Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Philosophy, Politics and Economics ("PPE") is a degree which is one of the most famous and prestigious at the University of Oxford. In the past, this was a programme taken by many who seek a career in politics or public life - and quite a few who subsequently achieve it - but now also by those seeking a broader range of subjects for their first degree. It is now offered by several UK universities (such as Oxford, York and Durham) and also at University of Pennsylvania and Duke University in the US. It is still most strongly associated with the University of Oxford however, where famous PPE graduates include Harold Wilson, Bill Clinton, and Benazir Bhutto, amongst others.

Course of Study at Oxford

The PPE course at Oxford takes three years and awards students with a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. The average intake across the university is 300 students per year. All undergraduate colleges offer PPE.

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Prelims course

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In the first year students will take introductory course in all three subjects, mostly taught in the traditional Oxford-style tutorials. These courses include:

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• Introduction to Microeconomics
• Introduction to Macroeconomics
• Moral Philosophy
• General Philosophy (Epistemology and Metaphysics)
• Logic
• Introductory Politics of France, Germany, the USA and the UK; selected political theory topics and an introduction to the study of comparative government and political sociology.
• An IT project based upon political and economic statistics (which students have to pass, but which does not contribute to their final grade) using the SPSS statistical package.

There is some choice in the first year courses. Students will usually only study the politics of three of the four countries listed and certain colleges make Logic optional.

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At the end of the first year students sit "Prelims" - preliminary examinations - in all three subjects. These are officially marked only by "pass", "fail" or "distinction" (though students will be unofficially informed of their scores). A Pass is equivalent to 3rd or better in the Oxford system and a Distinction is a 1st or high uppers 2nd. If students pass these exams, they carry on into their second year. If they fail, they must retake the exams. Potentially, if the student fails on the second attempt they might be sent down (Oxford term for being expelled, or possibly just suspended). If a student gets a mean mark across his three papers equivalent to a distinction he will normally be awarded a scholarship or postmastership by his college.

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Final Honours Schools

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In the second and third years students work towards their Final Exams. Orrigionally students had to continue studying all three subjects, however in 1970 it was decided that students could specialise in two of the three subjects, though it is still possible to continue taking all three - known as going 'tripartite'. Students will take core courses perscribed for all PPE students studying their subjects and then will usually choose four optional papers from a list of the various courses offered. These courses are now taught through a mixture of tutorials and departmental classes (though tutorials are still the primary method). At the end of the third year students take their eight Finals Papers (or seven papers and one thesis). The exams are marked according to the Oxford system of degree classes - a First, an Upper Second (2.1), a Lower Second (2.2), a Third, pass or fail.

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In the Oxford degree there is no attempt to integrate the various strands of PPE and it is left up to the student to draw parallells between their papers (for example between Ethics, Political Theory and Welfare Economics). However at some other universities (such as York, the first besides Oxford to offer a PPE degree) some compulsory work is done to bring the different strands together.

Related Topics:
Ethics - Political Theory - Welfare Economics - York

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