Declaring the EPE Major
Students are very strongly encouraged to complete eight introductory courses before the beginning of their fifth semester, because of the demands of the overall EP&E course load and the related need to demonstrate ability to complete the major: (1) Introduction to Ethics; (2) Introduction to Political Philosophy; (3) Introduction to Political Science; (4) a course on Other Perspectives*; (5) Introductory Micro-economics; (6) Introductory Macro-economics; (7) Game Theory; (8) Econometrics. The three Directed Studies courses will qualify as substitutes for three introductory courses: Introduction to Ethics, Introduction to Political Philosophy and a course on Other Perspectives. Please see this list of the specific courses that serve as these introductory courses. Students who officially test out of Introductory Microeconomics or Introductory Macroeconomics (through the Economics Department) must take instead with the approval of the EP&E DUS, another higher-level course in Economics with introductory micro or macro as an explicit prerequisite. The introductory courses listed for completion of the EP&E major have been carefully selected because they provide students with a strong foundational knowledge across the disciplines that constitute the program. For this reason, EP&E students may not substitute courses other than those listed as introductory courses as they complete the program.
*Other Perspectives: This course should provide students with a solid foundation in the tools, approaches and “ways of knowing” in a field outside of the mainstay disciplines of EP&E (political philosophy, political science or economics) e.g. history, sociology, anthropology, ER&M or WGSS. In general, courses that draw on a breadth of scholarship in the chosen discipline will be a good fit. Courses with a narrow focus e.g. on a particular thinker, country, case, or event are less appropriate, as are courses which have significant overlap with existing EP&E requirements. To seek approval for a course to count for this introductory requirement, students should email the EP&E DUS with the descriptions and syllabi of the courses they are considering. (Or Directed Studies)
Students who have successfully completed the eight introductory courses may, upon confirmation with the EPE registrar, declare the EPE major (see below for details). EPE majors may then take EPE seminars, including Classics of EPE, which along with Intermediate Microeconomics, three concentration courses, and the eight introductory courses listed above, are required for graduation. EPE seminars are opportunities for advanced students in the major, having completed background courses, to apply inter-disciplinary thinking across a range of substantive areas. EPE seniors write a one-semester or a year-long senior essay that puts the three disciplines in service of addressing a complex empirical or analytical problem.
Please check here for the current EP&E requirements.
To declare the major:
Once you have completed all the introductory requirements, you can declare the major by completing the following steps:
- Complete this Coursework Worksheet form
- Attach your most recent Yale transcript
- Attach your Other Perspectives approval email from the EPE DUS and any other course substitution/approval email(s) from the E&PE DUS
- Email this information to the EPE registrar kellianne.farnham@yale.edu
Once everything is approved, the Yale College Registrar’s Office will be asked to change your major to EPE.
EPE Preregistration
In order to participate in EPE preregistration, students must be declared EPE majors. We understand that some of the introductory courses aren’t offered every semester, so we encourage prospective EPE students who can’t make that deadline to continue to work on their EPE core requirements and concentration classes and declare the major once the introductory requirements are finished.
Credit/D/Fail Students admitted to the major may take one of their Ethics, Politics, and Economics courses Credit/D/Fail, excluding the seminar in which the senior essay is written. Such courses count as non-A grades in calculations for Distinction in the Major.