Politics, Philosophy and Economics (B.A. Hons.)

Politics, Philosophy and Economics Major

The PPE major combines three of the most prominent approaches to understanding the social and political world, the way it shapes individuals and the way individuals shape it. The knowledge and skills it inculcates in students are relevant for a whole range of careers, including but not restricted to politics, journalism, the media, social activism, the NGO sector, business, law, and academia. Students will emerge with honed discussion skills and with a level of sophistication in their thinking about society’s workings and the best way to address its ills. The Political Science and Economics components enable students to develop an understanding of the many social forces at work around them, and the Philosophy component enables them to reason about these forces with rigour.

No PPE major can earn a major or a minor in Philosophy, Political Science, Economics, or any interdisciplinary major or minor incorporating any of the three constituent areas.

Four Year Major Requirements for UG 2026 and later

To major in PPE, graduating UG 2026 or later, students pursuing a 4-year major must complete 20 courses across the three disciplines. The minimum requirement is 4 courses from each discipline. Further, a 4-yr PPE major must complete either Statistics with Economics or Quantitative Research Methods in Politics. The remaining 7 courses can be from any constituent discipline. For PPE with Specialization (available only for UG graduating in 2027 and earlier), a student has to complete a total of 8 courses from the said discipline. If a student meets the specialization criteria for two or three disciplines, then the student will select the specialization they receive.

Political Science

1. Introduction to Indian Politics
2. Western Political Thought (I) or Introduction to Political Theory
3. Introduction to Comparative Politics
4. One additional Political Science course

For students completing only 4 Political Science courses, at most 1 cross-listed Political Science course can count towards the major.

Philosophy

1. Introduction to Philosophy (PHI 1000)
2. Two Philosophy courses in two different categories from these three categories: Indian & Non-Western Philosophy, History of Western Philosophy, Contemporary Core
3. One additional Philosophy course (or for UG23 and earlier, Symbolic Logic)

All 4 Philosophy courses must be taught by Philosophy faculty (that is, they cannot be cross-listed courses taught by faculty in other departments like Political Science). For more information on Philosophy course categories, see this link.

Economics

1. Introduction to Economics
2. Mathematics for Economists
3. Microeconomic Theory I
4. Macroeconomic Theory I

Political Science or Economics

1. Statistics for Economics OR Quantitative Research Methods

Additional Rules

• At least 4 Philosophy courses must be taught by Philosophy faculty (that is, they cannot be cross-listed courses taught by faculty in other departments like Political Science).
• For the specialization in Economics (available only for UG graduating in 2027 and earlier), PPE majors must complete the following economics (compulsory) courses: 1) Introduction to Economics, 2) Mathematics for Economists, 3) Statistics for Economics, 4) Microeconomic Theory I and 5) Macroeconomic Theory I. The remaining 3 courses could be any ECO 2000 or higher level course subject to course prerequisites, with no more than 1 cross listed Econ course.
• For students completing only 4 Political Science courses, at most 1 cross-listed Political Science course can count towards the major.
• For the specialization in Political Science (available only for UG graduating in 2027 and earlier), PPE majors must additionally complete 4 Political Science courses beyond the 4 required courses. At most 2 cross-listed Political Science courses can count towards a PPE major with specialization in political science.
• For a specialization in Philosophy (available only for UG graduating in 2027 and earlier), out of the 8 required courses, students must complete three Philosophy courses in two different categories from these three categories: Indian & Non-Western Philosophy, History of Western Philosophy, Contemporary Core.

Four year PPE with Research Degree Requirements for UG 2026 and later

For the research degree, a student has to meet the four-year PPE degree requirements and also meet 12-credit dissertation requirements in either Economics, Philosophy, or Political Science.

A PPE student who has met the 3-year criteria of PPE with Economics Specialization is eligible to write a dissertation in Economics in the 4th year (to get a “Hons with Research” degree). The dissertation credit requirements are the same as that of an Econ major dissertation (4 credit Research Methods + 8 credit thesis).

In the 4th year, a PPE student may write a dissertation in Political Science (to get a “Hons with Research degree”). The process and requirements are the same as that of a Politics major dissertation.

To write a dissertation in Philosophy (to get a “Hons with Research degree”), students must fulfill the requirements for a Philosophy thesis: a permanent (not visiting) Philosophy professor must agree to advise the thesis, the student must fill out the registration form in Spring Semester of their 3rd year, and the student must enroll in the thesis research seminar in the 4th year.

Three Year Major Requirements for UG 2025 and later

To major in PPE, graduating UG 2025 or later, students pursuing a 3-year major must complete 15 courses across the three disciplines. The minimum requirement is 4 courses from each discipline.

Political Science

1. Introduction to Indian Politics
2. Western Political Thought (I) or Introduction to Political Theory
3. Introduction to Comparative Politics
4. One additional Political Science course

For students completing only 4 Political Science courses, at most 1 cross-listed Political Science course can count towards the major.

Philosophy

1. Introduction to Philosophy (PHI 1000)
2. One additional Philosophy course (or for UG23 and earlier, Symbolic Logic)
3. Two Philosophy courses in two different categories from these three categories: Indian & Non-Western Philosophy, History of Western Philosophy, Contemporary Core

All 4 Philosophy courses must be taught by Philosophy faculty (that is, they cannot be cross-listed courses taught by faculty in other departments like Political Science). For more information on Philosophy course categories, see this link.

Economics

1. Introduction to Economics
2. Mathematics for Economists
3. Microeconomic Theory I
4. Macroeconomic Theory I

Additional Rules

• At least 4 Philosophy courses must be taught by Philosophy faculty (that is, they cannot be cross-listed courses taught by faculty in other departments like Political Science).
• For students completing only 4 Political Science courses, at most 1 cross-listed Political Science course can count towards the major.
• Students pursuing a 3-year major in PPE who graduate in 2025 or 2026 can pursue a specialization in one of the disciplines. Specialization option will no longer be available for PPE majors graduating in 2027 or later.
  • For the specialization in Political Science, PPE majors must additionally complete 3 Political Science courses beyond the 4 required courses. At most 2 cross-listed Political Science courses can count towards a PPE major with specialization in political science.
  • For the specialization in Economics, PPE majors must complete 3 additional Economics courses which could be any ECO 2000 or higher level course subject to course prerequisites, with no more than 1 cross-listed Econ course.
  • For a specialization in Philosophy, students must complete the following courses (in all): 1) Introduction to Philosophy (PHI 1000), 2) Three Philosophy courses in two different categories from these three categories: Indian & Non-Western Philosophy, History of Western Philosophy, Contemporary Core.

Three year Major Requirement for UG 2024 and earlier

To major in PPE, graduating UG 2024 or earlier, students pursuing a 3-year major must enroll in 16 courses across the three disciplines. A PPE major must complete at least 4 courses each from Political Science, Philosophy, and Economics. The compulsory courses of the three disciplines are:

Political Science

1. Introduction to Indian Politics
2. Western Political Thought (I) or Introduction to Political Theory
3. Introduction to Comparative Politics
4. One additional Political Science course

For students completing only 4 Political Science courses, at most 1 cross-listed Political Science course can count towards the major.

Philosophy

1. Introduction to Philosophy (PHI 1000)
2. Symbolic Logic (PHI 1060) (only required for UG23 and earlier; UG24 and later can complete any Philosophy elective)
3. Two Philosophy courses in two different categories from these three categories: Indian & Non-Western Philosophy, History of Western Philosophy, Contemporary Core

At least 4 Philosophy courses must be taught by Philosophy faculty (that is, they cannot be cross-listed courses taught by faculty in other departments like Political Science). For more information on Philosophy course categories, see this link.

Economics

1. Introduction to Economics
2. Mathematics for Economists
3. Microeconomic Theory I
4. Macroeconomic Theory I

Additional requirements:

• For PPE with Specialization (in one of the disciplines from Pol, Phil, and Econ), the student must complete 4 additional courses in the said disciplines. Departments may have specific requirements for PPE with Specialization:
  • For Political Science specialization, the department does not mandate any specific courses.
  • For a specialization in Philosophy, students must complete the following courses (in all): 1) Introduction to Philosophy (PHI 1000), 2) Symbolic Logic (PHI 1060), 3) Three Philosophy courses in two different categories from these three categories: Indian & Non-Western Philosophy, History of Western Philosophy, Contemporary Core.
  • A specialization in Economics requires 4 additional courses which can be taken in either theory-track or applied-track.
    • Theory-track: Macroeconomic Theory II, Microeconomic Theory II, or any two of: Statistics for Economics, Econometrics, or any 3000-level Economics course
    • Applied-track: Statistics for Economics, Econometrics, any two of: Macroeconomics Theory II, Microeconomics Theory II, or any 3000-level Economics course
• At most one cross-listed Economics course can count towards the major.
• For students completing only 4 Political Science courses, at most 1 cross-listed Political Science course can count towards the major.
• For the specialization in Political Science, PPE majors must additionally complete 4 Political Science courses beyond the 4 required courses. At most 2 cross-listed Political Science courses can count towards a PPE major with specialization in political science.
• At least 4 Philosophy courses must be taught by Philosophy faculty (that is, they cannot be cross-listed courses taught by faculty in other departments like Political Science).
• A student cannot both major in PPE and minor in Philosophy.

An Important Rule for both 3-year and 4-year degrees

Having PPE major precludes you from receiving a major or minor in any constituent disciplines (Phil, Pol, Econ) or a major or minor in an interdisciplinary degree containing any of the constituent disciplines.

PPE Coordinators

Each department involved in PPE has a PPE Coordinator who is in charge of handling PPE matters for the department. Contact a PPE Coordinator if you have questions about PPE.

Associated Faculty