It’s a complicated world out there, and sometimes you need different perspectives and insights to really understand what’s happening. That’s why we created this program, for students who want to know how politics and economics work together to shape society—and their impact on social concepts like fairness and justice. If you want to help create real-world solutions for social change, UB’s philosophy, politics and economics program is a great place to start.
What does an education truly cost society? How should we think about justice on a global scale? How do we measure what makes a city successful? These are some of the questions you can explore as you take core courses in subjects like political philosophy, ethics, game theory, public policy and economics. As you advance through the program, you’ll learn how to think about the relationships between these topics, typically with a focus on either local, national or global issues, depending on your interests.
As a student at UB, you’ll find some of your most memorable experiences—and lifelong friends—outside of the classroom.
Many philosophy, politics and economics majors choose to go to law school or business school after they graduate, or go to grad school to study political science, philosophy, economics, public policy or a similar field.
Of course, lots of students start their career right after they get their undergraduate degree, often in an area related to social science or political science, thanks to the critical thinking skills and experience you’ll gain in this program.
Whether you want to work for a business, nonprofit organization or government agency, you’ll appreciate the choices and flexibility you have, with career opportunities that could include:
As a student in this program, you’ll be able to learn from faculty in three well-established departments at UB (philosophy, political science and economics), as well as other professors throughout the university. With direct access to these teachers and mentors, you can dive deeper into specific topics you’re interested in and learn more about different career paths that you might enjoy. At UB, our teachers and mentors are here for you throughout your time here—and beyond.
Our faculty members are also renowned experts in their fields. They have authored books, presented at national conferences and published their work in leading journals for their respective fields, including the "American Journal of Political Science," "International Studies Quarterly," "Journal of Politics," "Journal of Peace Research," "Journal of Comparative Economics," "Journal of Law and Economics" and many others.