At Bennington, students work closely with faculty to design the content, structure, and sequence of their study and practice—their Plan—taking advantage of resources inside and outside the classroom to pursue their work. 

Students studying political economy at Bennington engage deeply with subject matter affecting human well-being, exploring areas such as the environment, wealth inequality, international development, and gender. They cultivate an analytical skill set, not only by using contemporary economic tools, but also through an understanding of economic history and philosophical debates within the field. Students demonstrate quantitative literacy and reasoning through applications and policy analysis. Upper-level courses challenge students to further integrate their knowledge across disciplines.