Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Catalog Year 2024-2026

Based on VCCS Curriculum for POLITICAL SCIENCE

Transfer Guidance

Guaranteed Admission Agreement Requirements

• Earn a transfer associate degree based on the Political Science curriculum.

• Earn a minimum of 2.0 GPA for the associate degree.

• A maximum of 63 credits will transfer and apply toward a bachelor’s degree requirements.

• Submit your transfer application for Fall admission by March 1 and for Spring admission by December 1, including an unofficial transcript.

• Request an official transcript to be sent upon completing the associate degree.

• Transfer within four years of first enrolling at the community college and within one year of completing the appropriate associate degree.

Important Links & Dates

• University Transfer Center: Transfer Admissions & Services https://www.nsu.edu/transfer

• Register Intent to Transfer: By the end of your first semester at the Community College through College Connect at www.TransferVirginia.org

• Admission Application: By May 1 at https://www.nsu.edu/Admissions-Aid/Apply-Online

• Financial Aid: https://www.nsu.edu/tuition-and-financial-aid

• FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid: By October 1 at studentaid.gov

What Should I Consider When Selecting Courses?

• Students must take 6 credits in political science electives and 15 credits in electives for political science across the university.

• Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, and complete your first math and English courses in your first year. For help, see Transfer Steps and Resource Center at www.TransferVirginia.org.

• Connect with an advisor at your community college and Norfolk State University within your first year. College Connect available in your account at www.TransferVirginia.org.

Is This Degree Right For Me?

• Grades of C or higher are required in all Political Science courses that contribute to the major.

• The B.A. in Political Science requires the completion of a capstone project, an independent research project on a topic selected by the student as a component of POS 499.

What Is The Impact On My Degree Of Work I Have Already Completed?

• Associate Transfer Degree Completion: Completion of a transfer-level associate degree satisfies all lower-division general education requirements.

• Dual Enrollment – Completion of Associate Degree in HS: The agreement of guaranteed admission into the college applies to students earning an associate degree concurrent with high school who have completed a transfer-approved degree with a minimum of 45 credits completed through a Virginia Community College, with a GPA of 2.0 or higher and that meets all requirements outlined in the Transfer Guide.

• Credit for Prior Learning: All course credits that were awarded by the two-year institution for equivalent prior learning experiences (IB, AP, CLEP, Military, etc.) will transfer based on the transfer equivalence for the course awarded.

• Catalog Year: Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance at the community college post high school graduation. For students maintaining continuous enrollment, this entitlement will be in effect for a minimum of four years from the time of the student’s first enrollment at the two-year institution. Students must enroll at the four-year institution within one year of completing their associate degree.

Is This College Right For Me?

• NSU has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the Top 20 HBCUs in the nation.

• It is close to downtown Norfolk and within driving distance of Virginia Beach.

• On-campus housing is available.

• Weekend/evening/summer courses are available, and online degree options are available for several programs.

• NSU is a military-friendly institution.

• Learn more about our college at www.TransferVirginia.org.

Did You Know That…

• Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor’s degree?

• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at NSU?

What Can I Do With This Degree?

• This degree is designed to fulfill a wide range of career goals in the field of Political Science. Career areas of interest include the following: American Politics, Public Administration, International Relations, Pre-Law and Urban Planning. For further information regarding areas of interest, please contact the department.

• Explore possible careers, salaries, and job outlook at www.TransferVirginia.org.

Program Successes & Highlights

• To increase students’ preparedness for specific career goals, the department offers five career areas of interest: Law, Public Administration, Urban Planning, U.S. Politics and Theory, and International Relations.

• Students are encouraged to work closely with their advisor prior to taking courses in the career areas of interest. Twelve (12) credit hours are needed to fulfill the requirements for each career area of interest.

What Are My Chances For Getting Accepted?

• NSU accepts close to 90 percent of students who complete an application.

• The average GPA of students admitted is a 2.9.

• Learn more about applying at www.TransferVirginia.org.

Do More With Your Degree!

• In addition to the pre-law concentration, the department has just launched a Certificate Program in International Studies.

Other Than Classes, Are There Other Program Requirements?

• The B.A. in Political Science requires the completion of a capstone project, an independent research project on a topic selected by the student as a component of POS 499.