Bachelor of Arts Degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics

The King’s College program in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE) weaves together the academic disciplines that examine the nature of human communities. Politics deals with the question, "How should we govern ourselves?" Philosophy asks, "What can we know through reason?" And economics asks, "How can the community prosper within the constraints of the material world?"

Oxford University created the first PPE degree in 1920. Since then, more than two dozen colleges and universities have adopted the idea and developed their own versions of it. The King’s College PPE program takes its inspiration from this tradition, but has its own distinct content. PPE at The King’s College has three particular distinctions. First, it is built on the Common Core. All King’s College students, not just those studying PPE, take a sequence of 20 courses that are designed to give students a firm grounding in politics, philosophy, and economics, as well as in history, theology, mathematics, and writing.

Second, all PPE courses at The King’s College have a strong theological component. It is based on the idea that Christianity gives powerful insights into the key questions that political theorists, philosophers, and economists pursue.

Third, students in the PPE program prepare for public debate and advocacy. The curriculum places persuasive writing and speaking at the center of nearly every course. During the senior year all PPE students complete a senior thesis as a capstone experience that integrates student learning in philosophy, politics, and economics. The aim is to prepare graduates who are not just knowledgeable about the world, but ready to act in the world.

The Common Core component of the PPE program introduces students to the fundamental principles of the three disciplines, plus theology. Upper level courses in the PPE major focus on contemporary issues and more advanced topics. The program, however, is completely integrated. As students advance in their sophistication with the ideas and techniques of the three disciplines, basic questions raised during freshman year are raised again in courses throughout the students’ Program.

In the discipline of politics, PPE students study the constitutional history of the United States from its founding up to and including the expansion of civil rights. Students also consider the hallmarks of statesmanship by examining various plays by Shakespeare as well as the writings of great statesmen such as John Adams and Abraham Lincoln. American foreign policy presents real world challenges for the United States in this time of international volatility. PPE students study these challenges with the goal of assessing and determining future policy decisions as they relate to the international community.

In the discipline of philosophy, PPE students study the major theories that form the systematic treatment of ethics, including the nature of values, considerations of human freedom, and the sources of moral goodness and moral evil. Aesthetics, the human capacity to perceive beauty and ugliness, equips PPE students with the ability to understand how the arts can both reflect and instigate cultural change. Students explore New York’s museums, architecture, music and other arts to develop aesthetic perception as well as critical competence.

In the discipline of economics, PPE students study how economic analysis can be applied to the role and function of government, governmental decision-making, and the interaction between public and private interests. Further study concentrates on the choices that political states face regarding economic management as well as the limits that markets place on such policies.

An additional course in Persuasive Writing and Speaking builds a strong foundation for rhetorical skills. And in addition to the required courses, all PPE students take eight electives.

Students may choose, however, to use five of their electives to take a concentration. The King’s college offers PPE students four concentrations: Theology, Media, Literature, and Foundations of Education. Each concentration introduces disciplines or fields of study that students may pursue in graduate school or as a career. PPE students may also take courses within a concentration without taking the whole five-course sequence.

Recommended Course Sequence

Year One – 30 Credits

ECO 110: Introduction to Economics
ENG 110: College Writing I
ENG 120: College Writing II
HIS 111: Western Civilization I
MAT 155 or MAT 160
PHL 110: Logic
REL 110: Christianity & Society
REL 112: Introduction to Old Testament Literature
OPEN ELECTIVE (6 credits)

Year Two – 30 Credits

ECO 210: Macroeconomics
ECO 211: Microeconomics
HIS 212: Western Civilization II
MAT 274: Statistics
PHL 210: Ancient Philosophy
PHL 212: Medieval Philosophy
PHL 361: Ethics
POL 210: Foundations of Politics
POL 311: American Political Thought and Practice I
REL 211: Introduction to New Testament Literature

Year Three – 30 Credits

ECO 311: History of Economic Thought
POL 312: Enlightenment & Liberal Democracy
POL 313: American Political Thought and Practice II
POL 315: American Political Thought and Practice III
POL 351: Constitutional Law
REL 354: Principles of Biblical Interpretation
SCI 312: Scientific Reasoning
PHL 214: Modern Philosophy OPEN ELECTIVE (6 credits)

Year Four – 30 Credits

ECO 452: Political Economy
ENG 412: Persuasive Writing & Speaking
PPE 451: Senior Thesis
REL 412: Foundations of Judeo-Christian Thought
OPEN ELECTIVE (6 credits)
PPE ELECTIVE (12 credits)