Faculty: Graduate School of Social Science Political Economy explores the intersection of politics, economics, and public policy. Students analyze how political institutions, economic systems, and social dynamics influence each other. Graduates are prepared for careers in policy analysis, government, non-profit organizations, think tanks, and academia. **Learning Objectives:** - Understand the fundamentals of political economy and public policy. - Develop skills in economic analysis, political theory, and policy evaluation. - Learn techniques for analyzing the impact of political institutions on economic outcomes. - Explore principles of welfare economics, public choice, and political behavior. - Analyze and interpret economic data and policy implications. - Develop critical thinking, analytical, and policy-making skills for effective political economy practice. **Major Outline:** 1. **Introduction to Political Economy** - Overview of key concepts, principles, and practices in political economy. - Fundamentals of the interaction between politics and economics. 2. **Economic Analysis for Policy** - Principles of economic analysis, including microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics. - Techniques for applying economic theory to policy analysis. 3. **Political Theory and Institutions** - Principles of political theory, including democratic theory, institutional analysis, and comparative politics. - Techniques for understanding and analyzing political institutions and behavior. 4. **Public Policy and Administration** - Principles of public policy, including policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation. - Techniques for designing and managing effective public policies and programs. 5. **Welfare Economics and Public Choice** - Principles of welfare economics, including social welfare, market failures, and government intervention. - Techniques for analyzing public choice, voting behavior, and political decision-making. 6. **Political Behavior and Elections** - Principles of political behavior, including voter behavior, political participation, and electoral systems. - Techniques for studying and predicting political outcomes and elections. 7. **International Political Economy** - Principles of international political economy, including global trade, finance, and economic integration. - Techniques for analyzing the impact of global economic policies and institutions. 8. **Internship/Practicum** - Real-world experiences in political economy settings, including internships in government agencies, think tanks, or non-profit organizations. - Application of learned skills in practical political economy scenarios. 9. **Capstone Project in Political Economy** - Comprehensive project applying skills in economic analysis, political theory, or policy evaluation. - Delivery of a polished political economy project, policy analysis, or research presentation. **Assessment Methods:** - Economic analysis reports, political theory papers, policy evaluation projects, welfare economics studies, political behavior analyses, international political economy reports, internship/practicum reports, capstone projects, group projects, and presentations. **Recommended Textbooks:** - "Political Economy" by various authors. - "Economic Analysis for Policy" by various authors. - "Political Theory and Institutions" by various authors. - "Public Policy and Administration" by various authors. - "Welfare Economics and Public Choice" by various authors. - "Political Behavior and Elections" by various authors. - "International Political Economy" by various authors. **Prerequisites:** Basic knowledge of economics, political science, and an interest in public policy and political economy. **Major Duration:** Typically 4 years for a bachelor's degree, including coursework, internships, and capstone projects. For advanced practice, a Master's degree in Political Economy or a related field may be pursued, which typically takes an additional 1-2 years. **Certification:** Graduates may receive a degree in Political Economy and pursue further education or professional certifications in specialized areas of public policy or political analysis. **Target Audience:** Aspiring policy analysts, government officials, non-profit professionals, think tank researchers, and academics seeking careers in government agencies, non-profit organizations, think tanks, and academia. This major equips students with the analytical, theoretical, and policy-making skills needed to excel in political economy, supporting careers in various roles focused on analyzing and influencing the intersection of politics and economics.