2023-2024 Course 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
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 masters 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 (45 credit hours) with distinct learning outcomes centered on an undergraduate research project. The central integration courses of the degree are the PPE Gateway Course and the PPE Capstone Course. The former integrates the quantitative techniques, conceptual tools, and core principles of philosophy, political science, and economics. The latter 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.
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.
The Kellogg Center currently 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. Epistemology and Metaphysics | ||
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: | 6 | |
Morality and Justice | ||
Global Ethics | ||
Philosophy of Sex, Gender, and Race | ||
Political Theory | ||
Political Theory | ||
Ethical Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence | ||
Ethical Theory (3 Philosophy credits required) | ||
Aesthetics | ||
Political Philosophy (3 Philosophy credits required) | ||
or PPE 4304 | Political Philosophy | |
Subtotal | 21 | |
Major Requirements | ||
A. Integration | ||
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 from the list below 1 | 18 | |
C. Free Electives | ||
Select 30 credits | 30 | |
Subtotal | 54 | |
Pathways to General Education | ||
Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse | ||
Select 9 hours in Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse | 9 | |
Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | ||
Select 6 hours in Pathway 2 | 6 | |
Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences | ||
Select 6 hours in Pathway 3 | 6 | |
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 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking | 9 | |
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 | 6 | |
Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States | ||
Select 3 hours in Pathway 7 | 3 | |
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 | 45 | |
Total Credits | 120 |
Students must take at least five courses at the 3000-4000 level from the selection of “PPE Major Courses”.
(18 credit hours, 9 credit hours from each area)
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 2024 | Research Methods in Political Science | 3 |
PSCI 2064 | The Global Economy and World Politics | 3 |
PSCI 3015 | Political Theory | 3 |
PSCI 3016 | Political Theory | 3 |
PSCI 3144 | Global Governance and Public Policy | 3 |
PSCI 3154 | Topics in Global Public Policies | 3 |
PSCI 3165 | Global Economic Governance and Policy | 3 |
PSCI 3166 | Global Economic Governance and Policy | 3 |
PSCI 3175 | Global Development | 3 |
PSCI 3176 | Global Development | 3 |
PSCI 3234 | Voting and Elections | 3 |
PSCI 3334 | Judicial Process | 3 |
PSCI 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 3634 | Human Rights: Global Issues | 3 |
PSCI 3724 | Poverty and Welfare Policy | 3 |
PSCI 3744 | Public Policy Analysis | 3 |
PSCI 3764 | Contemporary Democratic Theory | 3 |
PSCI 3774 | Marxian Political Analysis | 3 |
PSCI 4054 | Seminar in Global Political Economy | 3 |
PSCI 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 4714 | Senior Seminar in Policy Analysis | 3 |
PSCI 4724 | Senior Seminar in Political Theory | 3 |
Economics | ||
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 3024 | Economic Justice | 3 |
ECON 3034 | Economics of Poverty and Discrimination | 3 |
ECON 3104 | Microeconomic Theory | 3 |
ECON 3134 | Choice and Behavior | 3 |
ECON 3144 | Economics of Regulation | 3 |
ECON 3204 | Macroeconomic Theory | 3 |
ECON 3214 | Money and Banking | 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 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 4454 | Neuroeconomics | 3 |
ECON 4894 | Law and Economics | 3 |
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