FAQ

FAQ

FAQ’s about applying to EP&E

What are the distinctive features of the EP&E major?

First, the major emphasizes learning in seminars. After the initial prerequisite courses, the requirements are fulfilled almost entirely through small seminar-style classes. We commission our own courses from both Yale and visiting faculty as well as cross-listing courses in the related fields.

Second, the major offers an approach to interdisciplinary work that does not leave behind the disciplines. You will be asked first to learn something about each of the associated disciplines, then to learn a number of methods and approaches that can be applied across disciplines, and finally you will be given the freedom to develop your own “concentration,” drawing freely from courses across the university. We hope that this progression will leave you not free from all discipline, but able to draw upon different disciplines as necessary to consider the political, moral, philosophic and economic aspects of problems in public life. You will be asked to demonstrate this ability in the senior essay.

What do EP&E majors do after college?

Our majors go on to many different sorts of careers, including law, education, academics, journalism, politics, non-governmental organizations, military service, business and finance. The major has a reputation among many employers as a source for intellectual talent.

What courses should I take during my first few semesters at Yale if I would like to keep open the possibility of majoring in EP&E and maximize my chances of being admitted?

We recommend that you take two or three of the prerequisite courses on our list of requirements: introduction to political philosophy, introduction to ethics, and/or the introductions to micro- and macro-economics. (Please see the “Coursework Worksheet” on our website to confirm the exact courses that fulfill these requirements.)

What is the application process?

Please see the section on declaring the major.

Can I include EP&E as part of a double-major?

Yes, though keep in mind that EP&E already asks you to master a number of different disciplines. There is a danger in spreading yourself too thin.

Do you have a list of senior essay titles from previous years?

Yes, click here for a list.