Program Overview

Philosophy, Politics and the Public Program

The Philosophy, Politics and the Public Program brings together many of Xavier's traditional curricular strengths in an innovative and rigorous undergraduate honors program of study focusing on the unifying concept of "the public sphere" in democratic societies. The program is inspired by the Philosophy, Politics & Economics programs commonly found in the British university system, but differs from them by placing greater emphasis upon philosophical conceptions and historical context.

Program Overview

• The program is highly selective, with 15 to 20 freshman students enrolling each fall.
• Students are encouraged to follow their own interests in the theoretical engagement of the public in its many embodiments and meanings.
• The theoretical work in the program is complemented by engagement in the active world of politics through working on political campaigns, lobbying on behalf of legislation, internships in local and national government offices, and summer study in Paris that includes a seminar in Brussels, the seat of the European Union.

Curriculum

• First Year:
  • Fall:
    • PHIL 100 Ethics as Intro to Philosophy (3cr.)
    • ENGLISH 115 English Rhetoric (3cr.)
    • Second language (3cr.)
    • Language I (3cr.)
    • Historical Perspectives (International or Non-Western Focus) (3cr.)
    • First-Year Seminar (3cr.)
  • Spring:
    • PHIL 200 Philosophical Perspectives (3cr.)
    • PPUB 200 Power and the Public (3cr.)
    • Language II (3cr.)
    • THEO 111 Theological Foundations (3cr.)
    • ECON 200 Microeconomic Principles (3cr.)
• Sophomore:
  • Fall:
    • EITHER (HIST 408 AND PPUB 210) OR (PPUB 246 AND 3 additional hours from PHIL, ECON, POLI, HIST) (6cr.)
    • MATH 156 General Statistics (3cr.)
    • Lit and the Moral Imagination (3cr.)
    • Theological Perspectives (3cr.)
  • Spring:
    • PPUB 211 Public Policy and Practice (3cr.)
    • HIST 300 Writing in Public OR 3 additional hours from POLI, PHIL, ECON (3cr.)
    • ECON 201 Macroeconomic Principles (3cr.)
    • Scientific Perspectives and Lab (3cr.)
    • Scientific Perspectives and Lab (3cr.)
• Junior:
  • Fall:
    • PHIL 336 Liberalism or PHIL 338 Enlightenment & Revolution (3cr.)
    • HIST 362 Global Cultures and Publics (3cr.)
    • ECON 307 Empirical Analysis in Economics (3cr.)
    • 2 Free Electives (6cr.)
    • Optional Winter Intersession: *Israel Study Abroad (3cr.)
  • Spring:
    • PHIL 337 Responses to Liberalism or PHIL 339 Revolution & its Aftermath (3cr.)
    • Natural Science Elective (3cr.)
    • 3 Free Electives (9cr.)
    • Optional Spring Intersession: *PPP International Study Abroad (3cr.)
• Senior:
  • Fall:
    • PPUB 400 Senior Supervision (3cr.)
    • Free Elective (3cr.)
    • Free Elective (3cr.)
    • Free Elective (3cr.)
    • Free Elective (3cr.)
  • Spring:
    • PPUB 401 Senior Seminar (3cr.)
    • Free Elective (3cr.)
    • Free Elective (3cr.)
    • Free Elective (3cr.)
    • Free Elective (3cr.)

Outcomes

• 98% of Xavier students are working, volunteering, or in graduate school within six months of graduating (Class of 2023).
• Exciting Career Opportunities:
  • Congressional and Senatorial Aide
  • Corporate Affairs Manager
  • Government Affairs Director
  • Global Climate Program Coordinator
  • Communications Manager
  • Attorney
  • Campaign Manager
  • Marketing Manager
  • Policy Analyst
  • Professor
• Alumni Employers:
  • United States Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown
  • Cincinnati City Council members
  • Deloitte
  • Kroger Company
  • City of Cincinnati Department of Community and Economic Development
  • Teach for America
  • Americorps

Sample Courses

• PPUB 246: Civil Society and Government
  • Learn by acting in public. Our students intern with electoral campaigns, legal non-profits, and government agencies as part of their sophomore year coursework.
• POLI 329: Public Policy Practice
  • In Public Policy Practice, PPP students don't just learn about issues of public concern. They travel to the centers of government locally, regionally, and nationally and see firsthand how power works, and advance public policies that they care about.
• PHIL 397: Paris Seminar in Political Theory
  • Learn about American politics by examining it through an international lens alongside students from all over Europe at the University of Paris.

Clubs

• Political Science Club
  • Xavier's Political Science Club is a fun and open platform for students of all backgrounds, political beliefs, and ideologies to come together and discuss current events and political "hot topics."
• The Xavier Newswire
  • Newswire is Xavier's weekly campus newspaper that is written and edited by the students of Xavier University.
• Women in Politics
  • Women in Politics is a bipartisan club that works to empower women to become involved in politics and seek careers in related fields.

Related Programs

• Related Majors:
  • BA in Economics
  • BSBA in Economics
  • BA in Gender and Diversity Studies
  • BA in History
  • BA in Political Science
  • BA in Sociology
  • BA in Theology
• Related Minors:
  • American Founding and Constitution
  • Classical Humanities
  • Gender & Diversity Studies
  • History
  • Peace and Justice Studies
  • Philosophy
  • Political Communication
  • Political Economy
  • Political Science
  • Political Thought
  • Public History
  • Sociology
• Related Graduate Programs:
  • Master of Business Administration

Program Features

• Gain a global perspective:
  • Every PPP student receives a scholarship to support a transformative study abroad experience, whether it's a full semester at a partner institution or a faculty-led program.
• Internships that shape your future:
  • Get ready to immerse yourself in the heart of political decision-making at federal, state, and local levels.
• Education for the greater good:
  • Ground yourself in a tradition that emphasizes critical inquiry, social justice, and a commitment to serving others.

Alumni Making an Impact

• Annalese Cahill (PPP, '23)
  • Government Relations Manager at DSD Advisors, LLC
• Ryan Kambich (PPP, '19)
  • U.S. Senate Legislative Assistant
• Tom Grandon (PPP, ’23)
  • PPP Alumnus

FAQ

• How competitive is admission to the PPP program?
  • Admission to the program is competitive. Students typically rank in the top 15 percent of their high school class, and present composite scores of at least 1300 (SAT) or 29 (ACT), however, these are not strict requirements for admission.
• What jobs does the PPP degree prepare students for?
  • Government and Politics:
    • Political campaign manager
    • Legislative aide
    • Policy analyst
    • Government relations specialist
    • Public servant
  • Law and Justice:
    • Lawyer
    • Judge
    • Law enforcement officer
    • Paralegal
• What skills do philosophy, politics, and the public majors gain?
  • Critical thinking
  • Communication
  • Research
  • Problem-solving
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Ethical reasoning
  • Policy analysis
  • Public speaking

About Xavier University

• Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition.
• Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation.
• It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades.
• The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 385 Colleges in America."