Welcome to the Program in Philosophy, Politics, and Law.  We know that we speak for all the faculty in wishing you an enjoyable and valuable educational experience.  PPL is one of the most popular majors on campus with various programs and activities for its students. The PPL major provides a diverse liberal arts education and valuable foundation for a wide range of careers, including law school, other graduate education, business, teaching and government. The major places particular emphasis on critical thinking and writing. PPL offers core courses in philosophy with complementary courses in history, political science, economics, and other disciplines, leading to an interdisciplinary B.A. degree offered through Harpur College of Arts and Sciences at Binghamton University. This homepage and links serves as an information source for current and prospective PPL majors, as well as PPL alumni. We welcome you to browse and contact us for further information.

PPL Director Steven Scalet is on sabbatical this coming year. Acting Director Christopher Knapp will be happy to address your questions at cknapp@binghamton.edu or during his office hours. You may also contact department secretary Melanie Yaworski at (607) 777-3616. She is located on the 12th Floor, Library Tower. Her e-mail is yaworski@binghamton.edu.

We offer a special note of dedication to Professor John Arthur, the previous Director of PPL for the past 18 years, who died of lung cancer in 2007.  Professor Arthur was beloved by generations of students and had a tremendous impact on both the philosophy profession and University life. For more information about his remarkable life and career, please see the Memorial Notice as published in the May 2007 edition of the American Philosophical Association.

Let us briefly mention various opportunities for you to consider as a PPL major. The Pell Honors program, the combined degree Graduate Studies in PPL and philosophy, and Study Abroad, including PPL in Britain, are marvelous opportunities for majors. If you are interested in any of these opportunities you should speak with an advisor or, in the case of PPL in Britain, visit the Office of International Programs in Hinman to get more information. We recommend study abroad experiences to complement your educational goals, and we work with students individually to ensure that your study abroad coursework meshes with PPL major requirements. Phi Alpha Delta is a co-educational pre-law fraternity that offers a wide array of activities and programs; some are academic, others are service or pre-professional. It’s a good organization and we encourage you to think about joining.

PPL also has an associated PPL Institute to complement its work. The Institute funds Visiting Scholars, guest lectures and other University and PPL-related activities, such as faculty/student lunches and philosophical debates among faculty. The major has much going on, so keep your eyes open and always feel welcome to participate in any of the events. The Institute is funded by the generous contributions of Binghamton alumni who support the PPL program and believe in its approach to undergraduate education.

Finally, the PPL program presents various awards and other opportunities for its students. First, the Roma Award is given annually to the top one or two graduating PPL majors, based on academic success and contributions to the major. Professor Emilio Roma was a previous director of the PPL program. Winners receive a small financial gift, recognition at graduation, and a luncheon with PPL faculty. Second, PPL majors may also serve as Undergraduate Teaching Assistants in lower-level philosophy classes that they have excelled in. These competitive positions are offered at the discretion of the faculty teaching the course, so please inquire to those faculty directly about these opportunities. Third, PPL students sometimes work individually with faculty in their areas of research. If you become especially interested in the teaching and research of a faculty member, you are always welcome to approach this person directly to inquire about research opportunities.

And again, welcome to the Program in Philosophy, Politics, and Law.

Sincerely,

Steven Scalet, Director           Christopher Knapp, Acting Director, 2007