2025-2026 Academic Catalog
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Degree Core Requirements | ||
| Required Political Science Courses | ||
| PSCI/IS 1034 | Introduction to International Studies and Political Science | 3 |
| PSCI 2014 | Introduction to Political Theory | 3 |
| PSCI/PPE 2024 | Research Methods in Political Science | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to World Politics | ||
| The Global Economy and World Politics | ||
| Required Political Science Core Elective Courses 1 | ||
| Select nine hours of courses in Political Science, six of which must be at the 3000 or 4000 level | 9 | |
| Subtotal | 21 | |
| Major Requirements | ||
| Political Science Major Courses | ||
| PSCI 1014 | Introduction to United States Government and Politics | 3 |
| or PSCI 1014H | Honors Introduction to United States Government and Politics | |
| PSCI/IS 1024 | Comp Gov & Politics | 3 |
| or PSCI 1024H | Honors Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics | |
| Advanced Theory and Practice in Political Science | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Political Theory | ||
| Political Theory | ||
| Seminar in Diplomacy and Security | ||
| Seminar in Global Political Economy | ||
| Seminar in Global Development | ||
| The Politics of Cybersecurity | ||
| Future of Security: Integrative Solutions for Complex Security Systems | ||
| Climate Change and the International Policy Framework | ||
| Senior Seminar in Political Behavior | ||
| Senior Seminar in Political Institutions | ||
| Senior Seminar in Constitutional Law | ||
| Senior Seminar in Public Administration | ||
| Senior Seminar in Comparative Politics | ||
| Senior Seminar in International Relations | ||
| Senior Seminar in Policy Analysis | ||
| Senior Seminar in Political Theory | ||
| Internship Program | ||
| Independent Study | ||
or PSCI 4974H | Independent Study | |
| Undergraduate Research | ||
or PSCI 4994H | Undergraduate Research | |
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Requirements for the Political Science Major (Applied Public Policy Studies Option) | ||
| Applied Public Policy Studies Political Science Courses | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| The Politics of Internet Governance | ||
| Food Politics | ||
| Selected World Problems | ||
| Selected World Problems | ||
| Global Governance and Public Policy | ||
| Topics in Global Public Policies | ||
| Global Trade: Structures and Policies | ||
| Monetary Foundations of the World Economy | ||
| Global Environmental Issues: Interdisciplinary Perspectives | ||
| Public Administration | ||
| Administrative Law and Policy | ||
| The U. S. Policy Process | ||
| Public Policy Analysis | ||
| Politics of Global and Comparative Migration | ||
| Comparative Politics of Immigrant Inclusion | ||
| Topics in Middle East Politics and International Relations | ||
| Foreign Policy and Diplomacy | ||
| US-Russia Foreign Policies | ||
| US-Russia Foreign Policies | ||
| Poverty and Welfare Policy | ||
| The European Union: Institutions and Policies | ||
| European Union's Foreign and Security Policy | ||
| Topics in Diplomacy Lab | ||
| Climate Change and the International Policy Framework | ||
| Senior Seminar in Policy Analysis | ||
| Political Science Electives | ||
| Select a minimum of six additional hours of courses in Political Science, 3 of which must be at the 3000 or 4000 level. 1 | 6 | |
| Required Hours in Applied Public Policy Studies Related Courses | ||
| Select four of the following: | 12 | |
| Environment and Sustainable Development Economics | ||
| Food and Agricultural Policy | ||
| Environmental Economic Analysis and Management | ||
| Rural and Regional Development Policy | ||
| Water Resources Policy and Economics | ||
| Issues of Schooling in the United States | ||
| Community Analytics | ||
| Advanced Family Relationships | ||
| Public Health Policy and Administration | ||
| Housing Challenges and Policies in the United States | ||
| Federal Cybersecurity Policy and Regulation | ||
| Data and the Art of Policy-Making and Planning | ||
| Urban Policy and Planning | ||
| Policy Implementation | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Policy and Planning | ||
| Environmental Ethics and Policy | ||
| Land Use and Environment: Planning and Policy | ||
| The Washington Semester: Seminar in American Politics and Public Policy | ||
| Washington Semester: Politics, Policy and Administration in A Democracy | ||
| Subtotal | 24 | |
| Free Electives | ||
| Select remaining courses to complete 120 credit hour graduation requirement | 30 | |
| Subtotal | 30 | |
| Pathways to General Education 2 | ||
| Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse | ||
| Select one of the following: | 6 | |
| First-Year Writing and First-Year Writing | ||
| Communication Skills and Communication Skills | ||
| Select three credits in Pathway 1a | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | ||
| Select six credits in Pathway 2 | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (Met by Major Requirements) | ||
| Introduction to United States Government and Politics | ||
or PSCI 1014H | Honors Introduction to United States Government and Politics | |
| Comp Gov & Politics | ||
or PSCI 1024H | Honors Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics | |
| Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences | ||
| Select six credits in Pathway 4 | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking | ||
| Select six credits in Pathway 5f | 6 | |
| Select three credits in Pathway 5a | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts | ||
| Select six credits: 3 design + 3 arts, or 6 integrated design & arts | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States (Met by Major Requirements) | ||
| Introduction to United States Government and Politics | ||
or PSCI 1014H | Honors Introduction to United States Government and Politics | |
| Subtotal | 36 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Courses that are cross listed with PSCI may count as PSCI electives
Limit on Repeatable Courses: No more than six credit hours in any one of the following courses may contribute toward the hours required by the major: internship (PSCI 4754 Internship Program), independent study (PSCI 4974 Independent Study or PSCI 4974H Independent Study), or undergraduate research (PSCI 4994 Undergraduate Research or PSCI 4994H Undergraduate Research).
PSCI majors (all options) must complete the requirements for the Pathways to General Education. More details and course listings can be found at the following link: https://www.pathways.prov.vt.edu.
To proceed satisfactorily toward a degree, a student must complete PSCI 1014 Introduction to United States Government and Politics, PSCI 1024 Comp Gov & Politics, and PSCI 2024 Research Methods in Political Science by the end of the semester in which 60 hours have been attempted; must maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.0 and must maintain an in major GPA of 2.0.
A total of 120 hours is required to graduate with a Political Science degree.
All of the courses in the Degree Core Requirements, Major Requirements, And Option Requirements are included in the in-major GPA. The overall and in-major GPAs required for graduation are 2.0.
Hours not required by the Pathways General Education or the major are “free electives” and may be taken anywhere in the university.
Some courses required for this major have pre-/co-requisite and/or enrollment requirements. Please refer to Undergraduate Course Catalog or consult your advisor for information about pre-/co-requisite and enrollment requirements. These courses are noted with Footnote 1.
The Department of Political Science offers majors in Political Science, International Studies, International Relations, National Security and Foreign Affairs, and Environment, Development, and Global Economy as well as minors in Political Science, International Studies, International Relations, National Security and Foreign Affairs, and Global Development and Political Economy. Courses for the majors and minors overlap significantly. Therefore, Political Science majors may not pursue multiple majors and/or minors within the department.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| PSCI 1034 | Introduction to International Studies and Political Science | 3 |
| PSCI 1014 | Introduction to United States Government and Politics | 3 |
| ENGL 1105 | First-Year Writing | 3 |
| Pathway 4 | 3 | |
| Pathway 5f | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PSCI 1024 | Comp Gov & Politics | 3 |
| ENGL 1106 | First-Year Writing | 3 |
| Pathway 5f | 3 | |
| Pathway 4 | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PSCI 2014 | Introduction to Political Theory | 3 |
| PSCI 2024 | Research Methods in Political Science | 3 |
| Pathway 2 | 3 | |
| Pathway 1a | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PSCI 2054 or PSCI 2064 | Introduction to World Politics or The Global Economy and World Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 1XXX/2XXX/3XXX | 3 | |
| Pathway 2 | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PSCI Applied Public Policy Studies Course (Choose any course from the approved list) | 3 | |
| Aplied Public Policy Studies Related Field Course (Choose any course from the approved list) | 3 | |
| Pathway 6a | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PSCI Applied Public Policy Studies Course (Choose any course from the approved list) | 3 | |
| Applied Public Policy Studies Related Field Course (Choose any course from the approved list) | 3 | |
| PSCI 1XXX/2XXX/3XXX | 3 | |
| Pathway 5a | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Applied Public Policy Studies Related Field Course (Choose any course from the approved list) | 3 | |
| PSCI 3XXX/4XXX | 3 | |
| PSCI 3XXX/4XXX | 3 | |
| Pathway 6d | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PSCI Advanced Theory and Practice (Choose any course from the approved list) | 3 | |
| PSCI 3XXX/4XXX | 3 | |
| Applied Public Policy Studies Related Field Course (Choose any course from the approved list) | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
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