Home > College of Arts and Sciences > Department of Political Science

Political Science Department

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

    Core Curriculum Areas A-E
    See VSU Core Curriculum
    42 hours needed
    Core Curriculum Area F
    Course Name
    Total Hours Required 18
    PHIL 2020 Principles and Logic of Argumentation
    3 hours
    POLS 2101 Introduction to Political Science
    3 hours
    POLS 2401 Introduction to Global Issues
    3 hours
    Foreign Language and Culture ---------------------
    9 hours
    PHIL 2010 Fundamentals of Philosophy
    0-3 hours
    All other Area E Course  ---------------------
    0-9 hours
         

    Senior College Curriculum 
    Course Name
    Total Hours Required 60
    POLS 3100 Scope and Methods of Political Science
    3 hours
    POLS 4100 
    or
    POLS 4900    		 Political Science Research Paper
    or
    Internship in Political Science
    3 hours
    Political Science Courses numbered 3000 or above (At least three of eight upper division courses for the major must be 4000 - level courses)
    24 hours
    Math 2620 
    or
    CS 1000    		 Statistical Methods 
    or
    Introduction to Microcomputers
    3 hours
    ENGL 3030 Writing for Legal and Social Science
    3 hours
    ARAP 1100, 
    COMM 1050,
    MUSC 2400, 
    or 
    PHIL 2010    		 Introduction To The Visual Arts
    Human Communication
    Introduction to Music
    or
    Fundamentals of Philosophy
    3 hours
    Minor and/or Elective Courses
    (must include at least 6 hours of courses numbered 3000 or above in a single discipline outside of Political Science)
    21 hours
    Total Hours for the Political Science Program
    120 Hours

The Department assesses the extent to which the program requirements create the desired outcomes by using a variety of techniques. Examples of these assessments  (and related educational outcomes) include the following:

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 outcome #2, #3, and #4.

3. An Undergraduate Political Science Major Exit Questionnaire administered to majors by their advisors at the time the majors "check out" for graduation.

4. Information from the published surveys of students' opinions and alumni  perceptions of VSU programs and services conducted by the Office of Institutional Research Planning as well as information from alumni surveys conducted by the Department of Political Science.