2024-2025 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 1034 | Introduction to International Studies and Political Science | 3 |
| PSCI 2014 | Introduction to Political Theory | 3 |
| PSCI 2024 | Research Methods in Political Science | 3 |
| PSCI 2054 | Introduction to World Politics | 3 |
| or PSCI/GEOG/IS 2064 | The Global Economy and World Politics | |
| Required Political Science Core Elective Courses | ||
| Select 9 hours of courses in Political Science, 6 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 |
| PSCI 1024 | Comp Gov & Politics | 3 |
| 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 | ||
| Undergraduate Research | ||
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Requirements for the Political Science Major (National Security Studies Option) | ||
| National Security Studies Political Science Courses | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Security Studies: Theories and Concepts | ||
| Global Security | ||
| Intelligence and National Security | ||
| Intelligence and National Security | ||
| Global Conflict and War | ||
| Strategies of Modern Warfare | ||
| Strategies of Modern Warfare | ||
| Nuclear Strategy & Politics | ||
| Congress | ||
| The Presidency | ||
| Violent Political Change | ||
| Foreign Policy and Diplomacy | ||
| US-Russia Foreign Policies | ||
| US-Russia Foreign Policies | ||
| Far-right Violence in the United States | ||
| National Security Strategy | ||
| National Security | ||
PSCI 3735 | ||
PSCI 3736 | ||
| Global Terrorism and Counterterrorism | ||
| Global Terrorism and Counterterrorism | ||
| European Union's Foreign and Security Policy | ||
| European Union's Foreign Relations | ||
| European Union's Foreign Relations | ||
| European Security Governance | ||
| European Geopolitics | ||
| NATO & European Security | ||
| Topics in Diplomacy Lab | ||
| The Politics of Cybersecurity | ||
| Theories and Practices of International Conflict Management | ||
| Topics in Multilateral Diplomacy Workshop | ||
| Topics in Multilateral Diplomacy Workshop | ||
| Intelligence Analysis Workshop | ||
| Political Science Electives | ||
| Select a minimum of 3 additional hours of courses in Political Science 1 | 3 | |
| Required Hours in National Security Related Courses | ||
| Select four of the following: 2 | 12 | |
| War and Arab Culture | ||
| National Security Forces in Contemporary American Society | ||
| National Security Forces in Contemporary American Society | ||
| The CIA: Its Capabilities in Todays Geo-Political World | ||
| Modeling with Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Spatial Analysis in Geographic Information Systems | ||
| Introduction to Remote Sensing | ||
| The Vietnam War | ||
HIST 3394 | ||
| French Empire | ||
| Nazi Germany: History and Memory | ||
HIST 3524 | ||
| Modern Military History | ||
| World War II | ||
| Age of Globalization | ||
| The Cold War | ||
| The Rise of Modern Latin America | ||
| Twentieth-Century Russia | ||
| Arab-Israeli Conflict | ||
| Revolutionary China | ||
HIST 3684 | ||
| Multicultural Communication | ||
| International Communication | ||
| Topics for Cadet Global Leadership Studies | ||
| Navigation and Naval Operations | ||
| Navigation and Naval Operations | ||
| Evolution of Warfare | ||
| Amphibious Warfare | ||
| Military Science III, Army Reserve Officer Training Corps | ||
| Military Science III, Army Reserve Officer Training Corps | ||
| The Holocaust | ||
| Population Trends and Issues | ||
| Subtotal | 24 | |
| Free Electives | ||
| Select remaining courses to complete 120 credit hour graduation requirement | 21 | |
| Subtotal | 21 | |
| Pathways to General Education 3 | ||
| Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse | ||
| ENGL 1105 | First-Year Writing | 3 |
| or COMM 1015 | Communication Skills | |
| ENGL 1106 | First-Year Writing | 3 |
| or COMM 1016 | Communication Skills | |
| Select 3 hours in Pathway 1a | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities | ||
| Select 6 hours in Pathway 2 | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences (Met by Major Requirements) | ||
| PSCI 1014 | Introduction to United States Government and Politics | 3 |
| PSCI 1024 | Comp Gov & Politics | 3 |
| Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences | ||
| Select 6 hours in Pathway 4 | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking | ||
| Select 6 hours in Pathway 5f | 6 | |
| Select 3 hours in Pathway 5a | 3 | |
| Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts | ||
| Select 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) | ||
| PSCI 1014 | Introduction to United States Government and Politics | 3 |
| Subtotal | 45 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Limit on Repeatable Courses: No more than six credit hours in any one of the following courses may contribute toward the 54 hours required by the major: internship (PSCI 4754 Internship Program), undergraduate research (PSCI 4994 Undergraduate Research), independent study (PSCI 4974 Independent Study).
Limit on Related Courses: No more than six (6) credit hours in any of the following courses may count toward the 12 Required Hours in National Security Related Courses: AS 4215 National Security Forces in Contemporary American Society, AS 4216 National Security Forces in Contemporary American Society, MGT 3804 Topics for Cadet Global Leadership Studies MS 3005 Military Science III, Army Reserve Officer Training Corps, MS 3006 Military Science III, Army Reserve Officer Training Corps, MN 3005 Navigation and Naval Operations, MN 3006 Navigation and Naval Operations, MN 3204 Evolution of Warfare, MN 4204 Amphibious Warfare.
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.
Satisfactory Progress: 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.
Hours Requirement: A total of 120 hours is required to graduate with a Political Science degree.
In major GPA: All of the courses in the Degree Core Requirements, Major Requirements, And Option Requirements are included in the in-major GPA.
Regarding Double Majors and Minors: The Department of Political Science offers majors in Political Science, International Studies, International Relations, National Security and Foreign Affairs, and International Public Policy as well as minors in Political Science, International Studies, International Relations, National Security and Foreign Affairs, and International Public Policy. Courses for the majors and minors overlap significantly. Therefore, Political Science majors may not pursue multiple majors and/or minors within the department.
Free Electives: Hours not required by the Curriculum for Liberal Education or the major are “free electives” and may be taken anywhere in the university.
Foreign Language:
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