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Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
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2026-2027

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
  • Budget or management analyst
  • Campaign manager or organizer
  • Data/research analyst
  • Foreign Service Officer
  • Grant writer/development associate
  • Intelligence analyst
  • Legislative aide/staff assistant
  • Paralegal
  • Policy analyst
  • Public affairs/government relations associate
  • Research analyst
  • Tech or AI policy associate
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
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Review your Career Works 4 year career planning tool and start working on your milestones.
  • Complete and activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
  • Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
  • Attend one career event sponsored by Career Services.
  • Seek research opportunities by checking out the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry webpage.
  • Learn more about potential careers by using Forage in the Navigate 360 app.
  • Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
  • 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
  • Explore What Can I Do With This Major? to learn about career paths, employers, and strategies for building experience related to your field of study.
  • 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.
  • Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future.
  • Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor.
  • Connect with the Student Alumni Council to connect to VCU alumni.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
  • Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty.
  • 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.
  • Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty and apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship. Register for the VCU Globe Program and begin tracking your global leadership growth!
  • 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.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
  • Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.
  • Build a professional resume and upload it to Handshake.
  • Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
  • Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value.
  • 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
  • Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest.
  • Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation.
  • Meet with a coach at 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
  • Meet with your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning.
  • Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
  • 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.
  • Finish general education and language requirements while starting to take more upper level electives and major courses.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through Big Interview or meeting with a career advisor.
  • Update your ePortfolio.
  • Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience.
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.
  • Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services or the Writing Center.
  • Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year. 
  • Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
  • 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
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met.
  • Apply to graduate for your undergraduate degree.
  • Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
  • Complete your senior capstone in 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.
EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • 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.
  • Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
  • Fill out VCU’s First Destination Survey.
  • 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
2026-2027

Political Science

College of Humanities and Sciences

MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING EXPAND YOUR COMMUNITY EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
Explore Year 1
  • Review your Career Works 4 year career planning tool and start working on your milestones.
  • Complete and activate your Handshake profile and opt-in to industry email lists.
  • Consider applying for a federal work-study job on- or off-campus in Handshake.
  • Attend one career event sponsored by Career Services.
  • Seek research opportunities by checking out the Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry webpage.
  • Learn more about potential careers by using Forage in the Navigate 360 app.
  • Apply to be a Division of Student Affairs peer leader.
  • 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.
  • Explore What Can I Do With This Major? to learn about career paths, employers, and strategies for building experience related to your field of study.
  • 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.
  • Access your free credit report and begin making responsible credit choices to prepare for your future.
  • Make a 4-year affordability plan with your financial counselor.
  • Connect with the Student Alumni Council to connect to VCU alumni.
Experience Year 2
  • Discuss personal and professional interests with faculty.
  • 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.
  • Investigate globally-focused courses in your major by pursuing language coursework or setting language proficiency goals with advisors and faculty and apply for the Critical Languages Scholarship. Register for the VCU Globe Program and begin tracking your global leadership growth!
  • 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.
  • Complete a gap analysis with your career advisor to identify key skills required for your professional field.
  • Seek out practical experience through independent skill-building, internships, shadowing, or part-time work.
  • Build a professional resume and upload it to Handshake.
  • Attend career and internship fairs and other professional development events.
  • Pursue a digital badge to highlight the knowledge, skills, and experiences employers and graduate schools value.
  • 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.
  • Connect with alumni on VCULink for career advice, industry contacts, and meaningful professional relationships.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of professional interest.
  • Ask a faculty or staff member to be your academic and professional mentor and to provide future letters of recommendation.
  • Meet with a coach at 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
  • Meet with your academic and career advisors to discuss graduation progress and career planning.
  • Enhance your business, software, technology, and creative skills using LinkedIn Learning.
  • 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.
  • Finish general education and language requirements while starting to take more upper level electives and major courses.
  • Take advantage of mock interview opportunities through Big Interview or meeting with a career advisor.
  • Update your ePortfolio.
  • Apply for the Graduate School Mentorship Program to learn more about graduate school and the graduate student experience.
  • Make a plan with your academic, career, and faculty advisors for applying to graduate school or land a micro-internship.
  • Have a personal statement or cover letter reviewed by Career Services or the Writing Center.
  • Study for and complete any standardized exams required for graduate school the summer before senior year. 
  • Prepare for job offer negotiation by researching salaries, benefits, and other opportunities for flexibility.
  • 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
  • Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor the semester before you graduate to ensure that all graduation requirements will be met.
  • Apply to graduate for your undergraduate degree.
  • Choose REAL electives to diversify your skillset and round out your degree.
  • Complete your senior capstone in 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.
  • 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.
  • Connect with the Office of VCU Alumni Relations at Grad Fair, Grad Bash, and the VCULink Industry Network or alumni chapter.
  • Fill out VCU’s First Destination Survey.
  • 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.