BSc Philosophy, Politics & Economics

The four-year programme in Philosophy, Politics and Economics offers rigorous training in all three disciplines, as well as innovative interdisciplinary teaching and study.

Unlike most other PPE programmes, this programme gives equal weighting to all three subjects and has specially designed interdisciplinary courses, offered on LSE’s campus at the heart of London’s political, economic and academic world.

For more information see the degree announcement and LSE Course Description.

The First Year

You will take either Quantitative Methods (Maths)*, which is a basic course in Mathematics for students who have at least an AS-level in Mathematics or equivalent and are able to use basic calculus, jointly with Quantitative Methods (Statistics)*, which develops the elementary statistical tools necessary for further study in management and economics with an emphasis on the applicability of these methods; or you will take Mathematical Methods, an introductory level course for those who wish to use mathematics extensively in social science.

You will also have a choice of either Introduction to Political Science, which offers an introduction to politics in a globalised world, with a focus on how political science tries to understand and explain cross-country and cross-time differences, or Introduction to Political Theory, which combines classical theory with modern ways of explaining and understanding international relations.

Reason, Knowledge and Values: An Introduction to Philosophy aims to acquaint students with some of the central questions of philosophy and to engage students in critical analysis of classic answers to these questions; this course also includes a supplementary five week Philosophy and Argumentative Writing seminar. Economics A or B is an introductory course in microeconomics and macroeconomics.

The Second Year

In this year you will take either Introduction to Political Science or Introduction to Political Theory, whichever option you did not study in your first year.

Formal Methods of Philosophical Argumentation combines logic with probability theory and makes these formal methods relevant to argumentation analysis and the study of scientific reasoning. If you studied Quantitative Methods (Maths)* and Quantitative Methods (Statistics)* in your first year, then you will take Introduction to Econometrics, which aims to present the theory and practice of empirical research in economics. You will also take Microeconomic Principles I, an intermediate course in microeconomic analysis. If you studied Mathematical Methods in your first year then you will take Elementary Statistical Theory, which provides a precise and accurate treatment of introductory probability theory, statistical ideas, methods and techniques.

You will also have the choice of either Microeconomic Principles I or Microeconomic Principles II, which is similar to Microeconomic Principles I, however with a greater mathematical facility. You will also attend the Interdisciplinary Research Seminar course which will guide you on how to deliver effective presentations and public speaking. The course will also feature academics from the departments discussing their research.

The Third Year

You will take one government option, one philosophy option and Macroeconomics Principles, which is an intermediate course in macroeconomic analysis. If you studied Mathematical Methods in your first year, then you will take either an Introduction to Econometrics or Principles of Econometrics, which provides an intermediate-level introduction to the theory and practice of econometrics. If you studied Quantitative Methods (Maths)* and Quantitative Methods (Statistics)* in your first year, then you will take either a government, philosophy or economics option. You will also organise and participate in the Outside Speaker Series.

The Fourth Year

Politics, Philosophy and Economics: Applications focuses on contemporary public policy topics and explores their political, economic and philosophical dimensions. You also choose any two LSE second or third year options. For your final course you will complete either Policy and Practice: Capstone Project which involves group work on an applied public policy project for a client organisation or you will write a Dissertation.

Philosophy, Politics & Economics Options

Where options are indicated in the requirements above, you may choose from the following.

Please note that where philosophy degree programmes permit “options”, these must be selected from amongst courses at LSE. In general, only courses administered by LSE count towards our degree programmes.

This information is provided for guidance only. The definitive statement of all of the School’s regulations can be found on the LSE Calendar.