The Program

The Political and Economic Philosophy major is for students who like philosophy and want to prepare for a career in law, business or government. Students who major in PEP desire to understand the big picture of how philosophy, business and politics combine to define our nation and the diverse global society. Coordinated by the Philosophy Department, this is an inter-disciplinary major that integrates economics, political science and philosophy. Students are guided and encouraged by faculty from each of these disciplines as they explore the connections among them and investigate problems that involve each of them.

The Opportunities

The Political and Economic Philosophy (PEP) major is the most popular for Wheeling Jesuit’s pre-law students. Over the past 12 years, every PEP major who applied to law school has been accepted-- a 100% acceptance rate. The average score for PEP majors on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) is around the 68th national percentile, and their average cumulative grade point average is approximately 3.5/4. These are reasons why almost 50% of all PEP majors who go to law school receive full or partial tuition scholarship offers. PEP is a proven formula for success for pre-law students. In addition to pre-law, PEP majors tend to pursue post-graduate studies in economics, business, public administration, political science, human resource management and business finance. As an interdisciplinary major, PEP is very flexible. Besides solid academic preparation, pre-law students receive training on how to score high on the LSAT and there are legal internships available.  

Facilities & Faculty

Two of the professors involved in PEP, Dr. Thomas Michaud (Chair, Philosophy) and Dr. Robert Phillips (Chair, Political Science) are Wheeling Jesuit’s Pre-Law Academic Advisors. PEP majors frequently take a double major or one or two other minors. The PEP faculty work very closely with individual students to make sure that they can study what they need and want to fulfill their ambitions. For more information on how Wheeling Jesuit's Political and Economic Philosophy can help you become a successful professional in law, business, government or politics, call 1-800-624-6992 or e-mail admiss@wju.edu or visit Wheeling Jesuit online at www.wju.edu