Politics, Philosophy & Economics Archive 2020-2021
Politics, Philosophy & Economics Major Archive 2020-2021
Degree Requirements - 126 credits
Students can earn a bachelor of arts degree with this major. See the requirements for the bachelor of arts degree.
Students can earn a bachelor of science degree with this major. See the requirements for the bachelor of science degree.
Major Requirements: 14 courses, 54 credits
Core Requirements (8 courses, 30 credits)
EC-101 Applied Microeconomics
Non CAS majors need to have completed at least 15 credits.
3.00
This course introduces students to foundational principles of microeconomic theory, with an emphasis on applications of concepts to management decision-making in specific industry and market settings. It describes and analyzes the interaction of supply and demand and the behavior of the prices of goods, services. It explains the determinations of costs, output, strategic pricing, and governance by firms under conditions of perfect and imperfect competition in a global economy. In addition, it describes the supply demand for factors of production and the impact of taxes and government regulation and intervention on firms and consumers.
EC-102 Global Macroeconomics
Non-CAS majors need to have completed at least 15 credits
3.00
This course examines the workings of the national and the global economy. It will describe the determination of Gross Domestic Product, the problems of unemployment, inflation, and the determination of economic growth. It will also describe and analyze the determination of the country's exchange rate, the balance of payments, and international borrowing and lending. A particular focus will be on understanding economic fluctuations (booms, busts, and recessions) in the domestic economy and its effects on other economies. It will analyze the role of the government and the effects of government spending and taxation on the economy. Furthermore, it will describe and analyze the determination of the quantity of money and interest rates in the economy and the role of the country's central bank. It examines the basis and pattern of international trade and the effects of a country's trade policy on the economy.
PHIL-120 Ethics and Civic Life
4.00
In this class, you will be introduced to the perspectives and methods of politics, philosophy, and economics, and see how these three disciplines present distinct but interconnected dimensions of current social and political issues.
PHIL-250 Social & Political Philosophy
4.00
An examination of persistent debates in political and social philosophy. Topics covered can include the meaning of property and welfare, the tensions between liberty and equality, censorship and freedom of expression, the relation of church and state, human rights and the common good, the possibility of political education and civic virtue, legitimacy of the state, revolution and counter-revolution, war, and problems of ends and means addressing historic injustices such as racism, genocide, or sexism, among other topics. Students will read both classic and contemporary texts addressing the historical roots and the contemporary treatment of these questions. 1 term - 4 credits. Normally offered every year.
POLS-110 Introduction to American Politics
4.00
An introduction to the American political system and constitutional framework. Focus will be on the interplay of various institutions (the Presidency, Congress and the Judiciary) in creating public policies. Contemporary public issues will be discussed, as will the role of political theory in shaping American democracy. Attention will be given to the role of the news media, public opinion, political ideology, political parties and interest groups in the American system.
PPE-401 Political Economy
PHIL-119, PHIL-120, PHIL-123, or PHIL-127 and 2 of the following courses: POLS-110, POLS-201, POLS-225, EC-101, EC-102, PHIL-212, PHIL-250, STATS-240, STATS-250. PPE students only. Senior status required.
4.00
This interdisciplinary class brings together the fields of politics, philosophy, and economics at a high academic level. You will be confronted with hard questions about the sources, ends, and limits of government; the usefulness and troubles of free markets; the proper distribution of economic advantages in society; and what works best for building a just and efficient system of economic institutions.
POLS-181 Introduction to Comparative Politics
4.00
Introduces various approaches of comparative politics, such as institutionalism, structuralism, political culture, corporatism, state-society relationship, political economy, etc. Applies the different approaches to explain how various factors affect government institutions, sociopolitical and economic development in different societies. An effort is made to include countries from all regions of the world. Normally offered every semester.
POLS-225 U.S. Constitutional Law & Civil Liberties
4.00
This course examines a range of contemporary issues introducing students to the U.S. Constitution and the fundamental concepts of constitutional law. Students discuss and analyze topics including separation of powers, federalism, freedom of speech, the death penalty, gun control, and civil rights. We will explore current constitutional challenges and their relationship to law and society.
Choose one of the following:
PHIL-212 Formal Logic
4.00
An introduction to formal (or semi-formal) study of the basic types of deductive arguments (propositional and syllogistic logic). 1 term - 4 credits. Normally offered every year.
POLS-201 Data Analysis and Politics
Sophomore Standing, POLS-110 and POLS-120 and MATH-128 or higher or instructor's consent
4.00
Quantitative analysis is quickly changing the way we understand and engage in politics, how we implement policy, and how organizations across the world make decisions. In this course, we will learn the fundamental principles of statistical inference and develop the necessary programming skills to answer a wide range of political and policy oriented questions with data analysis. Who is most likely to win the upcoming presidential election? Do countries become less democratic when leaders are assassinated? Is there racial discrimination in the labor market? These are just a few of the questions we will work on in the course.
STATS-240 Introduction to Statistics
MATH-128 or higher. REMINDER: STATS-240 satisfies the pre-requisite for MKT-220, FIN-200, ISOM-201 (pre-req for ISOM-319), ISOM-230 (pre-req for ISOM-330), ISOM-231, and ISOM-330
4.00
Introduction to statistics and application to statistical analysis by using real-world data. Topics include: data presentation, measures of central locations and dispersion, probability, discrete and continuous probability distributions, sampling and sampling distribution, estimation, hypothesis testing with applications, simple and multiple regression models. The use of Excel and SPSS will be emphasized throughout the lab class. Normally offered each semester, this course meets 4 hours each week. STATS 240 satisfies the same requirements as STATS 250
STATS-250 Applied Statistics
MATH-128 or higher
4.00
Application of statistical analysis to real-world business and economic problems. Topics include data presentation, descriptive statistics including measures of location and dispersion, introduction to probability, discrete and continuous random variables, probability distributions including binomial and normal distributions, sampling and sampling distributions, statistical inference including estimation and hypothesis testing, simple and multiple regression analysis. The use of computers is emphasized throughout the course. Normally offered each semester.
Electives (6 courses, 24 credits)
EC-131 Environmental Economics
4.00
Identifies the environmental effects of economic activity, including polluted water and air, noise, and radiation, and values their costs and benefits. Analyzes mechanisms, including taxes and permits, for achieving a socially preferable level of pollution. Traces role played by institutions, including common ownership, in affecting environmental decay. Resource depletion (of oil, forests, and fisheries) and appropriate policy responses.
EC-141 Development Economics
4.00
Why do so many countries remain so poor? Why have some (e.g. the Asian "tigers") grown so rapidly? Why have most of the countries of Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union been slow to ignite economic growth? These questions are addressed by looking at domestic factors (government policies, resource endowments) as well as the international environment (mobile investors, international financial institutions). Asks what economic choices these countries face now. Normally offered yearly. Cultural Diversity B
EC-151 Economic & Human Geography
4.00
The study of how economic and human activity is distributed across space, the reasons for these spatial distributions, and the processes that change the spatial organization of economic activity over time. Topics include: maps, map projections, and geographic information systems; population geography; the organization and location of cities, towns and villages; transportation and communication policy; industrial location; the geography of world trade; and geographic features of economic development. The course takes a global perspective, and draws on cases and examples from all over the world. Cultural Diversity B
EC-311 Intermediate Micro Theory
EC 101 and EC 102
4.00
Theory of consumer behavior and demand. Theory of production and costs of production. Theory of the firm, and price and output decisions in different market structures, i.e., under perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition and oligopoly. Decisions relating to pricing and employment of various inputs (labor and capital) under perfectly competitive, and less than perfectly competitive, resource markets. Required of all majors in Economics. Normally offered every semester.
EC-421 Public Finance
EC-101 and EC-102
4.00
The theory of tax policy and tax structure. The effects on economic behavior (including labor supply, saving, risk-taking and investment, charitable giving, and growth) of different taxes (income, sales, value-added, inheritance, wealth, property). Tax equity, efficiency and incidence, in the United States and in comparative perspective. Additional topics include modeling state taxes; social security and pensions; and tax compensation. Normally offered yearly.
EC-430 International Trade Theory & Policy
EC-101 and EC-102
4.00
This course examines theories of international trade. The policy implications of each theory are explored and the effect of trade on the welfare of the nation is examined. Also the development of trade blocs and the the political economy of trade are studied. Normally offered every year.
EC-442 International Monetary Economics
EC-101 and EC-102
4.00
The balance of payments and foreign exchange markets and instruments, and the determination of exchange rates. Balance-of-payments adjustments under alternative exchange-rate systems, international liquidity, international economics policy and open economy macroeconomics.
EC-460 Game Theory
EC-101 and EC-102
4.00
This course introduces students to the foundations of game theory using applications from economics and everyday decision-making. The course examines the common strategic elements of interactions between consumers and producers, governments and citizens, politicians and their constituencies, countries and their trading partners, and various other participants in social relationships. The course provides a theoretical framework for modeling strategic interaction, beginning with the development of the concept of a Nash equilibrium, reputation, signaling, collective-action problems, and voting procedures and strategies. Normally offered every other year.
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.
Politics, Philosophy & Economics Major Learning Goals & Objectives Archive 2020-2021
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 |
|
Critically evaluate structures, perspectives, and approaches |
|
Identify and investigate an important research question |
|
Defend a position clearly and directly in writing |
|
Discuss concepts and issues in a manner that is informed, creative, and civil |
|
Honors Archive 2020-2021
To complete requirements for honors in the major, a candidate must:
- Graduate with a major GPA of 3.5 or higher
- Graduate with an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher
- Complete at least two 400-level courses in Political Science, Philosophy, and/or Economics. Courses may be from different departments
- Complete PPE-H401
- Complete a research paper/thesis in PPE-H401 that is approved by the PPE Honors Committee
- CAS Honors Program students only: Present work from the senior honors experience at the Honors Symposium or Pecha Kucha event
- All other students: Present the research paper/thesis to the PPE Honors Committee
To become a candidate for honors in the major, a student must:
- Have a major GPA of 3.4 or higher
- Have an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher
- Have completed at least two PPE core requirement courses
CAS Honors Program students only: CAS Honors Program students who fulfill the above GPA requirement and minimum coursework are assumed to be candidates for departmental honors and should consult with a major advisor during junior year about registering for major honors requirements as described above
All other students: Apply to the program director at the beginning of junior year and find a thesis supervisor by the end of junior year
Politics, Philosophy & Economics Courses Archive 2020-2021
PPE-401 Political Economy
PHIL-119, PHIL-120, PHIL-123, or PHIL-127 and 2 of the following courses: POLS-110, POLS-201, POLS-225, EC-101, EC-102, PHIL-212, PHIL-250, STATS-240, STATS-250. PPE students only. Senior status required.
4.00
This interdisciplinary class brings together the fields of politics, philosophy, and economics at a high academic level. You will be confronted with hard questions about the sources, ends, and limits of government; the usefulness and troubles of free markets; the proper distribution of economic advantages in society; and what works best for building a just and efficient system of economic institutions.
PPE-H401 Honors Political Economy
PHIL-119 PHIL-120 PHIL-123 or PHIL-127; and 2 of the following courses: POLS-110, POLS-201, POLS-225, EC-101, EC-102, PHIL-212, PHIL-250, STATS-240, STATS-250. PPE Students Only. Senior Status and CAS Honors required.
4.00
This interdisciplinary class for students in PPE and the Honors Program brings together the fields of politics, philosophy, and economics at a high academic level. You will be confronted with hard questions about the sources, ends, and limits of government; the usefulness and troubles of free markets; the proper distribution of economic advantages in society; and what works best for building a just and efficient system of economic institutions.
PPE-510 Independent Study
1.00- 4.00
Independent Study
PPE-H510 Honors Independent Study
Instructor consent required.
1.00- 4.00
Students meet with a department member to pursue advanced studies in areas of particular interest to them.