Bachelor’s in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics – Applied Economics Understand Markets, Policy, and Global Trade
120
Credit Hours
100% online, 8-week courses
Transfer in up to 75% of the degree total
Next Start Dates: August 24, 2026 | September 21, 2026 | October 26, 2026
Available Fall 2026
Build Practical Insight with a Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Degree
Markets do not move in isolation; they are shaped by ideas, laws, institutions, and human choices that affect daily life, public trust, long-term opportunity, and the way organizations respond to change. If you want to understand economic problems from more than 1 angle, Liberty University’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) – Applied Economics offers a path that connects market analysis with political and ethical reasoning. Through this online degree, you can prepare to examine economic decisions with both data awareness and a broad view of society.
Across business, government, finance, and public service, leaders often need more than technical knowledge to make sound decisions. You’ll study how philosophical ideas, political systems, and economic forces influence public policy, financial institutions, international trade, and market behavior. At the same time, this applied economics degree emphasizes practical analysis, so you can connect big-picture questions to real-world economic challenges. Liberty’s program is designed for students who want an interdisciplinary foundation with a focused applied economics specialization that supports clear thinking, careful communication, and responsible decision-making in settings where policy, business, and culture overlap.
At Liberty, this online applied economics degree brings together liberal arts study and career-focused economics coursework in a format built for distance learners who want both flexibility and academic depth. You’ll explore topics such as macroeconomics, free enterprise, political thought, predictive analytics, money and banking, and global trade while working through this bachelor’s degree. Because the program is offered online, you can engage with these subjects while maintaining many of your current responsibilities and pursuing a college path that fits your season of life without losing sight of your professional, personal, and service-related goals.
For students enrolling today, who are placed on the current academic year’s degree completion plan, the officially conferred degree name will be Bachelor of Science (BS) in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) – Applied Economics. Degree details, including name, may be subject to change between academic terms.
Backed by a brick-and-mortar campus ranked as Niche.com’s #2 Best College Campus in America for 2026
What Sets Us Apart?
- Private Nonprofit University
- 600+ Online Degrees
- No Standardized Testing for Admission
- Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
- Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree
Why Choose Liberty’s Online Applied Economics Degree?
Economic decisions carry human, cultural, and ethical weight, especially when markets affect families, businesses, and public institutions. Liberty’s online applied economics degree addresses these situations through a biblical worldview that values integrity, stewardship, and responsible leadership. In your courses, you will consider how economic systems affect people, communities, and organizations, rather than treating financial choices as isolated calculations or purely technical matters. That perspective can help you think beyond numbers alone as you evaluate financial and policy questions that involve both measurable outcomes and human consequences.
If you’re balancing college with work, family, military service, or ministry, flexibility matters. Our program is offered 100% online, allowing you to access coursework without relocating to campus or stepping away from your other important commitments. You’ll engage with assignments, discussions, and course materials through an online format built for working professionals and traditional students alike across many locations.
Additionally, Liberty’s faculty bring relevant academic and professional experience into the online classroom. In this philosophy, politics, and economics degree, course concepts are connected to business, government, economic forecasting, public policy, and international markets. You can study under instructors who understand how ideas, institutions, and financial systems intersect outside the classroom. Through that blend of scholarship and real-world analysis, Liberty’s program can help you examine economic issues with clarity and purpose while staying grounded in ethical analysis.
What Will You Study in Liberty’s Applied Economics Program?
Liberty’s applied economics program begins with the larger questions behind economic life and public responsibility. You’ll study ethics, constitutional government, American entrepreneurship, probability and statistics, macroeconomics, political philosophy, and the relationship between freedom and society. These core topics can help you examine how ideas about human flourishing, civic responsibility, and free enterprise shape economic and political systems in both American and international contexts.
Within the applied economics specialization, Liberty’s coursework focuses on financial systems, global markets, and data-informed analysis. You’ll explore how the U.S. and international financial systems operate, including the role of the Federal Reserve, monetary theory, and monetary policy’s effect on markets and the economy.
Through coursework in forecasting and predictive analytics, you will examine data collection, pattern discovery, regression forecasting, and time series methods that are often used to interpret trends and support planning. These studies can help you build a stronger foundation for evaluating economic patterns, communicating findings, and considering business decisions with a broader context, especially when data must be interpreted for practical use.
Because applied economics often crosses national borders, Liberty’s program includes global business and trade topics. You’ll study country differences in political economy and culture, cross-border trade and investment, global strategy, global operations, and international human resources considerations. Coursework also covers market integration and trade agreements, including major regional and international economic partnerships that influence how organizations operate across borders and respond to emerging markets.
Practical application is woven into the way this degree connects philosophy, politics, and economics. You’ll evaluate ancient and modern political and economic ideas while considering how those ideas influence current markets, institutions, and public policy. By combining applied economics with ethical and political analysis, this degree can help you prepare for career paths tied to economic forecasting, public service, project coordination, cultural liaison work, management, and graduate study.
Potential Career Opportunities
- Business analyst
- Cultural liaison
- Economic forecasting analyst
- Financial analyst
- Management analyst
- Market research analyst
- Policy analyst
- Project coordinator
- Public affairs specialist
- Research assistant
Featured Courses
Course Format
We offer both 8-week and full-semester sub-terms each semester. While many online courses can be taken in the 8-week format, some programs require courses that must be taken in the full-semester term. Some courses may require additional approvals or information prior to registration.
In addition to these formats, some courses may be required to be taken in intensive or alternative formats, which may include scheduled meeting times, travel to campus, or required login sessions.
You can view specific sub-term offerings and requirements in the Course Registration Tool.
Degree Information
- This program falls under the College of Arts and Sciences.
- View the Undergraduate Arts and Sciences Course Guides (login required).
Degree Completion Plan coming soon
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Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.
Tuition & Aid
At Liberty University, a private Christian education is less expensive than you think. Over the last 10 years, Liberty University’s Online Program has only raised its standard tuition costs by less than 5% – and most of our online tuition rates rank in the top 35% for affordability for 2025 when compared to our leading online competitors.
To continue our mission of providing affordable education, electronic textbooks are provided for all undergraduate courses at no additional cost to you. As a full-time student, this could save you an estimated $800-2,000 per year on textbooks!
| Undergraduate Full Time | $390/Credit |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Part Time | $455/Credit |
| Military Undergraduate | $250/Credit |
These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for Our BS in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics – Applied Economics
Admission Requirements
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9595.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official high school transcripts or official GED test scores.*
- Students may be allowed to enroll in up to 12 credit hours with Liberty with the submission of our High School Self-Certification Form (login required – you will first need to claim your Liberty Account).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system).
- Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
*Official high school transcript requirement may be waived with college transcripts from an accredited college/university showing at least 12 earned credit hours with an acceptable GPA.
Note: A 2.0 or above cumulative GPA is required for admission in good standing.
Transcript Policies
High School Transcript Policy
Applicants may submit a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of a final official high school transcript in order to enroll in up to 12 credit hours at Liberty University.
- Applicants may submit a college transcript showing 12 or more credits from an accredited institution and a High School Self-Certification Form in lieu of high school transcripts.
Students must submit official high school transcripts, or official college transcripts showing at least 12 credit hours earned with an acceptable grade point average (GPA) from an accredited institution, in order to register for additional courses.
The official high school transcript, GED requirement, and High School Self-Certification Form can be waived if the applicant has earned an associate degree or higher.
Final transcripts must reflect all coursework and final grades received for grades 9-12, a graduation date, and an overall GPA. (Mailed transcripts must be in a sealed and unopened envelope.)
Unofficial College Transcript Policy
Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:
- Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
- Cumulative GPA
- A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
- Degree and date conferred (if applicable)
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.
Military Transfers
If you have military-only transfer credits (completed basic training and enlistment), you must request an official military transcript. Please go to the Military Transfer Credit webpage to request your military transcript.
International Applicants
If you are an international applicant, you may be required to have your international transcripts reviewed. Information regarding the transcript evaluation process for international students can be found by visiting NACES.
Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515
Ready to Apply?
Submit your application online or over the phone.
Military
Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.
Who May Qualify?
- Active Duty
- Reserve/National Guard
- Veterans/Retirees
- Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
- Current Department of Defense Employees
Available Benefits:
- Tuition discounts – $250 per credit hour for undergraduate courses
- Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $565 per course)*
- 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)
- Potential college credit for military training
*Not applicable to certificates.
These rates are reflective of academic year 2025-2026. Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Applied Economics Degree
What is a philosophy, politics, and economics degree?
A philosophy, politics, and economics degree combines the study of economic systems, political institutions, and philosophical reasoning into 1 interdisciplinary program. Instead of examining these subjects separately, you’ll explore how ideas about government, ethics, markets, and human behavior influence one another in real-world settings. Liberty’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics – Applied Economics adds focused coursework in forecasting, financial systems, and international trade so you can connect broad concepts to practical economic analysis.
What can you do with an applied economics degree?
An applied economics degree can relate to career paths in business, finance, public policy, research, consulting, and government. Graduates often pursue roles connected to economic analysis, market research, project coordination, financial services, or policy support. Because our program combines economics with philosophy and political studies, you’ll examine communication, ethics, leadership, and public decision-making alongside technical economic topics. Career outcomes can vary depending on factors such as experience, geographic location, employer expectations, and additional education.
Is Liberty’s online applied economics degree offered fully online?
Yes, Liberty’s applied economics program is offered 100% online. Through Liberty’s online learning platform, you’ll be able to access coursework, discussions, and assignments from anywhere with an internet connection. This format can help you pursue your education while maintaining many existing responsibilities related to work, family, ministry, or community involvement. Online courses are designed to provide flexibility while still supporting meaningful academic engagement and structured learning.
Is Liberty University accredited?
Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Accreditation reflects an institution’s commitment to academic standards, student support, and continuous improvement.
What will you study in Liberty’s applied economics program?
Within Liberty’s applied economics program, you’ll study topics connected to macroeconomics, political philosophy, constitutional government, international business, forecasting, and financial systems. Coursework also examines market integration, monetary policy, trade agreements, and predictive analytics while encouraging thoughtful discussion about ethics and public responsibility. In addition to economics-focused study, you’ll engage with philosophical and political ideas that shape public institutions, free enterprise systems, and global economic relationships.
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