2022-2023 Course 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 2024 | Research Methods in Political Science 1 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to World Politics | ||
| The Global Economy and World Politics | ||
| Required Political Science Core Elective Courses | ||
| Select nine hours of courses in Political Science, six of which must be at the 3000 or 4000 level | 9 | |
| Subtotal | 21 | |
| Political Science Major Requirements | ||
| PSCI 1014 | Introduction to United States Government and Politics | 3 |
| PSCI/IS 1024 | Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics | 3 |
| Advanced Theory and Practice in Political Science | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Political Theory (Required for POLT Option) 1 | ||
| Political Theory 1 | ||
| Seminar in Diplomacy and Security 1 | ||
| Seminar in Global Political Economy 1 | ||
| Seminar in Global Development 1 | ||
| The Politics of Cybersecurity 1 | ||
| Future of Security: Integrative Solutions for Complex Security Systems 1 | ||
| Senior Seminar in Political Behavior 1 | ||
| Senior Seminar in Political Institutions 1 | ||
| Senior Seminar in Constitutional Law 1 | ||
| Senior Seminar in Public Administration 1 | ||
| Senior Seminar in Comparative Politics 1 | ||
| Senior Seminar in International Relations 1 | ||
| Senior Seminar in Policy Analysis 1 | ||
| Senior Seminar in Political Theory 1 | ||
| Internship Program 1 | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Undergraduate Research | ||
| Subtotal | 9 | |
| Requirements for the Political Science Major (Political Theory Option) | ||
| PSCI/PHIL 3016 | Political Theory 1 | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| International Relations 1 | ||
| American Political Theory 1 | ||
| Contemporary Democratic Theory 1 | ||
| Marxian Political Analysis 1 | ||
| Origins of the State 1 | ||
| Senior Seminar in Political Theory 1 | ||
| Political Science Major Electives | ||
| Select a minimum of three additional hours of courses in Political Science 2 | 3 | |
| Required Hours in Political Theory Related Courses | ||
| Select four of the following: | 12 | |
| Communication and Gender | ||
| History of Disease, Medicine, and Health | ||
| Communication Ethics | ||
| Religion and Culture in India | ||
| Religion and Culture in China and Japan | ||
| Social Inequality 1 | ||
| Gender Relations 1 | ||
| Globalization: Sociological Perspectives | ||
| Sociology of Religion 1 | ||
| Environmental Ethics and Policy 1 | ||
| Topics in Feminism 1 | ||
| Global Feminisms 1 | ||
| Subtotal | 24 | |
| Free Electives | ||
| Select remaining courses to complete 120 credit hour graduation requirement | 30 | |
| Subtotal | ||
| Pathways to General Education 3 | ||
| Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse | ||
| Select six credits in Pathway 1f 4 | 6 | |
| 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 | ||
| PSCI 1014 | Introduction to United States Government and Politics (Met by Major Requirements) | 3 |
| PSCI 1024 | Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics (Met by Major Requirements) | 3 |
| 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 in Pathway 6d and Pathway 6a | 6 | |
| Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States | ||
| PSCI 1014 | Introduction to United States Government and Politics (Met by Major Requirements) | 3 |
| Subtotal | 66 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Please refer to Undergraduate Course Catalog or consult your advisor for information about pre-/co-requisite and enrollment requirements.
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).
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.
ENGL 1105 First-Year Writing and ENGL 1106 First-Year Writing are recommended.
A total of 120 hours is required to graduate with a Political Science degree.
All of the courses used in Sections I, II, and III are included in the in-major GPA. The overall and in-major GPAs required for graduation are 2.0.
To proceed satisfactorily toward a degree, a student must complete PSCI 1014 Introduction to United States Government and Politics, PSCI 1024 Introduction to Comparative Government and 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 not required by the Curriculum for Liberal 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 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.
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