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2020-2021

Bachelor of Arts: Political Science

VCU

Community college:
Associate of Arts: Liberal Arts (Tidewater Community College (program specific pathway))
Tidewater Community College
Tidewater Community College
Associate degree

Associate of Arts: Liberal Arts

Program description

The Department of Political Science offers a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science as well as elective courses in political science for program majors and non-majors. The political science curriculum has two central objectives. It offers the student a broad liberal arts education along with a comprehensive understanding of the nature and the functioning of the political process and government. It also provides a sound foundation for graduate study in political science, public administration and nonprofit management, or for careers that require knowledge of governance and the political process, such as law.

Career opportunities

An undergraduate degree in political science is good preparation for graduate or professional study in areas such as political science, public administration, foreign policy, law, business, and more. Maintain a high grade point average to ensure admission into a graduate or law program and/or a position within the government. Expect keen competition for federal positions. Many government jobs have strict guidelines and want to carefully match candidates' knowledge, skills, and abilities to the job description. Develop strong leadership skills; run for office in clubs and organizations in school or community. Consider military experience and training as an entryway into government jobs and public service. The Peace Corps is also a good way to enter a career in government.

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
Contact information

 

VCU Transfer Center

Telephone: (804) 827-1349

Email: transferinfo@vcu.edu

Transfer Advising Request

VCCS Transfer Planning Checklist


Office of Admissions

Telephone: (804) 828-1222 or (800) 841-3638

Email: ugrad@vcu.edu
Apply Here.

Guaranteed transfer admission requirements

Completion of associate degree
Minimum GPA of 2.5
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better

Degree requirements in Bulletin
Plan of study in Bulletin
Requirements
Highest level of math required
  • MATH 131
Science required
  • Core only
Foreign language requirements
  • Yes
Additional tuition/fees
  • No
GPA requirements (to progress/graduate in the major)
  • 2.0
VCU Major Maps

View VCU Major Map for Political science with concentration in Civil rights, political theory and methodology, human security, U.S. government, international relations, politics and government, public policy and administration, comparative politics

Transfer major map
Visit majormaps.vcu.edu for the online version with links.
Sponsored by the Office of the Provost
Major map compass icon
2020-2021

Bachelor of Arts: Political Science

Tidewater Community College (program specific pathway) (Associate of Arts: Liberal Arts)

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
  • Attend New Student Orientation.
  • Register for SDV 100.
  • Use Navigate to schedule an appointment with your advisor.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Start your math sequence and pass ENG 111-112.
  • Cultivate relationships with your professors.
  • Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
  • Browse careers related to Political Science through the Virginia Wizard.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
  • Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on the VCU website.
Experience Year 2
  • Meet with your academic advisor.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
  • Explore the VCU Political Science department website to become familiar with upcoming course offerings, syllabi and professors.
  • Research the different concentrations of VCU’s B.A. in Political Science program.
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Continue with your foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or Political Science department-related events.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • Create a draft resume and bring it to career services advisor or workshop for review.
  • Find out about VCU REAL.
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.

Explore
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Attend New Student Orientation.
  • Register for SDV 100.
  • Use Navigate to schedule an appointment with your advisor.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Start your math sequence and pass ENG 111-112.
  • Cultivate relationships with your professors.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Attend cultural events at community college and/or VCU and celebrate diversity.
  • Attend VCU’s annual Intercultural Festival or another community intercultural event.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Browse careers related to Political Science through the Virginia Wizard.
  • Explore the community college’s iGrad’s Job Genius Search Engine to look into building a career and financial future.
  • Build a LinkedIn profile.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Take a career assessment through the Virginia Wizard.
  • Assess your preparation for a career by completing a Gap Analysis.
  • Practice independent living skills (such as money management, self-care, time management, and personal responsibility).
  • Familiarize yourself with the Career Services offered at Community College and VCU and explore Career Pathways on the VCU website.

Experience
MAXIMIZE COURSE AND DEGREE PLANNING
  • Meet with your academic advisor.
  • Be prepared for academic challenges in your classes. Use tutoring resources to get ahead.
  • Research scholarship opportunities and explore your eligibility for the Two-Year College Transfer Grant.
  • Explore the VCU Political Science department website to become familiar with upcoming course offerings, syllabi and professors.
  • Research the different concentrations of VCU’s B.A. in Political Science program.
GET CONNECTED WITH YOUR COMMUNITY
DEVELOP CULTURAL AGILITY
  • Learn about short-term, semester and year-long study abroad options.
  • Continue with your foreign language to open doors to international organizations and future study.
  • Attend VCU cultural events, including the monthly Global Café, VCU Diversity Scholars in Research week, or Political Science department-related events.
EXPLORE CAREERS AND DEVELOP ESSENTIAL SKILLS
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs at community college or VCU to explore your interests.
  • Acquire career related experience (e.g., job, internship, organization involvement).
  • Create a draft resume and bring it to career services advisor or workshop for review.
  • Find out about VCU REAL.
PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
  • Conduct informational interviews or shadow someone in a field of career interest.
  • Using LinkedIn, connect to at least 10 people. Check out the VCU alumni page in My Network.
  • Consider who you would like to have serve as professional and academic references for future letters of recommendation.
  • Use the cost calculator to estimate your tuition/fees as an upperclassman at VCU.
  • Take advantage of free Financial Aid counseling.
Recommended courses
Major map compass icon
2020-2021

Bachelor of Arts: Political Science

Tidewater Community College (program specific pathway) (Associate of Arts: Liberal Arts)

Tidewater Community College (program specific pathway) courses
Course Title Equivalent course Credits Requirements
SDV 100 College Success Skills UNIV 101 1 Elective
ENG 111 College Composition I Note: students with credit for AP English Language and Composition will only receive credit for UNIV 111 at VCU and should take ENG 112 to fulfill the VCU composition requirement. UNIV 111-112 3 General education
MTH 154 Quantitative Reasoning MATH 131 3 General education
Foreign Language Beginning Foreign Language 101 VCU equivalent 4 General education
History elective Select 1: HIS 101, 102, 111, 112, 121, 122 HIST 3 General education
Humanities elective Select 1: PHI 101, 111, 220; ART 101, 102; MUS 121; CST 151; REL 230 VCU equivalent 3 General education
CST 100 Principles of Public Speaking SPCH 121 3 Elective
ENG 112 College Composition II UNIV 200 3 General education
Foreign Language Beginning Foreign Language 102 VCU equivalent 4 General education
History elective Select 1: HIS 101, 102, 111, 112, 121, 122 HIST 3 General education
Elective Transfer elective VCU equivalent 3 Elective
Humanities ENG 200-level literature (ENG 241, 242, 243, 244, 251, 252) ENGL 3 General education
Foreign Language Intermediate Foreign Language 201 or 203 VCU equivalent 3 Major
Laboratory Science Select 1: BIO 101, BIO 106, CHM 111, GOL 105, PHY 201 VCU equivalent 4 General education
Social Science PLS 211 U.S. Government I POLI 103 3 Major
SDV 198 Seminar and Project UNIV 1XX 1 Elective
Laboratory Science Select 1: BIO 101, BIO 102, BIO 106, CHM 111, CHM 112, GOL 105, PHY 201, PHY 202 VCU equivalent 4 General education
Humanities or Social Science PLS 241 International Relations I POLI 105 3 Major
Foreign Language Intermediate Foreign Language 202 or 204 VCU equivalent 3 Major
Social Science Social Science elective VCU equivalent 3 Elective
Tidewater credits transferred to VCU 60
VCU courses
Course Title Credits Requirements
POLI 107 Political Theory 3 Major
POLI 109 Comparative Politics 3 Major
POLI 490 Senior Seminar 3 Major
POLI Select upper-level Political Science concentration electives (see VCU advisor) 18 Major
Upper-level electives (300- or 400-level courses): consider a minor or a second major Note: Students must complete a minimum of 45 upper-level credits to graduate from VCU. 24 Elective
Open electives 9 Elective
Credits completed at VCU 60
Bachelor's degree total 120