Philosophy, Politics and Economics major
Note: this major is only available to re-enrolling students.
All important social issues—climate change, healthcare, inequality, political participation, criminal justice, and much more besides—have philosophical, political, and economic dimensions. UWA's Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics is a challenging and rigorous course of study which equips students to engage with these issues from a uniquely interdisciplinary perspective.
Students will receive a thorough grounding in each of the three disciplines, examining the ways in which insights from each area of study can fruitfully inform scholarship in the others. Students will also study the intertwined history of philosophy, politics, and economics, and develop the critical thinking and analytical skills essential for success in the workplace.
This page is for the Bachelor of Arts major, Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. This Major is no longer open to enrolments. It is applicable only to students who began their studies in 2019 or 2020, and have not transferred to the Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (BPPE).”
Outcomes
Students are able to (1) Integrate Philosophical, Political and Economic Ideas.; (2) independently construct arguments for philosophical, political and economic positions; (3) understand and apply the methods of contemporary philosophy, politics and economics.; (4) identify and evaluate assumptions underpinning philosophical, political and/or economic viewpoints on social and legal topics; (5) demonstrate sound research skills and written and oral communication skills; and (6) provide an interdisciplinary approach to issues with philosophical, political, and economic dimensions..
Broadening guidelines
All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.
Philosophy, Politics and Economics can only be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:
BP001 Bachelor of Arts
BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
Overview of unit sequence
Philosophy, Politics and Economics is a degree-specific double major comprising:
- four Level 1 units
- seven Level 2 units
- seven Level 3 units
| Key to availability of units: |
|---|
| S1 = Semester 1; S2 = Semester 2; SS = summer teaching period; N/A = not available in 2021 |
Note: Units that are indicated as N/A may be available in 2022 or 2023.
This major is available only from 2019 onward, even though some of its units may be available in 2018. The major has a non-conventional structure: three level 1 units (one each from Philosophy, Politics, and Economics); five level 2 units (two each from Philosophy and Economics, and one from Politics); six level 3 units (two each from Philosophy and Politics, one from Economics, and a capstone unit); and four complementary units (two from Law, one from Politics, and one from Economics).
Level 1
Take all units (24 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1, S2 | ECON1101 | Microeconomics: Prices and Markets | |
| S1 | LAWS1111 | Law, Conflict and Change | |
| S1, SS | PHIL1002 | Introduction to Critical Thinking |
|
| S1 | POLS1101 | Understanding Politics and Policy |
Level 2
Take all units (42 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 | ECON2105 | Rise of the Global Economy | |
| S1, SS | ECON2233 | Microeconomics: Policy and Applications |
|
| S2 | LAWS2224 | Evolution of Human Rights |
|
| S1 | PHIL2001 | Bioethics |
|
| S2 | PHIL2007 | Knowledge and the Justification of Belief |
|
| S2 | POLS2220 | Foundations of Global Political Economy |
|
| S1 | PPHE2211 | History of Political Ideas |
|
Level 3
Take all units (30 points):
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | ECON3310 | History of Economic Ideas |
|
| S2 | ECON3395 | Economic Policy |
|
| S2 | PHIL3003 | Moral Theory |
|
| S1 | PHIL3008 | What to Do? How to Make Rational Decisions under Uncertainty |
|
| S2 | PPHE3001 | Integrating Philosophy, Politics and Economics: Rational Choice |
|
Politics—take unit(s) to the value of 12 points:
| Availability | Unit code | Unit name | unit requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | POLS3204 | The Politics of Gender |
|
| S1 | POLS3231 | Politics of the Mass Media |
|
| N/A | POLS3335 | Social Movements and the Politics of Change |
|
| S2 | POLS3342 | Global Environmental Politics |
|
| S1 | PPHE3327 | Contemporary Political Theory |
|
Choosing your degree-specific major
Specialised degrees – Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (Honours), Bachelor of Automation and Robotics, Bachelor of Environmental Design, Bachelor of Music
You must satisfy the requirements of the degree-specific major in your degree before you complete your course.
Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics
This comprehensive degree does not allow you to choose a double major.
General degrees
You must satisfy the requirements of a degree-specific major before you complete your course. The flexible structure of an undergraduate course allows you to try out a number of different subjects to see what interests you before nominating your degree-specific major. You have the choice to either nominate your degree-specific major when you first enrol in the course or delay nominating it until your second year.
To plan the first year of your study without nominating a degree-specific major, you are advised to choose units that will pave the way to two or more degree-specific majors that are of interest to you. For examples of the choice of units available in first year, search the first-year study plans .
To fully understand the structure of an undergraduate course, read the course structure information and the Undergraduate Degree Course Rules.
The following example illustrates how the Philosophy, Politics and Economics degree-specific major can be included in the Bachelor of Arts course.
There are more choices open to you. For more examples, search the study plans .