PE-coded courses are multidisciplinary courses specially created for the programme, with the offering department marked by the suffix (“P” for Philosophy, “S” for Political Science, and “E” for Economics”). Queries about specific courses are thus best addressed to the relevant owning departments.

PE/PH/PS/EC-recognized courses are courses that may be counted in lieu of a PE/PH/PS/EC coded course. Apart from the ones listed below, you can also check the websites for Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics, for their respective lists of courses recognized towards PH/PS/EC.

 

PE-Coded Courses

PE2101P Introduction to Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (4 units)

This course will introduce students to PPE as a multidisciplinary endeavour, by showing them how social and political philosophy can be done in a way that is strongly informed by the findings of social science. The course will be organized around discussing a few specific issues – such as inequality, nudging, climate change, and the formation of the state. Analysing these issues will introduce students to the methods and results of philosophy, political science, and economics, and show how they could be integrated to better understand and tackle social and political phenomena.

PE3101P Decision Theory and Social Choice (4 units)

This course is an introduction to decision and social choice theory. The first half introduces the theory of expected utility, according to which rational actions maximise the probability of desirable consequences. The second half introduces utilitarianism, according to which the right action is one which maximises the satisfaction of desire for the population at large. Both theories are controversial for their highly quantitative nature, their demanding conception of rationality and rightness, their insensitivity to risk and inequality, their prioritization of ends over means, and their tenuous relationship to actual human behaviour and morality. These controversies are discussed.

PE3551P/S/E FASS Undergraduate Research Opportunity (UROP) (4 units)

A UROP involves the student working with a supervisor, possibly in a team, on an existing research project. It has relevance to the student’s Major, and involves the application of subject knowledge, methodology and theory in reflection upon the research project. UROPs usually take place within FASS or ARI, possibly with other external involve international partners. All are assessed. They may be proposed by the supervisor or student and require the vetting and approval of the Specialization Department. All will be assessed by the Specialization Department (Philosophy/Political Science/Economics). (Note: The course is available on an ad hoc basis given the existence of relevant research projects. PPE students may access UROPs within their own specialization.)

PE4101P (4 units)/PE4101PHM (5 units) The Ethics and Politics of Nudging

Nudge policy uses people’s cognitive biases to steer them towards decisions that they would have made if they were rational. This course takes an in-depth look at nudge policy, and the ethical and political issues surrounding it. We first review nudge policy and the psychological theories underpinning it. We then tackle issues such as: whether governments can identify a citizen’s true/rational preferences and help citizens satisfy them, whether nudges are manipulative or paternalistic, whether nudges violate principles of publicity and transparency, and what public choice analysis could tell us about nudge policy.

PE4102P (4 units)/PE4102PHM (5 units) Welfare and Distribution 

What makes a good life? This course aims to examine different theories of welfare (or wellbeing) as they appear in economics and philosophy, and related concerns pertaining to the distribution and measurement of the goods possessed by members of society. Topics covered might include: theories of wellbeing, cost-benefit analysis and its ethical assumptions, the value of equality, the ‘equality of what’ debate, the contrast between resources and capabilities, and the value of social equality.

PE4101E (4 units)/PE4102PHM (5 units) Political economy of money

This course studies money and its role in economic systems from a multidisciplinary perspective.  We examine 5,000 years of monetary development and trace the changes in the institutions of monetary governance and stability, both domestic and international. We examine the development of monetary economics and the interplay between theory and actual monetary arrangements. We then discuss contemporary philosophical and political debates surrounding the allocation and use of the powers of money creation and destruction, including digital currencies, quantitative easing, and “modern monetary theory”.

PE4103S (4 units)/PE4103SHM (5 units) Meritocracy

Meritocracy is a controversial ideal, both in Singapore and elsewhere. In this course, we trace meritocracy’s genealogy, conditions of possibility, and the debates it has generated. We will investigate meritocracy as an ideal that demands certain political and economic arrangements, and as a legitimation of existing distributions of power. We will ask whether meritocracy is the ideal we should follow—whether there are alternatives to meritocracy—and whether it legitimates extant inequalities. In pursuing these matters, we will incorporate political, philosophical, and economic controversies related to power, competition, equality, discrimination, freedom, and responsibility.

PE4401P/S/E/ (8 units) PE4401PHM/SHM/EHM Honours Thesis (15 units)

This course requires students to conduct an independent research project on an approved topic at the intersection of Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics, under the supervision of a faculty member. The research project, which is intended to be multidisciplinary, engaging the intellectual tools and insights from the disciplines of Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics, will be submitted as an Honours Thesis. The maximum length of the thesis is 12,000 words. (Note: PPE students are to take the thesis course from their own specialization, i.e., “PE4401P” for students with the Philosophy specialization. This course precludes PE4660P/S/E. Pre-requisites: PPE-Major with relevant specialization, 110 units, including 44 units in PH, PS, EC, PE or PE-recognized courses, with a minimum GPA of 3.50.)

• The topic of the thesis will be chosen by the student in consultation with a potential thesis supervisor (or supervisors).
• By default, the first (or primary) supervisor will come from the student’s Specialization Department, unless otherwise approved by the Programme Committee with the agreement of the student’s Specialization Department. The (optional) co-supervisor(s) may be from different department(s).
• All other processes and requirements (e.g., word or page limits, oral presentations, grading arrangements) will follow the prevailing customs for honours theses in the respective Specialization Departments.

PE4402P/S/E (15 units) Research Internship Project

This course requires PPE students to pursue a policy research internship with an external organization. Interested students must secure (i) a position in suitable organizations either full time in the vacation period or part time in a regular semester (ii) a workplace supervisor; and (iii) an academic supervisor. They will submit journal entries; reflection reports; a final research paper (4-5,000 words); and make an oral presentation. The course enables PPE students to apply their multidisciplinary academic learning to real world policy research while gaining work experience. This course precludes PE4401P/S/E and PE4660P/S/E. Pre-requisites: PPE-Major with relevant specialization, 110 units, including 44 units in PH, PS, EC, PE or PE-recognized courses, with a minimum GPA of 3.50.)

• For more details about PE4402P/S/E, see the guidance document attached (.docx, .pdf; version of 22 Apr 2021)
• Internship Supervisor feedback form (.docx, .pdf)

PE4660P/S/E (4 units)/PE4660PHM/SHM/EHM (5 units) Independent Study

The Independent Study Course is designed to enable the student to explore an approved topic at the intersection of Philosophy, Political Science, and Economics in depth. The student should approach a lecturer to identify a topic, readings, and assignments. A formal, written agreement is to be drawn up, giving a clear account of the topic, programme of study, assignments, evaluation, and other pertinent details. The ISM Coordinator's approval of the written agreement is required. Regular meetings and reports are expected. Evaluation is based on 100% Continuous Assessment and agreed between the student and the lecturer prior to seeking departmental approval. (Note: PPE students are to take the thesis course from their own specialization, i.e., “PE4660S” for students with the Political Science specialization. This course precludes PE4401P/S/E. and PE4402P/S/E. Pre-requisites: PPE-Major with relevant specialization, 100 units, including 44 units in PH, PS, EC, PE or PE-recognized courses, with a minimum GPA of 3.20.)

 

Recognized Courses

Courses from LKYSPP

Counted towards either PH4XXX or PE4XXX requirement:

• PP5239 Understanding and Managing Corruption
• PP5156 Moral Reasoning in the Policy Process

Counted towards PS4XXX (the relevant PS subfield is indicated) or PE4XXX requirement:

• PP5222 Population, Health and Social Policy (GPP)
• PP5298 Singapore’s Development Experience (GPP)
• PP5137 Public Management and Organisational Behaviour (GPP)
• PP5151 Comparative Case Study Method (CP)
• PP5169 Global Food Security (IR or CP)
• PP5174 International Politics: The Rules of the Game (IR)
• PP5176 China and the Global Economy (CP)
• PP5291 Security in Asia-Pacific (IR)

(Note: GPP = Governance and Public Policy; CP= Comparative Politics; IR = International Relations.)

Counted towards EC4XXX or PE4XXX requirement:

• PP5136 Applied Public Sector Economics
• PP5141 The Global Financial Crisis-Policy Implications in Asia
• PP5203 Behavioral Economics and Public Policy
• PP5247 International Economic Policy

PPE students seeking to use the above courses will need to secure enrolment on their own and subject to the availability of spaces at the LKYSPP.

Courses from Political Science

Counted towards PE4XXX requirement:

• PS4237 Capitalism and Political Theory
• PS4219 Comparative Political Thought (from Cohort 2019 onwards, with effect from Semester 2, AY2022-23)
• PS4313 Seminar in Comparative Political Economy (from Cohort 2019 onwards, with effect from Semester 2, AY2022-23)
• PS4881D Money and Politics