Erasmus School of Economics - Erasmus University Rotterdam

Double Bachelor in Economics and Philosophy of Economics

In the economics program, you lay the foundation in economics, business economics, and quantitative courses in the first two years. Afterward, you can choose from a variety of elective courses and specializations. We encourage you to explore international perspectives and take classes abroad. Please check the sections about the International Bachelor of Economics and Business Economics and the Bachelor of Economics en Bedrijfs Economie for more specific information on the economics program.

In the philosophy program, you will get acquainted with the ideas of great thinkers from the past, from Plato to Marx, from Aristotle to Wittgenstein. In courses on modern philosophy fundamental philosophical and scientific questions will be addressed. What is truth? What is knowledge? What is science? Is democracy the best form of government? We also deal with more concrete ethical issues from a philosophical point of view, for instance: does an alcoholic always deserve a liver transplantation?

The first year: Laying the foundation for economics

Your first year is divided into five blocks of eight weeks. Each block consists of three courses: one economics course, one course in business economics, and one (or more) support course(s) or skills training.

Subjects range from marketing to mathematics and accounting to organization and strategy. In separate sessions, led by a student mentor, you will work on your skills in studying, presentation, writing, and debating.

The second year: Adding introductory philosophy

In addition to the regular economics curriculum, you will follow two introductory philosophy courses in the first ten weeks of the academic year. The first course is The Early Enlightenment. The second course is The Quest for Man I.

The third year: A mixture of both

In the third year, you also follow the regular economics curriculum. On top of that, you attend introductory philosophy courses in the first ten weeks of the academic year. The first course is Essential Contemporary Challenges. The second course is Thought Experiments. You will also follow the courses Philosophy of Science I and II, and Technology and Social Change, which may count as a minor for the Econometrics program as well.

The fourth year: Advanced Philosophy

The fourth year of your Double bachelor in Economics and Philosophy of Economics will consist solely of advanced philosophy courses, divided into four blocks per year. Each block runs for 10 weeks and lectures will mainly be given in the evening hours. In total, the fourth year contains 60 credits. The fourth year includes advanced courses on the history of thought, the philosophical aspects of man and culture, and social and political philosophy. You will write your thesis in the course of this final year under the close supervision of a staff member.

Bachelor 1

• Take-Off Bachelor
• Introduction to Mathematics
• Accounting (IBEB)
• Guidance (IBEB)
• Microeconomics
• ICT
• Academic Skills
• Academic Presentation Skills
• Macroeconomics
• Applied statistics 1
• Academic Skills
• Organization and Strategy
• Academic Skills

Bachelor 2

• Applied statistics 2
• Applied Microeconomics
• Early Enlightenment
• Human Conditions I
• International Economics
• Economics of the Welfare state
• Finance 1
• History of Economic Thought
• Introduction to Econometrics
• Introduction to Behavioural Economics
• Intermediate Accounting
• Research Project

Bachelor 3

• Minor: First Things: The Power of Philosophy
• Foundations of Philosophy
• Technology and Social Change
• Philosophy of Science II
• Critique: The Impact of Philosophy on Social Sciences and Humanities
• Electives: ingezet met Philosophy vakken
• Major vakken
• Major seminar

Bachelor 4

• Essential Contemporary Challenges: Philosophy and Practice
• Thought Experiments
• Human Conditions II
• Ecophilosophy: Beyond Sustainability and Environment
• Philosophy of Science III
• Values, Welfare, and Cooperation
• Ethical Aspects of Economics
• The High Enlightenment I
• The High Enlightenment II: Kant
• Descartes and Spinoza
• Social and Political Philosophy
• Moral Philosophy
• Aesthetics
• Thesis Philosophy

Credits: 270 ECTS

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science

Having two bachelor's degrees increases your employability in almost every sector and gives you a head start when searching for a job. Your background in philosophy will provide you with an awareness of the theoretical foundations of your discipline. This allows you to pose relevant questions, come up with innovative solutions, and go a step further than others. Doubling your degree with Philosophy will prove valuable and rewarding on both a personal and professional level.

Philosophy does not train you for a specific job, but it would be wrong to say that philosophy does not lead to any job. In fact, our alumni have ended up as researchers, teachers, civil servants, financial consultants, journalists, or managers in the private sector. What all these jobs have in common is that it is an advantage if you can think critically on a fundamental level. This is where philosophy gives you an edge. In particular, the relation between philosophy and a specific discipline allows our students to reflect on their fields of interest and thoroughly grasp the challenges that lay ahead.

With your degree in economics, you are well prepared to work in fields like banking, accountancy, tax consultancy, economic research, or in trade and multinational companies. You also find plenty of Rotterdam economists in more generalist positions at the academic level such as stock exchange analysts, entrepreneurs, tax inspectors, politicians, HR managers, sales and marketing managers, and scientific journalists.

With a Double bachelor in Economics and Philosophy of Economics, you have every opportunity to kick-start an exciting career.