|
| |
Political Economy Undergraduate Program OverviewGeneral Description
Political Economy (PEIS) major examines the relationship between politics and economics in modern societies, focusing special attention on problems of both domestic and international policy. The curriculum is both multi- and interdisciplinary in scope and is based on the assumption that the political-economic relationship is affected by society, culture, geography, and demographics.
Contemporary problems form the central focus of the major, although a strong historical perspective is emphasized. Students also study planning and problem solving, environmental issues, resource distribution, and the challenges of institutional adaptation, value innovation, and changing political systems.
Some of the questions addressed in the major include:
the tension between rising consumer demand versus the need to minimize resource depletion and pollution;
the different priorities served by capitalist, socialist, and traditionalist varieties of political economy;
the different priorities served by democratic and authoritarian political systems;
how international interdependence may undermine the efforts of national governments to cope with unemployment, inflation, trade and payment deficits, health, housing, welfare problems, and other issues associated with industrialized societies;
the importance of organizational structures for policy-making in both the public and private sectors. Admission
To declare PEIS, students must:
Have attended a Major Declaration Workshop; and
Have completed IAS 45 with a grade of C or better; and
Have completed Econ 1 or 2 with a grade of C or better; and
Have a major and cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher;
Not be in their final semester of undergraduate work.
See the PEIS Student Handbook for details and instructions on how to apply.Overview of Requirements
Lower Division Courses (4)
Economics 1 or 2 (pre-requisite to declareand must earn a "C" or better to declare; can only repeat the course once)
IAS 45 (pre-requisite to declareand must earn a "C" or better to declare; can only repeat the course once)
Political Science 2
Statistics 2, 20 or 21Foreign Language
All students must be able to demonstrate a proficiency equivalent to four college-level semesters in any single modern language other than English. Equivalency can be achieved through coursework (C- grade or higher), AP credit, examination and/or study abroad. Languages accepted by the College of Letters and Science are not automatically accepted by the PEISmajor. Please check with the department for eligible languages. Upper Division Core Courses (5)
Economics 100A or Economics 101A or IAS 106 or UGBA 101A, Intermediate Micro-economic Theory
Economics 100B or Economics 101B or IAS 107 or UGBA 101B, Intermediate Macro-economic Theory
PEIS 100, Classical Theories of Political Economy
PEIS 101, Contemporary Theories of Political Economy
One "Historical Context" course (consult the PEIS Student Handbook for a list of courses)Upper Division Concentration (4)
The Political Economy major’s concentration requirement is an attempt to turn each student’s program into a major rather than a sprawling set of disconnected social science and history courses. The other major requirements lead students to learn a great deal of history and a great deal about the approved models, theories, and intellectual approaches of the different social sciences. The concentration requirement asks students to apply that theoretical and historical knowledge to an issue area in political economy.
The possibilities are wide open depending on student interest and enthusiasm. However, analysis has identified that students’ concentrations tend to cluster into three groups: the political economy of "post-industrial" societies, "late industrialization and development," and "globalization" Students may - and are in fact encouraged to - simply pick courses from the recommended course list for one of these three groups in order to assemble their concentrations. Students are also strongly encouraged to take the particular PEIS 101 course that is focused on the concentration group they have chosen.
Students who wish have the freedom to choose and develop their own concentrations. The faculty advisors will approve any set of related courses for which a student writes a convincing two-paragraph explanation of how taking these courses will turn the student into an expert in some question or problem area in political economy. Such questions might be: dilemmas of medical care cost control and resource allocation around the globe, or religion and the state in early modern Europe and the contemporary Middle East. Honors (2)
Students with minimum GPAs of 3.5 cumulative and 3.6 in the major are eligible to join the honors program. Honors students write a prospectus in the fall IAS H102 honors methodology class, and then a thesis in the spring PEIS H195 seminar. Senior Thesis
PE 192, Senior Thesis is designed to provide a opportunity for any undergraduate major interested in writing a major paper on a political economy topic. After Graduation
The PEIS major is designed to provide a broad-based liberal arts background as well as the intellectual skills appropriate for careers in either the public or private sector. Additionally, the major offers an excellent background for students planning postgraduate careers in social science disciplines and professional schools.
|
|
