<p>If anyone knows any information on the Political Economics of Industrialized Societies, I would love to hear about it. Like, the difficulty, how respected it is (like is it comparable to engineering in respect?)… Thanks!</p>
<p>PEIS is a highly respected major in Berkeley. The impression I got is that CS, EECS, MechEngineering, IEOR, Economics, Haas, Math, PEIS, and MCB were the most respected majors on campus. IMO, English majors at Berkeley were the most interesting people tho. PEIS 100 and 101 is known as being among the hardest courses at Berkeley undergrad. </p>
<p>I chose PEIS because I felt that economics was too rigid and did not allow room for economic situations that do not fit normal economic models. Poly Sci on the other hand, seemed too idealistic, and not applicable to everyday realities of human behavior in government and society. PEIS takes the best of both economics and political science and combines it into one.</p>
<p>During my interviews in investment banking, people would comment on my major and seemed to respect it highly. I also liked it because its a good major for not only MBA, but very good for JD and PhD programs in the social sciences. PEIS is a rigorous major, and it is highly respected, and not only that, it is fascinating material to learn. Personally it changed my perception on life forever. Also, if I ever decide to start my own country, it is the perfect major to have received training in starting my own nation-state. =)</p>
<p>Here is an excerpt from the website. </p>
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[quote]
Political Economy of Industrial Societies (PEIS) examines the relationship between politics and economics in modern societies, focusing special attention on problems of both domestic and international policy. Based on the assumption that the political-economic relationship is affected by society, culture, geography, and demographics, the curriculum is both multi- and interdisciplinary in scope. Contemporary problems form the central focus of the major, although a strong historical perspective is emphasized. Students also study planning and problem solving, environmental issues, resource distribution, and the challenges of institutional adap-tation, value innovation, and changing political systems.</p>
<p>The major is designed to provide a broad-based liberal arts background as well as the intellectual skills appropriate for careers in either the public or private sector. Additionally, the major offers an excellent background for students planning postgraduate careers in social science disciplines and professional schools. Some of the questions addressed in the major include: </p>
<p>the tension between rising consumer demand versus the need to minimize resource depletion and pollution;
the different priorities served by capitalist, socialist, and traditionalist varieties of political economy;
the different priorities served by democratic and authoritarian political systems;
how international interdependence may undermine the efforts of national governments to cope with unemployment, inflation, trade and payment deficits, health, housing, and welfare problems, and other issues associated with industrialized societies;
the importance of organizational structures for policy-making in both the public and private sectors.
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<p>i just finished my first semester here and havent heard it mentioned anywhere else but on this forum</p>
<p>PEIS is a highly respected major on campus. You can't just declare it on a whim either; there is an application process and a list of prerequisites, some of which are difficult, such as economics. It's not as difficult as engineering, but expect a lot of work.</p>
<p>It's pretty much a combo of economics and poli sci with more theory and policy than actual practice. It's the major of future leaders. Seriously, we'd be in MUCH better shape if the world leaders were PEIS and Political Science majors in college/uni rather than MBAs and such.</p>