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Philosophy, Politics, and Law

(Undergraduate)

The study of the law should be introduced as part of a liberal education, to train and enrich the mind. . . .I am convinced that, like history, economics and metaphysics-and perhaps even to a greater degree than these-the law could be advantageously studied with a view to the general development of the mind.

-Justice Louis Brandeis

Law's influence on our lives is pervasive. It limits and protects us, from before our birth until after we are long dead. Law shapes our lives in every respect: economic, personal, professional, and political. To study law seriously, in all its facets, leads far beyond the narrow confines of legal cases to perennial questions of law's origins, operation, and justification. Its study respects no disciplinary boundaries; law must be viewed from many different vantage points.
Philosophy, politics, and law (PPL) is an interdisciplinary BA program designed for both liberal arts and pre-law students. Though many enter law school, other majors go on to graduate school or pursue careers in teaching or business. Courses for the major, selected for their content, include classes in philosophy, political science, and history along with selected cognate courses from other areas. Students are thus able to tailor the major to suit their own interests and needs. Students wishing to do honors in philosophy, politics, and law should speak with their advisor.
The director of the philosophy, politics, and law program is on the Department of Philosophy faculty. Additional faculty members are also designated as advisors.

Philosophy, Politics, and Law Major

Students must take a total of 12 courses to fulfill the requirements for the major. Four must be in philosophy, two in political science, and two in history. These must include the following eight courses:
a. PHIL 146. Law and Justice;
b. PHIL 147. Law, Ethics and Business;
c. PHIL 245. Philosophy of Law;
d. PHIL 455. Advanced Philosophy of Law or PHIL 456. Problems in Philosophy of Law
e. Two political science courses from listB.
f. Two history courses from list C, one of which must be either HIST 300, 302, or 356.

The remaining four courses may be selected from among the courses listed in A-D below. Students must earn a grade of C- or above in courses fulfilling the major requirements. Courses in the major may not be taken pass/fail.


A. Philosophy
*PHIL 121. Methods of Reasoning
PHIL 135. Philosophy and Public Policy
PHIL 140. Introduction to Ethics
PHIL 142. Social and Political Philosophy
PHIL 146. Law and Justice
PHIL 147. Law, Ethics, and Business
PHIL 148. Medical Ethics
PHIL 242. Classics in Political Philosophy
PHIL 245. Philosophy of Law
PHIL 415. Rawls
PHIL 446. Marxism
*PHIL 455. Advanced Philosophy of Law
*PHIL 456. Problems in Philosophy of Law (A-Z; may be repeated)
PHIL 488. Topics in Social and Political Philosophy

B. Political Science
PLSC 113. Introduction to Comparative Politics
PLSC 211.Introduction to American Politics
*PLSC 213.Public Policy and the Political Process
PLSC 215.Environmental Policy
PLSC 218.Public Law
PLSC 241.Urban Politics
PLSC 321.The American Presidency
*PLSC 322.American Political Parties and Pressure Groups
*PLSC 323.The Congress in American Politics
PLSC 325.Ethics and U.S. Foreign Policy
*PLSC 326. American State Politics
PLSC 331.Constitutional Law and Politics
PLSC 333. Civil Rights and Liberties
PLSC 335. Politics and the Legal Order
PLSC 337. Law, the Courts, and Social Issues
PLSC 339. Criminal Justice
PLSC 341. Women and Politics
PLSC 345. Illegal Politics
PLSC 373. American Political Thought
PLSC 375. International Law
PLSC 445. Comparative Black Political Thought
PLSC 450. Jurisprudence
PLSC 455. Administrative Law and Public Policy
PLSC 482.Seminar in Special Topics in Policy Analysis (A-Z)
PLSC 484.Seminar in Public Law Topics (A-Z)
PLSC 487.Seminar in Special Topics in Political Theory (A-Z)

C. History
HIST 101. Foundations of Western Civilization
HIST 103. Foundations of American Civilization
HIST 104. Foundation of American Civilization
HIST 208. Absolutism and Enlightenment in Early Modern Europe
HIST 246. Modern Antisemitism
HIST 257. American Working Class Since 1877
HIST 286B. Africans in the Americas, Since Emancipation
*HIST 300. Ancient Law and Society
*HIST 302. European Law: Justinian to Blackstone
HIST 353. Society and Thought In Modern America
*HIST 356. American Legal History: Development of Law

D. Cognate Courses
ANTH 128. Human Violence
BL&S 111. Legal Environment of Management
ECON 144. Poverty and Discrimination
*ECON 160. Principles of Microeconomics
ECON 343. Intro to Labor Economics and Industrial Relations
ECON 349.Economics of Law and Property Rights
ECON 443. Economics of Labor
ECON 446. Economics of Taxation
ECON 483. Economics of Justice
ECON 483. Economics of Regulation
ENVI 212. Environmental Law and Policy
ENVI 215. Environmental Policy
*PPL 280. Problems in Law and Society
SOC 226. Social Movements
SOC 251.Deviant Behavior
SOC 260. Social Problems in the U.S.
SOC 274. Social Inequality
SOC 368. Political Sociology
PPL 498, 499. Honors Thesis
(does not count toward major)

*Specifically recommended

Honors in Philosophy,
Politics, and Law

Students who wish to pursue honors in PPL should speak with an advisor regarding requirements for the honors degree.

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