Degree Requirements - 126 credits
Students can earn a Bachelor of Arts degree or a Bachelor of Science degree with this major
Politics, Philosophy and Economics Major Requirements: 14 courses, 54-55 credits
Core Requirements (8 courses, 30-31 credits)
Choose one of the following:
| EC-101 | Applied Microeconomics | 3 |
| EC-103 | Using Big Data to Solve Economic and Social Problems | 4 |
Choose one of the following:
| POLS-181 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 4 |
| POLS-225 | U.S. Constitutional Law & Civil Liberties | 4 |
Choose one of the following:
Electives (6 courses, 24 credits)
Choose two courses from each of the groups A, B, and C as listed below:
A. Political Science
| - | Choose one 4-credit Political Science course at the 200-level or higher | 4 |
| - | Choose one 4-credit Political Science course at the 300-level or higher | 4 |
Note: A list of Political Science courses can be found in the Courses section of the Academic Catalog.
B. Philosophy
| - | Choose PHIL-113 or any 4-credit Philosophy course at the 200-level or higher | 4 |
| - | Choose one additional 4-credit Philosophy course at the 300-level or higher | 4 |
Note: A list of Philosophy courses can be found in the Courses section of the Academic Catalog.
C. Economics
Choose two Economics courses from the list below, at least one must be at the 300-level or higher.
| - | Choose any 4-credit Economics course except ECON 101 or ECON 102 or ECON 103 | 4 |
| - | Choose one additional 4-credit Economics course at the 300-level or higher | 4 |
Note: A list of Economics courses can be found in the Courses section of the Academic Catalog.
Residency Requirement Policy: In the College of Arts and Sciences, a two-course (8 credit) residency requirement must be satisfied for completion of a minor and a four-course (16 credit) residency requirement must be satisfied for the completion of a major.
About the Politics, Philosophy and Economics Major
Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this major.
View the Program Page
Politics, Philosophy, and Economics Major Learning Goals and Objectives
Learning goals and objectives reflect the educational outcomes achieved by students through the completion of this program. These transferable skills prepare Suffolk students for success in the workplace, in graduate school, and in their local and global communities.
| Learning Goals |
Learning Objectives |
| Students will... |
Students will be able to... |
| Understand core contributions of political science, economics, and philosophy |
- Examine the institutions and rules that govern and structure political decision-making
- Identify the main theories and concepts of ethics and political philosophy
- Interpret the basic dynamics of market exchange and economic production and distribution |
| Critically evaluate structures, perspectives, and approaches |
- Combine perspectives, theories, and data from politics, philosophy, and economics to engage in real world social and political issues
- Accurately describe and evaluate the ethical stakes of decisions and their potential consequences from multiple perspectives or standards/criteria
- Compare and contrast existing social structures with alternatives
- Critique one’s own views and arguments |
| Identify and investigate an important research question |
- Formulate interesting and important research questions
- Identify relevant scholarly resources and synthesize the information essential to a research question
- Understand and apply qualitative and quantitative data from economic and political research |
| Defend a position clearly and directly in writing |
- Organize an argument in a form and level of depth suitable to a broad audience
- Employ philosophical tools (distinctions, objections/responses, convincing hypotheticals and counter-examples) constructively
- Produce clear, persuasive prose and write with accuracy, precision, consistency, and relevance to topic at hand |
| Discuss concepts and issues in a manner that is informed, creative, and civil |
- Engage in civil dialogue through group work, open discussions, Q&A, formal and informal presentations.
- Use sound argumentation strategies
- Debate issues in a respectful and empathetic manner |
About the Politics, Philosophy and Economics Major
Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this major.
View the Program Page
Honors
Honors in the Major is a highly selective opportunity to complete a signature original project or thesis with the close personalized mentorship of a departmental faculty member beginning in the junior year. Students have the opportunity to complete a junior level interdisciplinary course addressing real-world problems. In the senior year, students present research or creative works completed in their discipline at the Honors in the Major Symposium. There is special recognition at Commencement and on the Suffolk transcript.
About the Politics, Philosophy and Economics Major
Learn more about the experiences and opportunities available within this major.
View the Program Page