to the Virginia Tech’s German Program website or contact Dr. Esther Bauer. Please see also here for a program flyer.
Internships and related paraprofessional activities can serve as valuable opportunities for students to apply and further engage with the skills and concepts they acquire in the classroom. They also serve as means to gain valuable professional experience, which may be particularly useful to students when pursuing career opportunities or graduate study. Please work closely with your advisor to discuss possibilities.
Participating in Virginia Tech’s Bridge Experience initiative, the Kellogg Center provides students the opportunity to enroll in PPE 3900, a 0-credit hour, self-selected, and Center approved experiential learning opportunity aligned with post-graduation goals using research-based learning processes often in the form of undergraduate research, internships, study abroad, co-ops, and other place-based experiences in the context of their PPE degree program.
The Kellogg Center also offers students the possibility to receive credit for internships, field studies, and practicums in the context of the PPE 4964 Field Work/Practicum course. Before considering this option, students should have completed PPE 2894 PPE Gateway Course. For more information concerning experiential learning opportunities offered by the Kellogg Center, please reach out to the internship coordinator Holly Belcher.
The Kellogg Center’s faculty and staff work closely with students to provide a personalized learning experience. However, before you speak with PPE advising personnel, please read carefully the PPE Student Handbook that provides a detailed overview of the PPE degree programs and other relevant student information, including information about degree requirements, study abroad, internships, PPE events, careers and placement, and professional opportunities.
For all PPE advising matters, including setting up an advising appointment, please contact: Heath Furrow (hafurrow@vt.edu)
For general questions concerning the PPE undergraduate degree programs, please contact Holly Belcher (hollymb2@vt.edu).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Degree Core Requirements | ||
| A. History of Philosophy | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Ancient Through Medieval Philosophy | ||
| Ancient Through Medieval Philosophy | ||
| History of Modern Philosophy | ||
| History of Modern Philosophy | ||
| B. Logic | ||
| PHIL 3505 | Modern Logic and Its Development | 3 |
| C. Metaphysics and Epistemology | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Knowledge and Reality | ||
| Philosophy of Mind (3 Philosophy credits required) | ||
| Metaphysics (3 Philosophy credits required) | ||
| Epistemology (3 Philosophy credits required) | ||
| Philosophy of Biology | ||
| Philosophy of Science (3 Philosophy credits required) | ||
| D. Value Theory | ||
| Select two of the following, including at least one 3000-4000 level course. | 6 | |
| Morality and Justice | ||
| Global Ethics | ||
| Philosophy of Sex, Gender, and Race | ||
| Political Theory | ||
| Political Theory | ||
| Ethical Theory (3 Philosophy credits required) | ||
| Ethical Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence | ||
| Aesthetics | ||
| Political Philosophy (3 Philosophy credits required) | ||
| Subtotal | 21 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| A. Integration | ||
| PPE 1004 | Introduction to Philosophy, Politics, and Economics | 3 |
| PPE 2894 | PPE Gateway Course | 3 |
| PPE 4884 | PPE Capstone Course | 3 |
| B. Concentration in Political Science and Economics | ||
| Select 18 credit hours, 9 credit hours from each area, at least four courses at the 3000-4000 level. 1 | 18 | |
| C. Free Electives | ||
| Select up to 39 credit hours to complete 120 credit hours required for graduation. 2 | 39 | |
| Subtotal | 66 | |
| Pathways to General Education | ||
| Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse | ||
| Select 9 hours in Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse | ||
| Pathway 1f | 6 | |
| Pathway 1a | ||
| PPE Capstone Course | ||
| Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | ||
| Select 6 hours in Pathway 2 | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy, Politics, and Economics | ||
| PPE Gateway Course (PW 2 -or- PW 3 approved) | ||
| Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences | ||
| Select 6 hours in Pathway 3 | 6 | |
| PPE Gateway Course (PW 2 -or- PW 3 approved) | ||
| Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences | ||
| Select 6 hours in Pathway 4 | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking | ||
| Select 9 hours in Pathways Concept 5 | ||
| Pathway 5f | 6 | |
| Pathway 5a | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts | ||
| Select 6 hours in Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts | ||
| Pathway 6a | 3 | |
| Pathway 6d | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States | ||
| Select 3 hours in Pathway 7 | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy, Politics, and Economics | ||
| Integrative Learning Outcomes | ||
Ethical Reasoning (This learning outcome can be combined with other Pathways courses and requires no additional credit hours) | ||
Intercultural and Global Awareness (This learning outcome can be combined with other Pathways courses and requires no additional credit hours) | ||
| Subtotal | 33 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Select 18 credit hours, 9 credit hours from each area, at least four courses at the 3000-4000 level.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science | ||
| PSCI 1014 | Introduction to United States Government and Politics | 3 |
| or PSCI 1014H | Honors Introduction to United States Government and Politics | |
| or PSCI 2014 | Introduction to Political Theory | |
| PSCI/PPE 2024 | Research Methods in Political Science | 3 |
| PSCI/GEOG/IS 2064 | The Global Economy and World Politics | 3 |
| PSCI/PHIL 3015 | Political Theory | 3 |
| PSCI/PHIL/PPE 3016 | Political Theory | 3 |
| PSCI/IS 3144 | Global Governance and Public Policy | 3 |
| PSCI/IS 3154 | Topics in Global Public Policies | 3 |
| PSCI/IS 3164 | Global Trade: Structures and Policies | 3 |
| PSCI/IS 3174 | Monetary Foundations of the World Economy | 3 |
| PSCI/IS 3175 | Global Development | 3 |
| PSCI/IS 3176 | Global Development | 3 |
| PSCI 3234 | Voting and Elections | 3 |
| PSCI 3334 | Judicial Process | 3 |
| PSCI/UAP 3344 | Global Environmental Issues: Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 |
| PSCI 3354 | Constitutional Law: Structures and Relationships | 3 |
| PSCI 3364 | Constitutional Law: Civil and Political Rights | 3 |
| PSCI 3554 | Comparative Political Economy | 3 |
| PSCI/IS 3634 | Human Rights: Global Issues | 3 |
| PSCI 3724 | Poverty and Welfare Policy | 3 |
| PSCI/UAP 3744 | Public Policy Analysis | 3 |
| PSCI 3764 | Contemporary Democratic Theory | 3 |
| PSCI/UAP 3774 | Marxian Political Analysis | 3 |
| PSCI/IS 4054 | Seminar in Global Political Economy | 3 |
| PSCI/IS 4064 | Seminar in Global Development | 3 |
| PSCI 4214 | Senior Seminar in Political Behavior | 3 |
| PSCI 4314 | Senior Seminar in Political Institutions | 3 |
| PSCI 4324 | Senior Seminar in Constitutional Law | 3 |
| PSCI/IS 4714 | Senior Seminar in Policy Analysis | 3 |
| PSCI 4724 | Senior Seminar in Political Theory | 3 |
| PPE/PHIL/PSCI/ECON 3884 | Topics in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics | 3 |
| PPE 4964: FIELD WORK/PRACTICUM | 3 | |
| Economics | ||
| ECON 1204 | Economics of Race | 3 |
| ECON/PPE 1214 | Economic History of Diversity and Inclusion | 3 |
| ECON 2005 | Principles of Economics (micro) | 3 |
| or ECON 2025H | Honors Principles of Economics | |
| ECON 2006 | Principles of Economics (macro) | 3 |
| or ECON 2026H | Honors Principles of Economics | |
| ECON 3004 | Contemporary Economic Issues | 3 |
| ECON/PPE 3024 | Economic Justice | 3 |
| ECON 3034 | Economics of Poverty and Discrimination | 3 |
| ECON 3104 | Microeconomic Theory | 3 |
| ECON/BDS 3134 | Choice and Behavior | 3 |
| ECON 3144 | Economics of Regulation | 3 |
| ECON 3204 | Macroeconomic Theory | 3 |
| ECON 3214 | Money and Banking | 3 |
| ECON 3254 | Analysis of Economic Data | 3 |
| ECON 4014 | Environmental Economics | 3 |
| ECON 4044 | Public Economics | 3 |
| ECON 4054 | Public Finance | 3 |
| ECON 4074 | Labor Economics | 3 |
| ECON 4124 | Growth and Development | 3 |
| AAEC/ECON 4135 | International Economics | 3 |
| ECON 4214 | Economics of Health Care | 3 |
| ECON 4424 | The Theory of Games and Economic Behavior | 3 |
| ECON 4434 | Experimental Economics | 3 |
| ECON/NEUR/PSYC 4454 | Neuroeconomics | 3 |
| ECON 4894 | Law and Economics | 3 |
| PPE/PHIL/PSCI/ECON 3884 | Topics in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics | 3 |
| PPE 4964 | Field Work/Practicum | 1-19 |
See list of approved electives.
Note that PPE 1004 Introduction to Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, PPE 2894 PPE Gateway Course, and PPE 4884 PPE Capstone Course fulfill Pathways requirements and may double count towards Major Requirements. Transfer credits may reduce the number of elective credit hours depending on the total number of transfer credits awarded.
Eligibility for continued enrollment: Program requirements adhere to the “Satisfactory Progress” toward degree policy of the university (Policy 91).
General PPE Major Requirements and Guidelines
Foreign language requirement: Students who did not successfully complete at least two years of a single foreign, classical, or sign language during high school must successfully complete six semester hours of a single foreign, classical, or sign language at the college level. Courses taken to meet this requirement do not count toward the hours required for graduation. Please consult the Undergraduate Catalog for details.
Discussion of classic and contemporary texts in philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE) with historical and current relevance. Core concepts, ideas, and topics include: history of moral, political, and economic thought; political economy; justice, equality, fairness, and democracy; socioeconomic status, power, class, and diversity; the human condition and its cultural evolution and experience in the United States and abroad. Course introduces students to basic principles of research and writing. First-Year Experience course.
Economic analysis of topics concerning diversity and inclusion. Emphasis on Virginia and surrounding states. Introduction to the basic principles of economic analysis and economic history, with a special emphasis on models of institutional change, economic growth, discrimination, inequality, migration, and indigenous economic systems. Impact of institutions, environment, and technological change on labor markets, asset markets, and standard of living. Consideration of the role of data in understanding diversity and related ethical issues.
Introduction to research in political science; formulation of theory, operationalization and measurement, gathering, analysis and interpretation of data.
Integrated study of philosophy, politics, and economics. Trains students to make decisions that are not only economically sound, but also socially, ethically, and politically informed. Core concepts, topics, and ideas include: models of human nature, rational choice theory, social cooperation, distributive justice, markets, and democracy. Pre: Sophomore standing.
Analysis of the fundamental ideas in the history of political theory. 3015: The thought and ethical implications of philosophers from the ancient Greeks to early modern times. Analysis of writings from Plato through medieval theorists to those of the Seventeenth Century. 3016: The thought and ethical implications of philosophers from the late Seventeenth Century to the present. Analysis of key concepts in the thought of theorists from the early modern period until the present.
This course explores how different assumptions regarding the basis of claims for access to economic resources lead to different outcomes. Students will explore a variety of theories and examine their own beliefs about economic justice.
Careful examination of some important historical or contemporary ethical theories. Includes coverage of such topics as the assessment of character and action, the foundations of ethical theories, their justification, their relationship to scientific theories, and their objective or subjective status. 3 Philosophy credits required.
Topics-based course in philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE). Discussion of important topics and thinkers in PPE with historical and practical relevance. Focus on interdisciplinary analysis and methods. Topics include: limits of markets; well-being theory, science, and policy; socioeconomic justice; economic and political institutions; and global poverty. May be repeated 1 time with different content for a maximum of six credits hours. Pre: 3 credit hours in PPE, PHIL, PSCI, or ECON.
Application of academic knowledge and skills to in a work-based experience aligned with post-graduation goals using research-based learning processes. Satisfactory completion of work-based experience often in the form of internship, undergraduate research, co-op, or study abroad; self-evaluation; reflection; and showcase of learning. Pre: Departmental approval of 3900 plan.
Study of fundamental topics in political philosophy, such as distributive justice, equality, individual rights, constitutional government, and the justification of political authority. 3 Philosophy credits required.
Discussion of advanced concepts, methods, and ideas at the intersection of philosophy, politics, and economics. Focus on utility theory, game theory, social choice theory, public choice theory, markets, justice, and democracy. Senior research project. Senior standing required.
Print this page.
The PDF will include all information unique to this page.