This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.valdosta.edu.

Selected Educational Outcomes

  1. Political science majors will demonstrate the requisite knowledge of the US Constitution and the American political system, including an understanding of the structure and workings of the federal as well as state governments (including Georgia), enabling them to become informed and responsible citizens.
  2. Political science majors will exhibit an understanding of the fundamental concepts of politics and gain significant knowledge of global political issues and interrelationships between nations.
  3. Political science majors will show competence in various methods of political analysis and become capable of conducting and presenting original, empirical political science research.
  4. Political science majors will demonstrate the ability to engage in critical analysis and to communicate research findings to an audience.

Examples of Outcome Assessments

  1. Mastery of the material in all required and elective courses in the political science major. As each level serves as a foundation for higher levels, mastery of the core material is requisite to mastery of the major. Outcome #1 is met by successful completion of these courses.
  2. Completion of the capstone experience certifies that a major has met outcomes #2, #3, and #4.
  3. Information from published surveys of students’ opinions and alumni perceptions of VSU programs and services, as well as information from alumni surveys conducted by the Department of Political Science.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Major in Political Science

Core Curriculum60
Core Curriculum Areas A-E (See VSU Core Curriculum)42
Core Curriculum Area F
Principles of Logic and Argumentation
Introduction to Political Science
and Introduction to Global Issues
Foreign Language and Culture
If a student has taken any of the above courses to meet requirements in other areas of the Core Curriculum, credit hours must be taken from the following list of courses: PHIL 2010, all other Area E Courses
Senior College Curriculum60
Courses required for the Major 1
POLS 3100
POLS 4100
ENGL 3030
Scope and Methods of Political Science
and Political Science Capstone Course
and Writing for the Legal and Social Science Professions
9
Select one of the following;3
Social and Political Philosophy
Ethics and Public Policy
Ethics and Public Administration
Political Science Courses--Select 27 hours from the following; at least 12 hours must be in one Concentration Area27
American Government
American State and Local Government and Politics
United States Congress
Elections, Voting Behavior, and Political Parties
Political Psychology
Public Opinion and Political Socialization
African American Politics
The American Presidency
Separation of Powers in the American Political System
Southern Politics
Directed Study in Political Science
Special Topics in U.S. Government and Politics
Internship in Political Science
Comparative Politics
Comparative Politics
European Politics
Politics in Russia
Latin American Politics
African Politics
Politics in Developing Nations
Comparative Constitutional Law and Judicial Politics
Constitutional Law and Judicial Politics of the European Union
Comparative Environmental Politics and Policy
Directed Study in Political Science
Special Topics in Comparative Politics
Special Topics in EU Politics
International Relations
International Relations
European Politics
The European Union
International Organization and Law
American Foreign Policy
Global Security Policy
National Security Administration and Policy
Model United Nations
Model UN II: Negotiation and Diplomacy
Directed Study in Political Science
Special Topics in EU Politics
Special Topics in International Politics
Public Law
American Judicial Process and Behavior
American Constitutional Law I
American Constitutional Law II
American Constitutional Law III
Administrative Law and Government
Politics and the Supreme Court
Trial Advocacy
Trail Advocacy II
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Directed Study in Political Science
Political Theory
Introduction to Political Philosophy
American Political Thought
Directed Study in Political Science
Special Topics in Political Theory
Public Administration
Introduction to Public Administration
Public Administration and Public Policy Formation
National Security Administration and Policy
Comparative Environmental Politics and Policy
Government Organization and Administrative Theory
Public Personnel Administration
Public Finance Administration
Urban Politics and Administration
Intergovernmental Relations
Quality Management in Public Administration
Directed Study in Political Science
Special Topics in Public Administration
Minor and/or Elective Courses 21
Must include at least 6 hours of courses numbered 3000 or above in a single discipline outside of political science.
Total hours required for the degree120

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Major in Political Science -- International Studies Track

Core Curriculum
Core Curriculum Areas A-E42
Area F18
POLS 2401Introduction to Global Issues3
Select two of the following:6
Introduction to Anthropology
World Regional Geography
History of Civilization III
Principles of Macroeconomics
Foreign Languages and Cultures9
Senior College Curriculum60
Required Courses15
POLS 3300Comparative Politics3
POLS 3400International Relations3
Select one of the following:3
European Politics
The European Union
Politics in Russia
Latin American Politics
African Politics
Politics in Developing Nations
POLS 3100Scope and Methods of Political Science3
POLS 4100Political Science Capstone Course3
Additional Courses27
(Students may take three additional international POLS courses and one EURO course. Up to 6 hours can be satisfied through pre-approved study abroad courses.)
International POLS Courses3-9
International Organization and Law
American Foreign Policy
Global Security Policy
Model United Nations
Model UN II: Negotiation and Diplomacy
Comparative Environmental Politics and Policy
EURO Course0-3
Introduction to the EU
European Union Law and Legal Systems
Federalism and Multilevel Governance in the EU
Doing Business in the EU
European Monetary Union
European Union Science and Technology Policy
European Union Environmental Policy
European Social Policy
Communications and Media in the European Union
European Union Foreign Policy
United States-European Union Relations
Electives18
Select six of the following, but no more than two from the same department:
Africa: Inequalities Past and Present
International Economics
World Literature III: The Development of Modern Thought
European Geography
Geography of the Middle East
Europe Since 1945
Slavic Europe Since 1815
World Military History Since 1618
Modern Latin America
History of the Middle East Since 1798
Buddhism
Hinduism
Islam
Population Problems
Global Feminism
General Electives18
Total Hours required for the degree120

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Major in Political Science -- Pre-Law Track

Core Curriculum60
Core Curriculum Areas A-E42
Area F18
PHIL 2020Principles of Logic and Argumentation3
POLS 2101Introduction to Political Science3
POLS 2401Introduction to Global Issues3
Foreign Languages and Cultures9
Senior College Curriculum60
Required Courses15
POLS 3100Scope and Methods of Political Science3
POLS 3240American Judicial Process and Behavior3
POLS 4100Political Science Capstone Course3
ENGL 3030Writing for the Legal and Social Science Professions3
Select four of the following courses:12
American Constitutional Law I
American Constitutional Law II
American Constitutional Law III
Administrative Law and Government
Politics and the Supreme Court
Constitutional Law and Judicial Politics of the European Union
International Organization and Law
Special Topics in U.S. Government and Politics
Select three of the following courses:9
Criminal Law
Special Topics in Criminal Justice
American Legal History
Business Entities
Health Care Law
Select two of the following courses:6
American State and Local Government and Politics
United States Congress
Elections, Voting Behavior, and Political Parties
Political Psychology
Public Opinion and Political Socialization
African American Politics
The American Presidency
American Political Thought
Southern Politics
Special Topics in U.S. Government and Politics
Directed Study in Political Science
Select one of the following courses:3
Comparative Politics
European Politics
Politics in Russia
Latin American Politics
African Politics
Politics in Developing Nations
Comparative Constitutional Law and Judicial Politics
Constitutional Law and Judicial Politics of the European Union
Select one of the following courses:3
International Relations
European Politics
The European Union
International Organization and Law
American Foreign Policy
Global Security Policy
National Security Administration and Policy
Model United Nations
Model UN II: Negotiation and Diplomacy
Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism
Special Topics in EU Politics
Special Topics in International Politics
Directed Study in Political Science
Minor / Electives12
Total Hours required for the degree120