Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics - Political economy

Politics, philosophy and economics degrees have produced political and community leaders who have shaped our world, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, journalist and film activist Tariq Ali, and former Australian Prime Ministers Malcolm Fraser and Bob Hawke. The world needs creative leaders to respond to society’s greatest challenges, including the global effects of the climate crisis and the social impacts of inequalities in resources, opportunity and power. La Trobe's Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics gives you a multi-disciplinary perspective on the political and economic systems that shape the world. Develop the skills to respond to urgent problems and make a positive social impact
Improve your ability to reason, both critically and empathetically
Develop your knowledge of political institutions and their histories, so as to understand the opportunities and constraints that frame the formulation of policy.
Advance your understanding of how the economy works, in a world of interdependent and global markets.
Advance both your literacy and your numeracy, so that you can undertake nuanced analyses that require both qualitative and quantitative skills.
Grasp how the disciplines of politics, philosophy and economics each throw a different yet interconnected light on the many practical problems that we face in our societies and in our everyday lives.
Balance broad coverage of all three PPE disciplines with a specialisation in politics, philosophy, economics, political economy or political philosophy.
Understand the variety of approaches that comprise the history of economic thought, and consider the relevance of these competing approaches for understanding today's economies.
Engage professionally and communicate effectively with individuals, organisations, and communities in a manner that is respectful of their needs, values, and capabilities.

The major in Political Economy can only be taken by students in either the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics or the double degree with Law (LLB (hons) PPE). The goal of the Political Economy major is two-fold. First, in conjunction with PPE degree cores, the major’s core units ensure that students cover a minimum amount of Economics, Politics and Philosophy in the degree overall. Second, core-choice in the major then allows students to specialise in one of three different types of political economy, cultivating the knowledge and skills that you can later employ in specific types of jobs. Students may choose to hone the skills that study the political economy of inequality (analysing how economic marginalisation occurs along axes of gender, race, religion, class, and other identity categories). Or students can analyse the political economy of global institutions (analysing the impact of the behaviour of states and other global actors on the organisation of our economies). Or students can study the political economy of climate crisis (analysing how power and business interests undermine our ability to solve collective action problems, and what opportunities might exist to overcome this). This major will equip you with skills and knowledge to understand how economies might be reoriented, and how the behaviour of consumers and producers might be modified (through incentives and institutions) to achieve particular social objectives.
Undertaking a major in Political Economy will connect you with experts in economics, politics, political theory, ethics, development studies, sociology, public health, and environmental humanities. It will also prepare you for a variety of jobs (concerned with various types of inequality, global institutions, and the climate crisis) which will require intersecting and interdisciplinary skills.

To enter our undergraduate programs, at a minimum youll need to have completed Australian Year 12 (or an accepted international equivalent) with a certain grade. You may also need to meet subject prerequisites.
Australian Tertiary Admission Rank: 65.35
International Baccalaureate: 24
6.5 IELTS (Academic) with no individual band less than 6.0.
TOEFL Internet based (iBT): Overall score of 79 with 13 in Reading, 12 in Listening, 18 in Speaking and 21 in Writing
Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE)- 176 with no less than 169 in any component