PPE Courses
The PPE Minor requires five courses: An interdisciplinary Gateway Course, an interdisciplinary Capstone Seminar, and then one course, from a list of options, in each of Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics. The tabs below will lead you to a list of the courses that count towards the PPE Minor along with information about which particular sections are being offered in the upcoming semester. The other courses are offered on variable schedules, but on a fairly regular basis.
The Gateway course cannot be taken in the same semester as the Capstone; and we recommend that you take the Gateway fairly early in your academic career if possible. Experience suggests that having taken it will greatly enhance your experience of a broad range of other courses you will end up taking during your time at UNC.
Feel free to reach out to us via email if you have any questions.
The courses listed at the top of each tab are being offered in FALL 2022. As you scroll toward the bottom of each tab, you will find all other courses not currently offered, but which apply to the relevant component of the PPE minor.
Gateway courses are offered in both fall and spring semesters.
The Capstone is offered in both fall and spring semesters, and priority seating goes to graduating PPE seniors. Students must be manually enrolled into the Capstone after requesting space using our required form; to request space, please fill out the Capstone Space Request Form sent out to all PPE minors by PPE administrators each semester.
The Gateway to Philosophy, Politics, and Economics | PHIL/POLI/ECON 384
The Gateway course provides an introduction to the quantitative techniques, conceptual tools, and core principles of philosophy, political science, and economics. The course clarifies the similarities and differences between the philosophical, political, and economic approaches, and the limitations of each if considered individually. This enhances the understanding of each discipline, its conclusions, and the ways the disciplines can enrich and complement each other. This course is offered every semester.
Requisites: One course in economics strongly recommended.
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Times: 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM
Days: TR
Instructor: Muñoz, Daniel
The Gateway to Philosophy, Politics, and Economics | PHIL/POLI/ECON 384
The Gateway course provides an introduction to the quantitative techniques, conceptual tools, and core principles of philosophy, political science, and economics. The course clarifies the similarities and differences between the philosophical, political, and economic approaches, and the limitations of each if considered individually. This enhances the understanding of each discipline, its conclusions, and the ways the disciplines can enrich and complement each other. This course is offered every semester.
Requisites: One course in economics strongly recommended.
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 002
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Times: 2:00 PM to 3:15 PM
Days: TR
Instructor: Muñoz, Daniel
The Gateway to Philosophy, Politics, and Economics | PHIL/POLI/ECON 384
The Gateway course provides an introduction to the quantitative techniques, conceptual tools, and core principles of philosophy, political science, and economics. The course clarifies the similarities and differences between the philosophical, political, and economic approaches, and the limitations of each if considered individually. This enhances the understanding of each discipline, its conclusions, and the ways the disciplines can enrich and complement each other. This course is offered every semester.
Requisites: One course in economics strongly recommended.
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 003
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Times: 1:25 PM to 2:15 PM
Days: MWF
Instructor: Zhang, Erik
Knowledge and Society | PHIL 140
An examination of questions about knowledge, evidence, and rational belief as they arise in areas of social life such as democratic politics, the law, science, religion, and education. Honors version available
Offered This Semester: Yes
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Times: 9:30 AM to 10:45 AM
Days: TR
Instructor: Worsnip, Alex
Virtue, Value, and Happiness | PHIL 160
Exploration of different philosophical perspectives about right and wrong, personal character, justice, moral reasoning, and moral conflicts. Readings drawn from classic or contemporary sources. Critical discussion emphasized. Honors version available
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Times: 10:10 AM to 11:00 AM
Days: MW (with Friday recitations)
Instructor: Sayre-McCord, Geoffrey
Recitations: Yes
Practical Ethics: Moral Reasoning and How We Live | PHIL 163
Topics may include war, medical ethics, media ethics, sexual ethics, business ethics, racism, sexism, capital punishment, and the environment. Honors version available
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Times: 12:20 PM to 1:10 PM
Days: MWF
Instructor: Schwarz, Lucia
Practical Ethics: Moral Reasoning and How We Live | PHIL 163
Topics may include war, medical ethics, media ethics, sexual ethics, business ethics, racism, sexism, capital punishment, and the environment. Honors version available.
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 002
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Times: 1:25 PM to 2:15 PM
Days: MWF
Instructor: Slank, Shanna
Morality and Business | PHIL 164
An examination of business ethics and the types of ethical dilemmas people may face in business practices.
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Times: 1:25 PM to 2:15 PM
Days: MWF
Instructor: Sankaran, Kirun
Bioethics | PHIL 165
An examination of ethical issues in the life sciences and technologies, medicine, public health, and/or human interaction with nonhuman animals or the living environment. Honors version available
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Times: 12:20 PM to 1:10 PM
Days: MWF
Instructor: Napolitano, Giulia
Bioethics | PHIL 165
An examination of ethical issues in the life sciences and technologies, medicine, public health, and/or human interaction with nonhuman animals or the living environment. Honors version available
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 002
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Times: 1:25 PM to 2:15 PM
Days: MWF
Instructor: Napolitano, Giulia
Bioethics | PHIL 165
An examination of ethical issues in the life sciences and technologies, medicine, public health, and/or human interaction with nonhuman animals or the living environment. Honors version available
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 003
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Times: 8:00 AM to 9:15 AM
Days: TR
Instructor: Rothfus, Gerard
Justice, Rights, and the Common Good | PHIL 273
This course will focus on justice and the common good, applying theoretical justifications to contemporary social and economic issues. Readings will include classical and contemporary literature on the nature of justice and rights.
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Times: 12:20 PM to 1:10 PM
Days: MWF
Instructor: Sankaran, Kirun
Race, Racism, and Social Justice: African-American Political Philosophy | PHIL 274
Race, identity, discrimination, multiculturalism, affirmative action, and slave reparations in the writings of Walker, Delany, Douglass, Cooper, DuBois, King, and Malcolm X. Honors version available
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Times: 9:05 AM to 9:55 AM
Days: MWF
Instructor: Wu, Frank
Morality, Law, and Justice | PHIL 280
Explores issues in legal philosophy such as, What is law? Does it serve justice or undermine it? Can punishment be justified? When is a person responsible? Honors version available
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Times: 12:20 PM to 1:10 PM
Days: MWF
Instructor: Zhang, Erik
Justice in Public Policy | PLCY 340
This seminar explores arguments about moral issues in public policy. Students examine both the means used to implement policies and policy ends through discussions of case studies of policy choice. Honors version available
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Times: 11:15 AM to 12:05 PM
Days: MWF
Instructor: MacKay, Douglas
Ethics and Economics | PHIL/PLCY 364
Recommended preparation, at least one course in ethics (PHIL 160, 163, or 170) or one course in economics. Issues at the intersection of ethics and economics, including value; the relation between values and preferences; rationality; the relevance to economics of rights, justice, and the value of human life.
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Times: 1:25 PM to 2:15 PM
Days: MWF
Instructor: Schwarz, Lucia
The courses below count towards the PPE Minor, but are not being offered this semester.
Honors: Virtue, Value, and Happiness | PHIL 160H
Exploration of different philosophical perspectives about right and wrong, personal character, justice, moral reasoning, and moral conflicts. Readings drawn from classic or contemporary sources. Critical discussion emphasized. Honors version available
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Honors: Practical Ethics: Moral Reasoning and How We Live | PHIL 163H
Topics may include war, medical ethics, media ethics, sexual ethics, business ethics, racism, sexism, capital punishment, and the environment. *This course is EXCLUSIVELY for first-year Robertson Scholars, and is *NOT* managed by Honors Carolina. This lecture co-convenes with Duke.
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Liberty, Rights, and Responsibilities | PHIL 170
An examination of major issues in political philosophy, e.g., liberty, individual rights, social responsibility, legal authority, civil authority, civil disobedience. Readings include classical and contemporary writings. Honors version available
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Ethics, Politics, and Technology | PHIL 265
In the near future, our taxis will be driver-less, our wars will be fought by autonomous drones, and our towns will be kept safe by algorithms foreseeing crimes. This course explores the ethical implications of this new technological revolution and invites students to debate the challenges it engenders. We will debate how new technologies ought to be governed and what limits should be imposed on their implementation.
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
The Ethics of Peace, War, and Defense | PHIL/POLI/PWAD 272
An analysis of ethical issues that arise in peace, war, and defense, e.g., the legitimacy of states, just war theory, terrorism, weapons of mass destruction. *This section is scheduled and controlled by the Political Science Department; its recitation schedule is available in ConnectCarolina.
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH, GL, NA
Race, Racism, and Social Justice: African-American Political Philosophy | PHIL 274H
Race, identity, discrimination, multiculturalism, affirmative action, and slave reparations in the writings of Walker, Delany, Douglass, Cooper, DuBois, King, and Malcolm X. Honors version available
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Authority, Freedom, and Rights | PHIL 370
Advanced discussion of competing philosophical approaches to questions of justice, authority, freedom, rights, and the like, including libertarianism, liberalism, communitarianism, Marxism, and feminism.
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH, NA
First-Year Seminar: Justice and Inequality | PLCY 71
This seminar investigates the value of equality, and asks which forms of inequality are unjust and ought to be addressed by governments. Topics include income inequality, political inequality, marriage inequality, racial inequality, and global inequality.
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Honors: First-Year Seminar: Justice and Inequality | PLCY 71H
This seminar investigates the value of equality, and asks which forms of inequality are unjust and ought to be addressed by governments. Topics include income inequality, political inequality, marriage inequality, racial inequality, and global inequality.
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Justice in Public Policy | PLCY 340H
This seminar explores arguments about moral issues in public policy. Students examine both the means used to implement policies and policy ends through discussions of case studies of policy choice. Honors version available
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Intro to Comparative Politics | POLI 130
This course examines the diversity of political arrangements in societies across the globe. Honors version available
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: SS, BN, GL
Times: 11:15 AM to 12:05 PM
Days: MW (with multiple recitations)
Instructor: Anderson, Ashley
Recitations: Yes
Modern Political Thought | POLI 271
Survey course designed to introduce students to major political thinkers and schools of thought dating roughly from the 16th century to the present. Honors version available
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH, NA
Times: 1:25 PM to 2:15 PM
Days: MW (with multiple recitations)
Instructor: Weidenfeld, Matthew
Recitations: Yes
Modern Political Thought | POLI 271
Survey course designed to introduce students to major political thinkers and schools of thought dating roughly from the 16th century to the present. Honors version available
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 002
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH, NA
Times: 2:30 PM to 3:20 PM
Days: MWF
Instructor: Icelliler, Begum
Strategy and Politics | POLI 288
Offers an introduction to positive political theory, the application of rational choice analysis (or economic models) to the study of political phenomena. Topics include social choice theory, legislative voting, problems of cooperation and collective action, and public choice theory. Encourages students to think about politics from a critical vantage point.
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: SS, QI
Times: 3:30 PM to 4:45 PM
Days: TR
Instructor: Bassi, Anna
International Political Economy | POLI 442
Theories of international political economy, major trends in international economic relations, selected contemporary policy issues.
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: SS, GL
Times: 2:30 PM to 3:45 PM
Days: MW
Instructor: Rose-Ballard, Cameron
Problems of Modern Democratic Theory | POLI 472
Major problem areas in democratic theory including definitions, presuppositions, and justifications of democracy, liberty, equality, minority rights, public interest, participation, dissent, and civil disobedience. Honors version available
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH, NA
Times: 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM
Days: TR
Instructor: Bickford, Susan
The courses below count towards the PPE Minor, but are not being offered this semester.
Classical Political Thought | POLI 270
Survey designed to introduce students to major political thinkers and ideas of the ancient world and of the medieval period. Honors version available
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH, NA, WB
Honors: Modern Political Thought | POLI 271H
Survey course designed to introduce students to major political thinkers and schools of thought dating roughly from the 16th century to the present. Honors version available
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH, NA
Political Economy I: The Domestic System | POLI 401
Problems of the national government in managing capitalist development and economic growth; political constraints; patterns of conflict among domestic actors.
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: SS
Social and Political Philosophy | POLI 470
An examination of the logic of social and political thought with an analysis of such concepts as society, state, power, authority, freedom, social and political obligation, law, rights. Honors version available
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH, NA
Honors Seminar on Public Policy and Global Affairs | PLCY 352H
The Honors Seminar on Public Policy and Global Affairs offers Carolina undergraduates of all majors and minors a unique learning, living, and internship opportunity in our nation’s capital. The seminar offers students first-hand engagement with the actors and organizations—across the public, private and non-profit sectors—that influence domestic and global affairs in Washington, D.C. It aims to expose students to a range of topics that focus on U.S. economic prosperity, national security, and the U.S. role in the broader global community. Internship placements provide opportunities for students to apply academic learning, to derive new insights and questions for seminar discussion, and to work directly with substantive experts.
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Elements of Politics I or II | HNRS 354
This course deals with the theme of the transition from ancient to modern understanding of the essence of politics and will concentrate on selected plays of Shakespeare that profoundly dramatize that transformation (Henry IV-Part I, Julius Caesar, King Lear, Macbeth and The Tempest). As the primary representatives of ancient thought, we shall read large portions of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics and Poetics. As the signal work in initiating modern thought, we shall read Machiavelli’s Prince. This seminar will be conducted solely through conversation. Several essays, of varying length, will be required. There will also be an oral final examination. Students at all levels are welcome, and there are no prerequisites other than a willingness to read carefully and diligently.
INSTRUCTOR CONSENT REQUIRED. EMAIL DR. GOLDBERG AT lagoldbe@email.unc.edu).
3.0 CREDIT HOUR COURSE; FULFILLS PH-PHILOSOPHICAL & MORAL REASONING GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT; FULFILLS POLITICS REQUIREMENT FOR THE PPE MINOR.
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Politics, Philosophy and Economics of Education | POLI 478
Description forthcoming.
Section: N/A
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Introduction to Economics | ECON 101
Introduction to fundamental issues in economics including competition, scarcity, opportunity cost, resource allocation, unemployment, inflation, and the determination of prices. Honors version available
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: SS
Times: 9:30 AM to 10:45 AM
Days: TR (with multiple recitations)
Instructor: Staub, Kalina
Recitations: Yes
Introduction to Economics | ECON 101
Introduction to fundamental issues in economics including competition, scarcity, opportunity cost, resource allocation, unemployment, inflation, and the determination of prices. Honors version available.
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 002
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: SS
Times: 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM
Days: TR (with multiple recitations)
Instructor: Staub, Kalina
Recitations: Yes
Honors: Introduction to Economics | ECON 101H
Introduction to fundamental issues in economics including competition, scarcity, opportunity cost, resource allocation, unemployment, inflation, and the determination of prices. Honors version available.
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: SS
Times: 1:25 PM to 2:15 PM
Days: MWF
Instructor: Balaban, Rita
Logic and Decision Theory | PHIL 157
A broader discussion of practical reasoning, including inductive and deductive logic, which provides a good introduction to decision and game theory that is important for the social sciences, especially economics.
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: QI
Times: 3:35 PM to 4:50 PM
Days: MW
Instructor: Rothfus, Gerard
International Economics | ECON/EURO/PWAD 460
An introduction to international trade, the balance of payments, and related issues of foreign economic policy.
Requisites: Prerequisites, ECON 400 and 410; a grade of C or better in ECON 400 and 410 is required.
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 002
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Times: 8:00 AM to 9:15 AM
Days: MW
Instructor: TBD
International Economics | ECON/EURO/PWAD 460
An introduction to international trade, the balance of payments, and related issues of foreign economic policy.
Requisites: Prerequisites, ECON 400 and 410; a grade of C or better in ECON 400 and 410 is required.
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Times: 2:30 PM to 3:45 PM
Days: MW
Instructor: Vaidyanathan, Geetha
Advanced Microeconomic Theory | ECON 510
A treatment of topics in microeconomic theory not normally covered in ECON 410. Honors version available
Requisites: Prerequisites, ECON 400 and 410; a grade of C or better in ECON 400 and 410 is required.
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: EE- Mentored Research
Times: 9:30 AM to 10:45 AM
Days: TR
Instructor: Parreiras, Sergio
Honors: Advanced Microeconomic Theory | ECON 510H
A treatment of topics in microeconomic theory not normally covered in ECON 410. Honors version available
Requisites: Prerequisites, ECON 400 and 410; a grade of C or better in ECON 400 and 410 is required.
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: EE- Mentored Research
Times: 3:30 PM to 4:45 PM
Days: TR
Instructor: Chen, Jaden
The courses below count towards the PPE Minor, but are not being offered this semester.
Survey of the History of Economic Thought | ECON 234
Introduction to the development of economic thought from the mercantilists, through Smith and the classicists, Marx, the neoclassicists to Keynes.
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: PH
Comparative Economic Systems | ECON 267
A survey of the principles and performance of capitalist, communist, socialist, corporatist, and transitional systems
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
History of Economic Doctrines | ECON 434
A survey of the fundamental forms of economic thought from the scholastics through Keynes.
Requisites: Prerequisites, ECON 101, 400, and 410; a grade of C or better in ECON 400 and 410 is required.
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: SS
Economics of Population | ECON 454
Analysis of economic-demographic interrelations including demographic analysis, population and economic growth and development, economic models of fertility and migration, and population policy.
Requisites: Prerequisites, ECON 400 and 310 or 410; a grade of C or better in ECON 400, and 310 or 410 is required; permission of the instructor for students lacking the prerequisites.
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Advanced Game Theory in Economics | ECON 511
Topics in noncooperative and cooperative game theory are covered, along with a selection of applications to economics in areas such as industrial organization, international trade, public finance, and general equilibrium. Honors version available
Requisites: Prerequisites, ECON 400 and 410; a grade of C or better is required; permission of the instructor for students lacking the prerequisites.
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Honors: Advanced Game Theory in Economics | ECON 511H
Topics in noncooperative and cooperative game theory are covered, along with a selection of applications to economics in areas such as industrial organization, international trade, public finance, and general equilibrium. Honors version available
Requisites: Prerequisites, ECON 400 and 410; a grade of C or better is required; permission of the instructor for students lacking the prerequisites.
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics: Capstone Course | PHIL/POLI/ECON 698
The Capstone course advances PHIL/POLI/ECON 384, focusing on such theoretical and philosophical issues as the analysis of rights or distributive justice and the institutional implications of moral forms. It addresses advanced issues at the intersection of philosophy, politics, and economics. It focuses on specific topics such as rights, taxation, globalization, etc. This course is offered every semester.
Requisites: Permission and manual enrollment by the department. Prerequisite, PHIL 384.
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 001
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: FC-VALUES (Ideas in Action Curriculum)
Times: 3:35 PM to 4:50 PM
Days: MW
Instructor: Dougherty, Tom
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics: Capstone Course | PHIL/POLI/ECON 698
The Capstone course advances PHIL/POLI/ECON 384, focusing on such theoretical and philosophical issues as the analysis of rights or distributive justice and the institutional implications of moral forms. It addresses advanced issues at the intersection of philosophy, politics, and economics. It focuses on specific topics such as rights, taxation, globalization, etc. This course is offered every semester.
Requisites: Permission and manual enrollment by the department. Prerequisite, PHIL 384.
Offered This Semester: Yes
Section: 002
Credits: 3
Grading: Letter
Gen Ed: FC-VALUES (Ideas in Action Curriculum)
Times: 3:30 PM to 4:45 PM
Days: TR
Instructor: Dougherty, Tom