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 IMPACTS (See VSU Core Curriculum)42
Core Field of Study18
PHIL 2020Principles of Logic and Argumentation3
POLS 2101
POLS 2401
Introduction to Political Science
and Introduction to Global Issues
6
Foreign Language and Culture6
Select one of the following:3
History of Civilization I
Honors History of Civilization I
Race, Class, and Gender
or WGST 2020
Introduction to Geography
World Regional Geography
Introduction to Social Problems
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 Social Sciences courses
Senior College Curriculum60
Required Courses 115
POLS 3100
POLS 4100
Scope and Methods of Political Science
and Political Science Capstone Course
6
POLS 3000Writing in Political Science3
or ENGL 3030 Writing for the Legal and Social Science Professions
Select 1 of the following;3
Introduction to Political Philosophy
Ethics and Public Policy
Ethics and Public Administration
Political Science Courses27
Select 27 hours from the following; at least 12 hours must be in one Concentration Area
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 Courses21
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
1

The grade in each POLS course taken for the major must be a “C” or better.

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

Core Curriculum
Core IMPACTS (See VSU Core Curriculum)42
Core Field of Study 18
PHIL 2020Principles of Logic and Argumentation3
POLS 2101Introduction to Political Science3
POLS 2401Introduction to Global Issues3
Foreign Language and Culture6
Select one of the following:3
History of Civilization I
Honors History of Civilization I
Race, Class, and Gender
or WGST 2020
Introduction to Geography
World Regional Geography
Introduction to Social Problems
Senior College Curriculum60
Required Courses15
POLS 3100Scope and Methods of Political Science3
POLS 4100Political Science Capstone Course3
POLS 3000Writing in Political Science3
or ENGL 3030 Writing for the Legal and Social Science Professions
POLS 3300Comparative Politics3
or POLS 3400 International Relations
Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Political Philosophy
Ethics and Public Policy
Ethics and Public Administration
International Affairs electives21
Comparative Politics
European Politics
The European Union
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
Special Topics in Comparative Politics
Special Topics in EU Politics
International Relations
International Organization and Law
American Foreign Policy
Global Security Policy
National Security Administration and Policy
Model UN II: Negotiation and Diplomacy
Comparative Environmental Politics and Policy
Special Topics in International Politics
EURO Studies
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
European Union Studies Capstone Course
General Political Science Electives6
United States Congress
Elections, Voting Behavior, and Political Parties
Political Psychology
Public Opinion and Political Socialization
The American Presidency
Minor and/or Elective Courses18
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 IMPACTS (See VSU Core Curriculum)42
Core Field of Study 18
PHIL 2020Principles of Logic and Argumentation3
POLS 2101Introduction to Political Science3
POLS 2401Introduction to Global Issues3
Foreign Languages and Cultures6
Select one of the following:3
History of Civilization I
Honors History of Civilization I
Race, Class, and Gender
or WGST 2020
Introduction to Geography
World Regional Geography
Introduction to Social Problems
Senior College Curriculum60
Required Courses12
POLS 3100Scope and Methods of Political Science3
POLS 3240American Judicial Process and Behavior3
POLS 4100Political Science Capstone Course3
POLS 3000Writing in Political Science3
or ENGL 3030 Writing for the Legal and Social Science Professions
Select 5 of the following courses:15
American Constitutional Law I
American Constitutional Law II
American Constitutional Law III
Administrative Law and Government
Politics and the Supreme Court
Special Topics in U.S. Government and Politics
Select 5 of the following courses:15
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
Business Entities
Health Care Law
Minor and General Electives18
Total Hours required for the degree120

The Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track

The Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track is an undergraduate-to-graduate degree program. Students in this track will complete up to 9 hours of graduate course work at the 7000 level in Public Administration that will count toward the completion of the undergraduate degree in Organizational Leadership. These 9 hours may then be applied toward the completion of degree requirements for the Master of Public Administration degree upon admission to the graduate program at Valdosta State University.

To be admitted to the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate degree program, students

  1. must have completed the courses listed below and have earned a minimum grade of B (or course equivalent),
  2. acquired a cumulative VSU GPA of 3.0 or higher;
  3. submit a personal statement not to exceed 5 pages describing how the program will assist the students to achieve their goals;
  4. submit to the PADM/ORGL Program Coordinator the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate application, two letters of recommendation from VSU Political Science faculty, a current resume, and a writing sample from an ORGL/POLS course to demonstrate writing skills.

Once admitted to the program, a specific course of study will be developed with the student's undergraduate advisor, as the student can take one or more graduate courses to complete the undergraduate degree (summer, fall, and/or spring terms once the student is admitted to the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate track).

Graduate courses taken as an undergraduate will count toward the student's undergraduate degree requirements but will not count toward the student's undergraduate GPA or the calculation of academic honors.

Upon admission to the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track, students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 to remain in good standing. Students who do not remain in good standing or who do not wish to continue with the track may complete the remaining requirements for the B.S. in Organization Leadership.

Successful completion of the Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track requires that the student earn a grade of B or better in all graduate-level coursework. A grade of C earned in a graduate course can still be used for credit toward the undergraduate degree, but such a grade will affect the student's graduate GPA as a grade of C creates one deficiency point at the graduate level.

Once a student graduates with the B.S. in Political Science, she/he/they must submit the VSU graduate application form to continue the M.P.A. degree.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree with a Major in Political Science
Accelerated Undergraduate-to-Graduate Track

Core Curriculum60
Core IMPACTS (See VSU Core Curriculum)42
Core Field of Study18
PHIL 2020Principles of Logic and Argumentation3
POLS 2101Introduction to Political Science3
POLS 2401Introduction to Global Issues3
Foreign Language and Culture9
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 Social Science area courses
Senior College Curriculum60
Courses Required for the Major9
Writing in Political Science
Writing for the Legal and Social Science Professions
Scope and Methods of Political Science
Political Science Capstone Course
PADM 7300Foundations Seminar in Public Administration (counts as POLS 3600)3
Select one of the following:3
Introduction to Political Philosophy
Ethics and Public Policy
Ethics and Public Administration
Select two undergraduate and two graduate courses from the following:12
American State and Local Government and Politics
Intergovernmental Management
Public Administration and Public Policy Formation
Public Policy Formation
Government Organization and Administrative Theory
Organizational Theory and Behavior
Public Personnel Administration
Human Resource Management
Public Finance Administration
Governmental Budgeting and Finance
Nonprofit Organization Management
Non-Profit Management
Select 4 other POLS senior-level undergraduate courses12
Minor and/or elective courses21
Total Hours Required for the Degree120