Political Science, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a concentration in public policy and administration

The Department of Political Science offers a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science as well as elective courses in political science for program majors and non-majors.

The political science curriculum has two central objectives. It offers the student a broad liberal arts education along with a comprehensive understanding of the nature and the functioning of the political process and government. It also provides a sound foundation for graduate study in political science, public administration and nonprofit management, or for careers that require knowledge of governance and the political process, such as law.

Student learning outcomes

Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following:

Political science core outcomes

1. Assumptions, methods and analytical tools
   Demonstrate knowledge of the assumptions, methods and analytical tools of the discipline of political science
2. Current political and policy issues
   Demonstrate knowledge of current political and policy issues
3. Theory and principles of four subfields
   Demonstrate an understanding of basic theory and conceptual principles of political science in the four subfields of American government, political theory, international relations and comparative politics
4. Advanced understanding of one subfield
   Demonstrate an advanced understanding of current theoretical and empirical study in one subfield
5. Expository and analytic writing
   Demonstrate skill in expository and analytic writing in the political science discipline
6. Political behavior
   Demonstrate knowledge of the ways in which individuals, national governmental organizations, political movements and parties, nation-states, and intergovernmental institutions work to achieve their political objectives

Public policy and administration concentration-specific outcomes

1. Demonstrate an understanding of how public policy is developed, implemented, and/or evaluated in the U.S., considering institutional, political, legal and/or bureaucratic dynamics.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical, administrative, legal and/or political dilemmas involved in designing and/or executing policy programs at various levels of government.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of key political and/or policy trends in the U.S., assessing their implications and/or comparing them to governance models in other contexts.

Honors in political science

Political science majors can earn honors in political science. Students earn honors status when they complete POLI 490 with an A grade and graduate with an overall 3.0 GPA and a 3.3 GPA in political science.

Special requirements

To graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, students must complete 45 upper-level credits (including upper-level course work in the major) and maintain a cumulative and major GPA of 2.0. Students may count a maximum of six internship and three independent study credits toward the major. Students may also apply three credits from courses in other departments toward the major with prior approval from the department chair.

Degree requirements for Political Science, Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with a concentration in public policy and administration

Course	Title	Hours
General education
Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser.		30
Major requirements
• Major core requirements
POLI 107	Political Theory	3
POLI 109	Comparative Politics	3
POLI 320 Play course video for Research Methods in Political Science	Research Methods in Political Science	3
POLI 490	Senior Seminar	3
• Additional major requirements
POLI 310	Public Policy	3
or POLI 331	Public Administration
• Concentration requirements
Select courses from the concentration electives list below.		9
• Major electives
POLI electives		6
Ancillary requirements
POLI 103	U.S. Government and Politics (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for diversities in the human experience)	3
POLI/INTL 105	International Relations (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for global perspectives)	3
Open electives
Select any course.		60
Total Hours		120

The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.

Concentration electives

What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.

Recommended course sequence/plan of study 

Freshman year
Fall semester		Hours
POLI 103	U.S. Government and Politics (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for diversities in the human experience)	3
UNIV 101	Introduction to the University (recommended) 1	1
UNIV 111 Play course video for Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication	Introduction to Focused Inquiry: Investigation and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations)	3
General education course (select AOI for scientific and logical reasoning)		3
General education courses (select BOK to complete breadth of knowledge requirements)		6
	Term Hours:	15
Spring semester
POLI/INTL 105	International Relations (satisfies general education BOK for social/behavioral sciences and AOI for global perspectives)	3
UNIV 200	Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations)	3
General education course (select AOI for scientific and logical reasoning)		3
Open electives		6
	Term Hours:	15
Sophomore year
Fall semester
POLI 107	Political Theory	3
POLI 109	Comparative Politics	3
General education courses (select AOI courses)		6
Open elective		3
	Term Hours:	15
Spring semester
POLI 310 or POLI 331	Public Policy or Public Administration	3
POLI 320 Play course video for Research Methods in Political Science	Research Methods in Political Science	3
Open electives		9
	Term Hours:	15
Junior year
Fall semester
Concentration elective		3
POLI elective		3
Open electives		9
	Term Hours:	15
Spring semester
Concentration elective		3
Open electives		12
	Term Hours:	15
Senior year
Fall semester
POLI 490	Senior Seminar	3
Concentration elective		3
Open electives		9
	Term Hours:	15
Spring semester
POLI elective		3
Open electives		12
	Term Hours:	15
	Total Hours:	120

The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.

Accelerated B.A. and M.P.A.

The accelerated B.A. and M.P.A. program allows qualified students to earn both the B.A. in Political Science and the Master of Public Administration in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. Students in the program may count up to 12 hours of graduate courses toward both the B.A. and M.P.A. degrees. Thus, the two degrees may be earned with a minimum of 144 credits rather than the 156 credits necessary if the two degrees are pursued separately. Students who do not have at least one year of professional-level experience in the public sector or in a nonprofit agency are required to earn three additional hours of credit in a public service practicum/internship. In this case, the two degrees may be earned with a minimum of 147 credits rather than the 159 credits necessary if the two degrees are pursued separately. 

Students holding these degrees will demonstrate knowledge about the assumptions, methods and analytical tools of the discipline of political science and current political and policy issues; and they will be prepared, professional public managers, public officials and citizens who are able to meet the challenges of public service in both government and nonprofit sectors and serve the profession and local, state, federal and international communities.

Entrance to the accelerated program

Interested undergraduate students should consult with their adviser as early as possible to receive specific information about the accelerated program, determine academic eligibility and submit (no later than two semesters prior to graduating with a baccalaureate degree, that is, before the end of the spring semester of their junior year) an Accelerated Program Declaration Form to be approved by the graduate program director. Limited spaces may be available in the accelerated program. Academically qualified students may not receive approval if capacity has been reached.

Minimum qualifications for entrance to this accelerated program include completion of 90 undergraduate credit hours including a minimum of nine credit hours in political science courses; an overall GPA of 3.0; and a GPA of 3.3 in political science course work. Successful applicants would enter the program in the fall semester of their senior year. Students who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements may submit GRE scores to receive further consideration.

Once enrolled in the accelerated program, students must meet the standards of performance applicable to graduate students as described in the “Satisfactory academic progress” section of the Graduate Bulletin, including maintaining a 3.0 GPA. Guidance to students admitted to the accelerated program is provided by both the undergraduate political science adviser and the faculty adviser to the graduate program.

Admission to the graduate program

Entrance to the accelerated program enables the student to take the approved shared courses that will apply to the undergraduate and graduate degrees. However, entry into an accelerated program via an approved Accelerated Program Declaration Form does not constitute application or admission into the graduate program. Admission to the graduate program requires a separate step that occurs through a formal application to the master’s program, which is submitted through Graduate Admissions no later than a semester prior to graduation with the baccalaureate degree, that is, before the end of the fall semester of the senior year. In order to continue pursuing the master’s degree after the baccalaureate degree is conferred, accelerated students must follow the admission to graduate study requirements outlined in the VCU Bulletin.

Degree requirements

The Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree will be awarded upon completion of a minimum of 120 credits and the satisfactory completion of all undergraduate degree requirements as stated in the Undergraduate Bulletin.

A maximum of 12 graduate credits may be taken prior to completion of the baccalaureate degree. These graduate credits may be used to satisfy required major electives or open elective credits for the undergraduate degree. These courses are shared credits with the graduate program, meaning that they will be applied to both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.

The graduate public administration courses that may be taken as an undergraduate, once a student is admitted to the program, are:

Recommended course sequence/plan of study

What follows is the recommended plan of study for students interested in the accelerated program beginning in the fall of the junior year prior to admission to the accelerated program in the senior year.

Accelerated B.A. and M.P.H.

The accelerated B.A. and M.P.H. program allows academically talented students to earn both the B.A. in Political Science (non-concentration and concentration in civil rights; comparative politics; human security; international relations; political theory and methodology; public policy and administration; or U.S. government) and Master of Public Health, in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of the undergraduate program. Students in the program may count up to 12 hours of graduate courses toward both the B.A. and M.P.H. degrees. Thus, the two degrees may be earned with a minimum of 153 credits rather than the 165 credits necessary if the two degrees are pursued separately.

Students holding these degrees will be  prepared to lead at the intersection of policy and community well-being. Through interdisciplinary coursework and applied learning, students gain the skills to navigate complex political systems, analyze and shape public policies, and advocate for evidence-based solutions that advance population health. Graduates are equipped to address pressing public health needs and drive meaningful policy change in government, nonprofits, and public health organizations

Entrance to the accelerated program

Interested undergraduate students should consult with their adviser as early as possible to receive specific information about the accelerated program, determine academic eligibility and submit (no later than two semesters prior to graduating with a baccalaureate degree, that is, before the end of the spring semester of their junior year) an Accelerated Program Declaration Form to be approved by the graduate program director. Space may be limited and academically qualified students may not receive approval if capacity has been reached.

Minimum qualifications for entrance to the accelerated program include completion of 90 undergraduate credit hours including (POLI 320 with a grade of B or better) an overall GPA of 3.0; and a GPA of 3.0 in political science course work.

Once enrolled in the accelerated program, students must meet the standards of performance applicable to graduate students as described in the “Satisfactory academic progress” section of the Bulletin, including maintaining a 3.0 GPA. Guidance to students in the accelerated program is provided by both the undergraduate political science adviser and the M.P.H. education administrator.

Admission to the graduate program

Entrance to the accelerated program enables students to take the approved shared courses that will apply to the undergraduate and graduate degrees. However, entry into the accelerated program via an approved Accelerated Program Declaration Form does not constitute application or admission into the graduate program. Admission to the graduate program requires a separate step that occurs through a formal application. In order to continue pursuing the master’s degree after the baccalaureate degree is conferred, accelerated students must follow the admission to graduate study requirements outlined in the VCU Bulletin.

Degree requirements

The Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree will be awarded upon completion of a minimum of 120 credits and the satisfactory completion of all undergraduate degree requirements as stated in the Undergraduate Bulletin.

A maximum of 12 graduate credits may be taken prior to completion of the baccalaureate degree. The graduate credits count as 12 credits of elective coursework for the undergraduate degree. The courses are shared credits with the graduate program, meaning they will be applied to both undergraduate and graduate degree requirements.

The graduate public health courses that may be taken as an undergraduate, once a student is admitted to the program, are:

Recommended course sequence/plan of study

The recommended plan of study is general to the B.A. in Political Science, all concentrations, and the Master of Public Health with a concentration in health policy.