All PPE majors are required to take a set of courses in their student-designed theme. Students are encouraged to start planning their theme as soon as they declare their major. Students will devise a plan for advanced study focusing on a single theme in political economy, which may be normative, methodological, theoretical, or applied. Each student will write up a rationale for their theme in consultation with their PPE advisor and submit it to their advisor for approval.
Possible themes could include advanced studies in any of the core areas, or focus on particular subjects/methods – for example, decision-making & strategic interaction, globalization, justice & equality, or comparative political economy. You can review some previous themes devised by PPE majors through the button below.
Theme Guidelines
- Non-Honors Students: Your theme will consist of 3 additional courses (beyond the distribution requirements and PPE core courses) in a single theme in political economy.
- Honors Students: Your theme will consist of 2 additional courses and your Honors thesis sequence, all in a single theme in political economy.
- At least two of these courses must be at the 400-level, and must come from at least two distinct academic disciplines.
- Theme courses do not need to come from one of our three departments. Any advanced course from any department that fits your theme may be included.
- One philosophy course must be taken to satisfy either the normative theory requirement or one of the three theme requirements for the theme.
Theme Proposal Requirements
- A theme proposal must be filed before a student registers for their second-to-last term and must be approved by their advisor.
- Write up a brief account of your theme (1–2 paragraphs should suffice) and list the courses you expect to take in your theme.
- Include a list of backup courses in case the ones you want to take are unavailable.
- Your theme may be modified at any time; just make an advising appointment to discuss any changes you wish to make.
