The Political Economy, Philosophy, and Politics certificate is rooted in a core insight: social, economic, and political problems have ethical, political, and economic dimensions.
The first program formally combining these three approaches (politics, philosophy, and economics) was created at Oxford University in 1920. It drew on a tradition of inquiry that brought the three perspectives together. Since its creation at Oxford, similar programs have been created at many of the world’s leading universities.
If we move from the insight behind the program to what it means in practice, we can see that understanding, for example, immigration requires understanding it from political, economic, and ethical perspectives. In short, understanding the pressing political, economic, or philosophical problems of the day entails seeing them from a perspective that brings together all three disciplines. As a result, the Political Economy, Philosophy, and Politics certificate curriculum brings together faculty and coursework from three different academic departments: Economics, Philosophy, and Political Science. This cross-disciplinary curriculum is important not just for intellectual development, but also for fostering the habits of mind central to democratic citizenship.
Requirements
18 credits are required, as follows: 1
Core Breadth
Four courses for 12 credits, one course each from these areas:
Economics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON/HIST SCI 305 | Development of Economic Thought | 3-4 |
| ECON 330 | Money and Banking | 4 |
| ECON 435 | The Financial System | 3 |
| ECON 461 | International Macroeconomics | 3-4 |
| ECON 464 | International Trade | 3-4 |
| ECON 465 | The American Economy to 1865 | 3-4 |
| ECON/HISTORY 466 | The American Economy Since 1865 | 3-4 |
Philosophy
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PHILOS 341 | Contemporary Moral Issues | 3-4 |
| PHILOS/ENVIR ST 441 | Environmental Ethics | 3-4 |
| PHILOS/MED HIST 505 | Justice and Health Care | 3 |
| PHILOS/MED HIST 515 | Public Health Ethics | 3 |
| PHILOS/ECON 524 | Philosophy and Economics | 3 |
| PHILOS 541 | Modern Ethical Theories | 3 |
| PHILOS 549 | Great Moral Philosophers | 3 |
| PHILOS 555 | Political Philosophy | 3 |
Political Science: Political Theory
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLI SCI 360 | History of American Political Thought | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 361 | Contemporary American Political Thought | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 363 | Literature and Politics | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 364 | Christian Political Thought | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 411 | The American Constitution : Powers and Structures of Government | 4 |
| POLI SCI/ILS 463 | Deception and Politics | 3-4 |
Political Science: Institutions and Political Economy
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLI SCI 274 | Political Choice and Strategy | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 304 | The Political Economy of Race in the United States | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 330 | Political Economy of Development | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 340 | The European Union: Politics and Political Economy | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 350 | International Political Economy | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 354 | International Institutions and World Order | 3-4 |
| POLI SCI 356 | Principles of International Law | 3-4 |
Elective Depth Course
Take one (1) additional course (3 credits) from the list of courses above in either Economics or Philosophy.
Capstone Seminar
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLI SCI 461 | Interdisciplinary Seminar in Political Economy, Philosophy, & Politics | 3 |
- 1
Courses taken Pass/Fail do not count
Residency and Quality of Work
- Minimum 2.000 GPA in all certificate courses
- At least 9 certificate credits must be completed in residence
Certificate Completion Requirement
This undergraduate certificate must be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree. Students cannot delay degree completion to complete the certificate.
Learning Outcomes
- Knowing key concepts and arguments from economics, philosophy, and political science.
- Synthesizing key arguments and concepts from philosophy, political science, and economics.
- Applying arguments and concepts from philosophy, political science, and economics to contemporary policy or scholarly debates.
Advising
Cassie Chulick: Undergraduate Advisor, 303 North Hall
Amy Gangl: Undergraduate Advisor, 302 North Hall
Rachel Margolies: Undergraduate Advisor, 301 North Hall
Appointments scheduled with Starfish
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.
Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.
- What you can do with your major (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
- Make a career advising appointment
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students