Theme Coordinator, Bryan McGraw (Fall 2024) and Tim Taylor (Spring 2025)

The Aequitas Fellowship Program in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics (PPE) serves as one of four Aequitas Fellowship Programs and combines a series of common courses, reading and discussion groups, internships, and research opportunities designed to recognize, encourage, and deepen students’ ability to engage a wide variety of public policy issues with the skills and knowledge drawn from the intersection of all three disciplines. Students familiar with all three disciplines will better understand and be able to work effectively toward solutions to a wide variety of problems in both the private and public sector, thus making them better prepared to “benefit society” in whatever vocation they may pursue.

Students begin the fellowship program with AQTS 151 Issues in Political Economy, which introduces them to some key texts and central issues in the field. Students then take a sequence of courses across the disciplines that culminate in a program capstone course. AQTS 152, AQTS 251, and AQTS 252 are one-credit reading courses that students participate in starting the spring of their first year. The AQTS 451 Aequitas PPE Summer Experience requirement can be fulfilled through an approved internship, participation in FPE’s International Study Program, or summer research with a faculty member. The PPE 492 Political Economy Capstone will be a semester-long applied research project developed in coordination with local government, a national think-tank, or Wheaton College faculty. Substitutions can be made with the permission of the Aequitas program. 

Aequitas Fellowship Program in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics: 27 Credits

AQTS 151Issues in Political Economy2
PPE 201Introduction to Political Economy4
PSCI 145Political Philosophy4
AQTS 152Readings in PPE1
ECON 211Principles of Microeconomics4
PHIL 311History of Philosophy - Ancient and Medieval 14
or PHIL 312 History of Philosophy: Modern & Contemporary
AQTS 251Advanced Readings in PPE1
AQTS 252Advanced Readings in PPE II1
AQTS 451Aequitas PPE Summer Experience0
PPE 492Political Economy Capstone2
Choose one of:4
ECON 362
Wealth & Poverty of Nations
or IR 379
 International Political Economy
or PSCI 343
 Political Ethics
or PHIL 251
 Global Justice
or PHIL 205
 Ethics & Society
or PHIL 311
 History of Philosophy - Ancient and Medieval
or PHIL 312
 History of Philosophy: Modern & Contemporary
Total Credits27
1

Students are required to take either PHIL 311 or PHIL 312.  If PHIL 311 is taken, it can't count as the 4 hr elective course also . If PHIL 312 is taken it can't count as the 4 hr elective course also.

In addition to these course requirements, students will have additional opportunities to participate in and help organize policy colloquiums hosted by the Wheaton Center on Faith, Politics, and Economics.

  • Students are advised to take AQTS 151, (PPE 201 or PSCI 145), and AQTS 152 during their first year in the program.
  • Students are advised to take ECON 211, (PPE 201 or PSCI 145), (PHIL 311 or PHIL 312), AQTS 251, AQTS 252, and AQTS 451 during their second year in the program.
  • Students are advised to take their 4 hr elective from the courses listed during the third or fourth year in the program. Students should complete AQTS 451 during the third or fourth year in the program if the requirement has not previously been met.
  • Students are advised to take PPE 492 capstone during the third or fourth year in the program.

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