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.
Program Curriculum
| 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 (No Option) | ||
| Major Electives | ||
| Minimum of 12 additional hours of courses in Political Science, nine of which must be at the 3000 or 4000 level 2 | 12 | |
| Required Hours in a Related Field | ||
| 12 hours at the 3000 or 4000 level 3 | 12 | |
| Subtotal | 24 | |
| Free Electives | ||
| Select free elective credits to reach 120 hours | 30 | |
| Subtotal | 30 | |
| Pathways to General Education 4 | ||
| 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 (met by major) | ||
or PSCI 1014H | Honors Introduction to United States Government and Politics | |
| Comp Gov & Politics (met by major) | ||
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 | ||
| 6 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 (met by major) | ||
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).
12 hours at the 3000 or 4000 level in one of the following departments/schools: Agriculture & Applied Economics, Communication, Economics, Education, English, Geography, History, Philosophy, Psychology, Public Health, Religion and Culture, Science and Technology Studies, Science, Technology, and Law, Sociology, Urban Affairs & Planning, or a single Foreign Language.
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 4 | 3 | |
| Pathway 5f | 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 1a | 3 | |
| Pathway 2 | 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 1XXX/2XXX/3XXX | 3 | |
| Related Field 3/4XXX | 3 | |
| Pathway 6a | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PSCI 3XXX/4XXX | 3 | |
| PSCI 3XXX/4XXX | 3 | |
| Related Field 3/4XXX | 3 | |
| Pathway 5a | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PSCI 3XXX/4XXX | 3 | |
| PSCI 3XXX/4XXX | 3 | |
| Related Field 3/4XXX | 3 | |
| Pathway 6d | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PSCI 3XXX/4XXX | 3 | |
| PSCI Advanced Theory and Practice | 3 | |
| Related Field 3/4XXX | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Free Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
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