Philosophy, Politics and Economics
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 will I learn?
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.
What can I do with a philosophy, politics and economics degree?
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:
- Business analyst.
- Consultant.
- Elected official.
- Government analyst.
- Legal advisor.
- Political analyst.
- Researcher.
By the Numbers
Check out salary ranges and career outlooks straight from the U.S. Department of Labor to see the return on investment for your degree.
| Occupation Title | Mean Annual Wage | Mean Hourly Wage | Future Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | $47,950.00 | $23.05 | Rapid Growth, Many Openings |
| Economists | $74,670.00 | $35.90 | |
| Political Scientists | $93,630.00 | $45.02 | |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $88,640.00 | $42.62 | |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,510.00 | $31.98 | |
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $72,800.00 | $35.00 | |
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $100,360.00 | N/A |
Data provided by the and DOL data from 2024.