Other links:
Other links:
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.
The economics department recommends that students complete mathematics in Classes 11 and 12 to be eligible for any economics-related major or minor. For students who have not studied mathematics in Classes 11 and 12 to be eligible for any economics-related major or minor, they need to: a) Take MAT 1000: Calculus (a 1000-level course) offered by the Mathematics department in their first semester and b) Secure at least an A- to be eligible. Note, there may be an entry test requirement for MAT 1000 which will be set by the Maths department. Please check the mathematics department website for more details.
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. We list the major requirements in the following sections.
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 For students completing only 4 Political Science courses, at most 1 cross-listed Political Science course can count towards the major. Philosophy 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 Political Science or Economics Additional Rules
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.
In the 4th year, the process and requirements for writing a dissertation in Political Science or Economics, to obtain an “Honours with Research” degree, are the same as those for dissertations in Politics or Economics majors, respectively.
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.
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
For students completing only 4 Political Science courses, at most 1 cross-listed Political Science course can count towards the major.
Philosophy
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
Additional Rules
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
For students completing only 4 Political Science courses, at most 1 cross-listed Political Science course can count towards the major.
Philosophy
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
Additional requirements:
Having PPE major precludes students 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.
