BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics at The Ohio State University

Programme overview

"Is this an economic problem or a political problem? Is this a technical or a moral question?" Often, the answer is “both.” Many social and political problems can be better understood if they are studied from more than one perspective, using more than one set of tools. The philosophy, politics and economics major combines broad and rigorous training in the foundations of these three disciplines to equip students with the skills needed to think carefully and critically about the complex problems that modern societies face. Offered at: Columbus.

Faculty: Arts and Sciences | Study mode: full-time | Location: Columbus, OH, United States

What you will study

The curriculum for the philosophy, politics and economics (PPE) program requires students to complete a minimum of 36 credit hours of course work across the three areas which constitute the major. Students will begin by taking 18 hours of foundational course work in formal and normative reasoning, economics, and political economy. Beyond the foundational courses, PPE students will take two required courses: Economy, Polity and Community (three hours) and Tradition, Progress and Utopia (three hours). Students will also complete at least four upper-level courses in a concentration of their choosing.

Career pathways

As many employers are interested in hiring people who can think across traditional boundaries and address complex problems, graduates of the philosophy, politics and economics program can expect to find employment in a wide variety of professions in both the public and private sectors.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission to the university (and the Arts and Sciences college where applicable) applies; no separate programme-specific requirement published. Upon admission to the university, students can declare a major in philosophy, politics and economics within the College of Arts and Sciences.

Domestic applicants: USD 12,921 a year (2026-27). Columbus campus on-campus Instructional Fee (tuition) for students beginning Autumn 2026: $6,460.50 per semester at 12-18 credit hours, shown as two semesters (Autumn and Spring). The Ohio State Tuition Guarantee fixes this rate for four years for Ohio re Source

Entry terms for first-year applicants to the Columbus campus: Autumn 2027 and Spring 2027 (Spring 2027 deadline November 1, 2026). Summer first-year applications are not accepted.

Transfer applicants can start in Spring, Summer or Autumn 2027.

First-year, Columbus campus, Autumn 2027: early action (non-binding) deadline November 1, 2026; regular decision deadline January 15, 2027; financial aid priority date February 1; acceptance fee deadline May 1, 2027. Early action decisions: December 11 (Ohio residents and Stamps Eminence applicants) and January 22 (non-Ohio residents and international applicants); regular decision decisions March 5.

First-year applicants apply with the Common Application. ACT or SAT scores are required for first-year Columbus applicants (superscored; sent directly by the testing agency); applicants out of high school two or more years are not required to submit scores. The essay is not required.

Transfer applicants (Columbus campus): Spring 2027 deadline November 1, 2026; Autumn 2027 deadline March 1, 2027; Summer 2027 deadline May 15, 2027. Regional campuses: December 1, 2026, April 15, 2027 and July 15, 2027 respectively.

International transfer applicants: Spring 2027 deadline October 1, 2026; Autumn 2027 deadline March 1, 2027.

Apply through the official page: https://undergrad.osu.edu/apply

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