Political Science, Philosophy, and Economics (B.A.)

  • Major, Minor
  • 4-year, On Campus

Why Study Political Science, Philosophy, and Economics at La Salle?

Love asking big questions? Curious about how governments make decisions, how economies shape society, and what principles guide public policy? Become a La Salle Explorer and discover how Politics, Philosophy, and Economics can prepare you for leadership in a complex and rapidly changing world!

Our program brings ideas to life through engaging lectures, lively class discussions, case studies, policy debates, and simulations. Let’s go beyond simple answers to explore how political institutions, economic systems, and ethical principles work together to shape our communities, our nation, and the world.

Our program:

  • Combines three powerful disciplines—Politics, Philosophy, and Economics—to help students understand society from multiple perspectives.
  • Encourages students to face real-world challenges such as inequality, democracy, technological change, globalization, and environmental sustainability.
  • Builds leaders who think critically, communicate effectively, and make informed decisions in business, government, and law.
  • Offers exceptional faculty, innovative courses, and small class sizes that foster individual attention and active learning.
  • Allows you to tailor your courses through a dual-major or minor in International Relations, Political Science, Criminal Justice, Sociology, History, or Economics.
  • Increases your career options through internships, travel-studies courses, and experiential learning opportunities in state capitals and Washington, D.C.

Located in historic Philadelphia, a vibrant hub of social movements, political activity, and business life. Close to Washington, D.C. and New York City, La Salle offers outstanding internship opportunities with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, businesses, and policy institutes. Students gain practical experience and analytical skills needed to address today’s pressing issues. students can also participate in honor societies, leadership programs, and campus organizations that promote civic engagement and intellectual curiosity, such as Mock Trial and Model United Nations.

Our program provides ethical reasoning, quantitative analysis, and problem-solving skills that employers seek, helping you reach your dream job.

PPE majors pursue careers in government, law, public policy, business, finance, consulting, nonprofit management, journalism, international affairs, and education. Our interdisciplinary program provides excellent preparation for law school, or graduate programs in public policy and business.

Come join us as we explore the institutions, ideas, and economic forces that shape our world—and prepare to become a thoughtful leader, ethical decision-maker, and engaged global citizen!

Curriculum, Courses and Requirements

Highlighted Courses

POL 171 – Political Analysis

This course surveys the theoretical foundations, approaches, and methodologies of political analysis, introducing students to the “science of politics” and providing a basic grounding in the social scientific study of political behavior and phenomena. The course equips students with the tools of inquiry (such as the description and analysis of quantitative data and the systematic use of case studies) most commonly used in the discipline of political science.

POL 221 – Politics of the Developing World

This course is an introductory survey to the politics of the developing world, where most of humanity lives. We will examine some of the extraordinarily complex challenges faced by the developing world.  Among these are poverty, environmental change and degradation, violence, population growth, the status of women and the forms and sources of misrule.

PPE 300 – Readings in PPE Classics / POL 361 – Democracy and its Critics

This course is an analysis of modern liberal democratic thought and the various criticisms of it from both the left and the right. Emphasis is placed on original source materials from Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, J.S. Mill, Rousseau, Burke, Marx, Nietzsche, etc. This course is required of all political science majors.

PHL 303 American Philosophy

This course presents a critical history of thought in North America, tracing its gradual transformation from 17th-century Puritanism to 20th-century pragmatism

Meet the Faculty

Faculty in the Political Science Department host and participate in a number of events throughout the year for our majors and the wider La Salle community. Among these events are the annual Constitution Day Panel, the Lasallian Forum for Politics and Policy, film nights, and election night parties.

Career Opportunities

Backed by their own first-hand ability to research, think critically, make evidence-based arguments, and address political and policy issues, students will be competent and prepared to handle their selected discipline’s field and what comes their way. Our graduates have found themselves in high-level government positions, nonprofits, institutions of higher learning, and more.

Below is a sampling of what some of our graduates are up to:

  • Elizabeth Boyle, ’23, Law Student, Drake University, M.A., International Relations, University of Durham, United Kingdom
  • Maeve Gimbert, ’23, Town Resiliency Manager, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
  • Yolise Sosa, ’22, New Enrollment and Management Specialist, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Cumberland & Salem Counties, New Jersey
  • Kyle Westerfer, ’18, Associate, Reger Rizzo & Darnall, LLP

“The PPE program at La Salle trained me to think about issues from multiple perspectives and to understand that solutions come from fair consideration of each of those perspectives. I learned how to analyze and understand complex issues more deeply, and I gained an appreciation for the different priorities that influence discussions and problem-solving.

Ceara Grady, ’24
3L at Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
Ceara Grady, '24
Intizorhon Fataeva, ’24, and Wilkes Pierce, ’25.

Intizorhon Fataeva, ’24, and Wilkes Pierce, ’25, received a valuable educational experience from the opportunity.

Charles Ireland, ’25

Charles Ireland, ’25, is studying political science, philosophy, and economics major at La Salle.