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Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2023-2024

Political Science

College of Humanities and Sciences

Concentration(s):
Civil Rights, Comparative Politics, Human Security, International Relations, Political Theory and Methodology, Politics and Government, Public Policy and Administration, U.S. Government
Program description

Political science is the systematic study of institutions, behavior and ideas in order to further our understanding and explanation of government and politics at the local, state, national and international levels. The discipline has a rich history that bridges the present with the past and future, is pluralistic in its modes of inquiry and adopts a critical approach that makes use of qualitative and quantitative analytic methods.


The Department of Political Science uses its unique position on an urban campus located in the state capital and just a short distance from Washington, D.C. to provide our students with transformative learning experiences that promote active and engaged citizenship, domestically and globally. We integrate our teaching with cutting-edge scholarship that advances the boundaries of the discipline and meaningfully impacts public debate and policy.

Career opportunities

A bachelor’s degree in political science can lead to exciting careers in federal, state and local governments; law; business; international organizations; nonprofit associations and organizations; campaign management and polling; journalism; precollegiate education; electoral politics; research; and university- and college-level teaching.

Change of major requirements

There are no specific requirements to declare, but it is highly recommended that students speak with a political science advisor by emailing poliadvisor@vcu.edu before or soon after the major is declared.

Bachelor-level job titles
  • Compliance officer
  • Equal opportunity representative
  • Fundraiser
  • Insurance adjuster, examiner and investigator
  • Intelligence analyst
  • Legislator
  • Municipal clerk
  • Paralegal and legal assistant
  • Risk management specialist
  • Staff and legislative assistant
Graduate and professional level job titles
  • Attorney
  • Diplomat
  • Government Agency Administrator
  • Policy Advisor
Professional associations and resources
Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • Quantitative Foundations requirement only
Science required
  • Natural Sciences requirement only
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0+ cumulative GPA, 2.0+ major GPA
Transfer Maps

Contact information

Department name:
Department of Political Science
Building/room location:
Founders Hall, 827 West Franklin Street, Room 301
Email:
poliadvisor@vcu.edu
http://politicalscience.vcu.edu/
Campus (where 75% of courses are taken):
Monroe Park
Major map compass icon
Major map

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
  • Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
  • Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
  • Seek research opportunities by applying for research funding through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
  • Set up a profile in the Student Opportunity Center to explore REAL opportunities.
  • Start keeping a career document, or a journal of ideas, questions and interests, and keep adding to this as you explore possible careers so you can have a record of what you have learned and what you still want to find out.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Explore innovation and business/non-profit creation classes with the da Vinci Center.
  • Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
  • Schedule an appointment with your advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.
  • Talk to professors about your research interests, electives, and strategies for success in your classes.
  • Get to know your political science librarian for research and papers in upper level political science classes.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty.
  • If living on campus, join the Residence Hall Association.
  • Learn about the Sophomore Year Experience in Cary & Belvedere.
  • Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit.
  • Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities.
  • Join a political/community organization, such as one of 450 student clubs and organizations.
  • Attend public events hosted by political science and promoted in its weekly newsletter to majors and minors and by @VCUPOLI on Facebook, @vcu_poli on Instagram, or @VCU_POLI on Twitter.
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
  • Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
  • Explore global career options with a career advisor to set goals for getting your dream job.
  • Organize examples of your academic and professional experiences, accomplishments, and reflections in an ePortfolio.
  • Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value.
  • Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.
  • Build academic and transferable skills in time-management, writing, and more at the Campus Learning Center.
  • Familiarize yourself with internship opportunities by requesting information from the political science department's internship director.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation.
  • Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest.
  • Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships.
  • Meet with a coach in the Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
  • Consider joining the Pre-Law Society at VCU.
  • Start conversations with faculty about areas of interest, collecting their insights, recommendations, and resources.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
  • See your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning.
  • Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help.
  • Talk to your political science advisor about how best to utilize open electives.
  • Finish general education and language requirements while starting to take more upper level electives and major courses.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Build language proficiency and cultural competence by carrying out your plans for study abroad, internships, and service-learning.
  • Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals.
  • Get required REAL experience and effect community change by using iExcel’s Active Citizen’s Toolkit to vote and volunteer.
  • Prepare for future work on multidisciplinary and multicultural teams by showcasing your interpersonal skills on your resume.
  • Meet with your education abroad advisor and study abroad if you can.
  • Take courses in political science (and other departments) that expand your understanding of other cultures and ask your professors and advisors to help you identify suitable courses.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience.
  • Get expert advice from VCU Alumni ranging from graduate school to your career simply by asking a question through Ask A Ram.
  • Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through InterviewStream or meeting with a career advisor.
  • Consider presenting at the VCU Political Science Undergraduate Research Conference.
  • Submit an application to VCU’s Capitol Semester program to work at the Virginia General Assembly for academic credit.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship.
  • Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
  • Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year. 
  • Continue conversations with faculty about your interests and build relationships with professors who could write letters of recommendation for graduate school and job applications.

Excel
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met.
  • Complete your senior capstone, POLI 490 Senior Seminar.
  • Meet with your political science advisor to learn whether you already have enough credits that put you close to completing a minor that would complement your political science major.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners.
  • Master your answers to interview questions about your experience working with diverse populations.
  • Plan for how you will grow your cultural agility after graduation.
  • Read scholarly articles about diversity in your field.
  • Get involved with VCU’s Model UN group.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
  • Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services. 
  • Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities.
  • Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
  • Research prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy eight months before graduation.
  • Talk to your professors about life after college and, if you plan to request letters of recommendation, give at least two weeks’ notice before the application deadline.
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2023-2024

Political Science

College of Humanities and Sciences

Concentration(s):
Civil Rights, Comparative Politics, Human Security, International Relations, Political Theory and Methodology, Politics and Government, Public Policy and Administration, U.S. Government
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
  • Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
  • Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
  • Seek research opportunities by applying for research funding through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
  • Set up a profile in the Student Opportunity Center to explore REAL opportunities.
  • Start keeping a career document, or a journal of ideas, questions and interests, and keep adding to this as you explore possible careers so you can have a record of what you have learned and what you still want to find out.
Experience Year 2
  • Explore innovation and business/non-profit creation classes with the da Vinci Center.
  • Get familiar with the research process with the VCU Libraries Research Basics Guide.
  • Schedule an appointment with your advisor to explore minors, certificates, and plan your required REAL experience.
  • Talk to professors about your research interests, electives, and strategies for success in your classes.
  • Get to know your political science librarian for research and papers in upper level political science classes.
  • Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty.
  • If living on campus, join the Residence Hall Association.
  • Learn about the Sophomore Year Experience in Cary & Belvedere.
  • Take a service-learning class to get involved with local organizations while earning credit.
  • Volunteer to address a social issue and check out Hands on Greater Richmond for opportunities.
  • Join a political/community organization, such as one of 450 student clubs and organizations.
  • Attend public events hosted by political science and promoted in its weekly newsletter to majors and minors and by @VCUPOLI on Facebook, @vcu_poli on Instagram, or @VCU_POLI on Twitter.
  • Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
  • Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
  • Explore global career options with a career advisor to set goals for getting your dream job.
  • Organize examples of your academic and professional experiences, accomplishments, and reflections in an ePortfolio.
  • Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value.
  • Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.
  • Build academic and transferable skills in time-management, writing, and more at the Campus Learning Center.
  • Familiarize yourself with internship opportunities by requesting information from the political science department's internship director.
  • Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation.
  • Build a resume and LinkedIn profile with help from VCU Career Services, make at least 10 connections, and check out the VCU alumni career programs page.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest.
  • Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships.
  • Meet with a coach in the Financial Success Center to set financial goals, understand student loans, and create spending plans.
  • Consider joining the Pre-Law Society at VCU.
  • Start conversations with faculty about areas of interest, collecting their insights, recommendations, and resources.
Year 3
  • Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
  • See your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning.
  • Take a virtual library tour to learn about library spaces, services, and research help.
  • Talk to your political science advisor about how best to utilize open electives.
  • Finish general education and language requirements while starting to take more upper level electives and major courses.
  • Build language proficiency and cultural competence by carrying out your plans for study abroad, internships, and service-learning.
  • Explore new cultures at one of Richmond’s wide array of festivals.
  • Get required REAL experience and effect community change by using iExcel’s Active Citizen’s Toolkit to vote and volunteer.
  • Prepare for future work on multidisciplinary and multicultural teams by showcasing your interpersonal skills on your resume.
  • Meet with your education abroad advisor and study abroad if you can.
  • Take courses in political science (and other departments) that expand your understanding of other cultures and ask your professors and advisors to help you identify suitable courses.
  • Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience.
  • Get expert advice from VCU Alumni ranging from graduate school to your career simply by asking a question through Ask A Ram.
  • Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through InterviewStream or meeting with a career advisor.
  • Consider presenting at the VCU Political Science Undergraduate Research Conference.
  • Submit an application to VCU’s Capitol Semester program to work at the Virginia General Assembly for academic credit.
  • Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship.
  • Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
  • Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year. 
  • Continue conversations with faculty about your interests and build relationships with professors who could write letters of recommendation for graduate school and job applications.
Excel Year 4
  • Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met.
  • Complete your senior capstone, POLI 490 Senior Seminar.
  • Meet with your political science advisor to learn whether you already have enough credits that put you close to completing a minor that would complement your political science major.
  • Carry out globally-oriented research projects with multilingual faculty and international partners.
  • Master your answers to interview questions about your experience working with diverse populations.
  • Plan for how you will grow your cultural agility after graduation.
  • Read scholarly articles about diversity in your field.
  • Get involved with VCU’s Model UN group.
  • Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
  • Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services. 
  • Prepare for graduation by making a plan to complete licensing exams, applications, and self-marketing activities.
  • Single out prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy at least 8 months before graduation.
  • Research prospective employers and create a job or graduate school search strategy eight months before graduation.
  • Talk to your professors about life after college and, if you plan to request letters of recommendation, give at least two weeks’ notice before the application deadline.