Selected Educational Outcomes
- 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.
- 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.
- Political science majors will show competence in various methods of political analysis and become capable of conducting and presenting original, empirical political science research.
- Political science majors will demonstrate the ability to engage in critical analysis and to communicate research findings to an audience.
Examples of Outcome Assessments
- 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.
- Completion of the capstone experience certifies that a major has met outcomes #2, #3, and #4.
- 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
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | 60 | |
| Core IMPACTS (See VSU Core Curriculum) | 42 | |
| Core Field of Study | 18 | |
| PHIL 2020 | Principles of Logic and Argumentation | 3 |
| POLS 2101 & POLS 2401 | Introduction to Political Science and Introduction to Global Issues | 6 |
| Foreign Language and Culture | 6 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| History of Civilization I | ||
or HIST 1011H | 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 Curriculum | 60 | |
| Required Courses 1 | 15 | |
| POLS 3100 & POLS 4100 | Scope and Methods of Political Science and Political Science Capstone Course | 6 |
| POLS 3000 | Writing in Political Science | 3 |
| 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 Courses | 27 | |
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 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 degree | 120 | |
- 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
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Core IMPACTS (See VSU Core Curriculum) | 42 | |
| Core Field of Study | 18 | |
| PHIL 2020 | Principles of Logic and Argumentation | 3 |
| POLS 2101 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| POLS 2401 | Introduction to Global Issues | 3 |
| Foreign Language and Culture | 6 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| History of Civilization I | ||
or HIST 1011H | Honors History of Civilization I | |
| Race, Class, and Gender | ||
or WGST 2020 | ||
| Introduction to Geography | ||
| World Regional Geography | ||
| Introduction to Social Problems | ||
| Senior College Curriculum | 60 | |
| Required Courses | 15 | |
| POLS 3100 | Scope and Methods of Political Science | 3 |
| POLS 4100 | Political Science Capstone Course | 3 |
| POLS 3000 | Writing in Political Science | 3 |
| or ENGL 3030 | Writing for the Legal and Social Science Professions | |
| POLS 3300 | Comparative Politics | 3 |
| 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 electives | 21 | |
| 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 Electives | 6 | |
| United States Congress | ||
| Elections, Voting Behavior, and Political Parties | ||
| Political Psychology | ||
| Public Opinion and Political Socialization | ||
| The American Presidency | ||
| Minor and/or Elective Courses | 18 | |
| Total Hours required for the degree | 120 | |
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Major in Political Science -- Pre-Law Track
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | 60 | |
| Core IMPACTS (See VSU Core Curriculum) | 42 | |
| Core Field of Study | 18 | |
| PHIL 2020 | Principles of Logic and Argumentation | 3 |
| POLS 2101 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| POLS 2401 | Introduction to Global Issues | 3 |
| Foreign Languages and Cultures | 6 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| History of Civilization I | ||
or HIST 1011H | Honors History of Civilization I | |
| Race, Class, and Gender | ||
or WGST 2020 | ||
| Introduction to Geography | ||
| World Regional Geography | ||
| Introduction to Social Problems | ||
| Senior College Curriculum | 60 | |
| Required Courses | 12 | |
| POLS 3100 | Scope and Methods of Political Science | 3 |
| POLS 3240 | American Judicial Process and Behavior | 3 |
| POLS 4100 | Political Science Capstone Course | 3 |
| POLS 3000 | Writing in Political Science | 3 |
| 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 Electives | 18 | |
| Total Hours required for the degree | 120 | |
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
- must have completed the courses listed below and have earned a minimum grade of B (or course equivalent),
- acquired a cumulative VSU GPA of 3.0 or higher;
- submit a personal statement not to exceed 5 pages describing how the program will assist the students to achieve their goals;
- 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
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | 60 | |
| Core IMPACTS (See VSU Core Curriculum) | 42 | |
| Core Field of Study | 18 | |
| PHIL 2020 | Principles of Logic and Argumentation | 3 |
| POLS 2101 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| POLS 2401 | Introduction to Global Issues | 3 |
| Foreign Language and Culture | 9 | |
| 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 Curriculum | 60 | |
| Courses Required for the Major | 9 | |
| Writing in Political Science | ||
or ENGL 3030 | Writing for the Legal and Social Science Professions | |
| Scope and Methods of Political Science | ||
| Political Science Capstone Course | ||
| PADM 7300 | Foundations 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 | ||
or PADM 7350 | Intergovernmental Management | |
| Public Administration and Public Policy Formation | ||
or PADM 7600 | Public Policy Formation | |
| Government Organization and Administrative Theory | ||
or PADM 7170 | Organizational Theory and Behavior | |
| Public Personnel Administration | ||
or PADM 7000 | Human Resource Management | |
| Public Finance Administration | ||
or PADM 7140 | Governmental Budgeting and Finance | |
| Nonprofit Organization Management | ||
or PADM 7040 | Non-Profit Management | |
| Select 4 other POLS senior-level undergraduate courses | 12 | |
| Minor and/or elective courses | 21 | |
| Total Hours Required for the Degree | 120 | |
