political economy

While studying political economy, you will learn the ways in which the U.S. and global economies have been organized and reorganized, how systems of economic and political power operate, and how they are changed.

You can study the history of empires in structuring the global economy; examine food systems and agriculture; and mass media’s role in social relationships. You’ll learn how social change has occurred in the past so you can be a more effective agent of change. Finally, you can explore alternative visions for economies and societies that promote justice and environmental sustainability. 

How to Choose Your Path

You’ll choose what you study to earn a Bachelor’s degree that’s meaningful to you. Some students decide their programs as they go, while others chart their course in advance.

Aim for both breadth and depth; explore fields that may be related or that may seem very distant. You'll be surprised at what you discover.

If you're new to college, look for programs where you can gain a foundation, build key skills, and broaden your knowledge (FR only, FR-SO, or FR-SR).

If you already have a foundation in this field, look for programs with intermediate or advanced material (SO-SR, JR-SR, or FR-SR). These programs may include community-based learning and in-depth research. Some of these programs have specific prerequisites; check the description for details.

Talk to an academic advisor to get help figuring out what coursework is best for you.

Planned offerings for 2018–19
Class Standing Quarters Offered Credits
Abroad at Mondragon and Evergreen: A Collaborative Experiment? FR-SR
  • Spring
 16
Alternatives in and to Capitalism: Hands-on from Cascadian Grain to Basque Cooperatives SO-SR
  • Winter
  • Spring
 16
Becoming A Changemaker: Learning and Acting Locally and Globally FR-SR
  • Winter
  • Spring
 8
Climate Justice SO-SR
  • Spring
 16
Current Economic Issues and Social Movements FR-SR
  • Spring
 8, 16
Diversity, Democracy, and Fake News: Making Our Way in the Time of Trump FR-SO
  • Fall
 16
Financial Sustainability for Non-profit Organizations FR-SR
  • Winter
  • Spring
 8
Gateways for Incarcerated Youth: Critical Literacy and Critical Numeracy SO-SR
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Spring
 16
Geopolitics, Energy, Economics, and Stewardship of the Pacific Northwest SO-SR
  • Spring
 16
Global/Local Realities and Alternative Visions JR-SR
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Spring
 16
Intermediate Microeconomics SO-SR
  • Spring
 16
Introduction to Statistics and Research Design FR-SR
  • Summer
 4
Political Ecology of Land: Urban Planning, Property Rights, and Land Stewardship JR-SR
  • Fall
  • Winter
 16
Political Economy and Environmental and Social Movements: Race, Class, and Gender SO-SR
  • Fall
  • Winter
 16
Political Economy of Public Education: History and Philosophy SO-SR
  • Winter
 16
Production, Profits, and People FR-SR
  • Fall
 16
Protest in Sports and Media FR-SR
  • Spring
 16
Race and Social Change FR-SR
  • Summer
 8
Radio Practice and Politics SO-SR
  • Winter
 8
Student-Originated Studies: Collaborative Learning for Social Change SO-SR
  • Winter
 16
Teaching through Performance FR-SR
  • Fall
  • Winter
 16
The Making of Global Capitalism, 1500-1914 JR-SR
  • Winter
 16
Transnational Identities, Migration, and Unequal Childhoods SO-SR
  • Spring
 16
Who Gets What?: Political Economy of Income, Wealth, and Economic Justice FR-SR
  • Winter
 16
Who Gets What?: Political Economy of Race, Class and Gender FR-SO
  • Fall
 16
Planned offerings for 2019–20
Class Standing Quarters Offered Credits
Advanced Seminar in Political Economy JR-SR
  • Spring
 16
American Frontiers: Homelands and Borderlands FR
  • Spring
 16
Carrying Home: Latinx Worlds, Media, and Education SO-SR
  • Fall
  • Winter
 16
Climate Justice JR-SR
  • Spring
 16
Cooperatives, Direct Democracy, and Sustainable Business Enterprises SO-SR
  • Spring
 16
Cycle Makers and Cycle Breakers: Transitional Studies JR-SR
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Spring
 16
Diversity and Dissent in Education and the Media FR-SO
  • Fall
  • Winter
 16
Eating in Translation FR-SR
  • Fall
 16
From the Earth: The History, Stories, and Social Justice of Farming in the U.S. FR-SO
  • Fall
  • Winter
 16
History of Agriculture in Washington State: 1880 - 2020 SO-SR
  • Spring
 4
Intermediate Macroeconomics SO-SR
  • Spring
 16
Making Change: Social Entrepreneurship and the Public Good FR-SR
  • Fall
 8
Political Economy and Social Movements SO-SR
  • Fall
  • Winter
 16
Social Science Approaches to Solving Environmental Problems JR-SR
  • Spring
 16