Major Mondays: Philosophy, Politics, and Law (PPL)
Major Overview: Philosophy, Politics, and Law (PPL for short!) in the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences is an interdisciplinary major that allows students to explore the highlights of each of these three disciplines.
For philosophy, students take classes in logic and ethics. When exploring political science, students take courses in comparative politics and social organization. In law, students also have the opportunity to study judicial process and law through the lenses of film, the environment, and public policy. Many of the students within this major declare a Pre-Law emphasis and find this pathway to be very helpful for understanding the intricacies of the legal system and the government while also delving into philosophy and its ideals.
Unique Academic Opportunities: This semester, I am enrolled in two PPL courses – LAW 300: “Concepts in American Law” with Professor Daniel Klerman and POSC 469: “Critical Issues in Comparative Politics” with Professor Stanley Rosen. These are my two favorite courses that I have taken for the major. LAW 300 is structured like a graduate law school course, which truly helps students recognize if law is a pathway they want to pursue.
In class, Professor Klerman cold calls students and asks them to debate anything from legal interpretations of Title VII to whether or not a tomato is considered a fruit. In my POSC 469 course, we watch a movie every single week and explore the social and political contexts that surrounded or inspired the films. It’s a fantastic place for discussion and great for people interested in the political aspects of film.
Professional Opportunities: A really wonderful course that you can take for the PPL degree is POSC 395: Directed Governmental and Political Leadership Internship. For this course, students work with the USC Center for the Political Future and the professors affiliated with it. The organization helps connect students with internship opportunities and gives students course credit for completing those internships throughout the school year. During my freshman year, I took this course and was able to intern with a California State Senator. It was a fantastic learning experience, and it was the first professional job I had ever worked. It helped me understand that there are so many different pathways for people interested in government and law.
Current Student Perspective: While this might be biased, I absolutely love being a PPL major. One of my favorite parts about the major is the flexibility that it allows students. Since the major is only 36 units, students can add additional majors or minors. This allows students to choose more specialized pathways. On top of that, it lets students take advantage of USC’s global network, enabling them to curate their own experiences and studies. I have two minors, and I am going to study abroad next semester. The opportunities are endless! If you are interested in PPL, do not hesitate to apply!
Written by: Kristin Nguyen Dickson, USC Student Ambassador