Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Catalog Year 2025-2027

Based on VCCS Curriculum for POLITICAL SCIENCE

Transfer Guidance

Guaranteed Admission Agreement Requirements

• This agreement does not guarantee your enrollment in any specific major. By meeting the following criteria, you are guaranteed admission into Randolph-Macon College.

• Transfer-oriented associate degrees include the Associate of Arts (AA), the Associate of Science (AS), and the Associate of Arts & Sciences (AA&S) degrees identified by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) as university-parallel transfer degrees.

• A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher for credits earned at the degree-granting institution is required.

• Students are required to earn a C or higher in each community college course applicable to the transfer degree from a VCCS institution.

• Students must meet all requirements to earn a transfer associate degree as determined by their VCCS institution, including a minimum of 60 credits. Additionally, students who were previously enrolled at RMC and transferred back to a VCCS college to complete the transfer-oriented associate degree are not eligible for participation in this program.

• A student may receive a maximum of 75 semester hours through transfer work from two-year and four-year institutions and/or credit-by-examination (e.g., Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate). Additionally, no more than one-half of a student's major or minor coursework may be completed through transfer credit; at least one-half of the semester hours of the major or minor must be taken at Randolph-Macon.

• Please visit the www.TransferVirginia.org portal to find course requirements for different majors (Transfer Tools) and Transfer Guides that outline course requirements for specific majors. (Resource Center)

Important Links & Dates

• University Transfer Center: www.rmc.edu/transfer

• Admission Application: By June 1 for fall admission and December 1 for spring admission at www.rmc.edu/apply

• Financial Aid: www.rmc.edu/financialaid

• FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid: February 1 for fall semester at studentaid.gov

What Should I Consider When Selecting Courses?

• Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, 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 Randolph-Macon College within your first year. College Connect available in your account of www.TransferVirginia.org

Is This Degree Right For Me?

• Political science in the broadest sense is the study of the institutions of power in society. The RMC political science department strives to impart to its students knowledge and understanding of these institutions of power, the habits and skills of lifelong learning in our discipline, the ability to develop tools to interpret political activity in later life, and an appreciation of the responsibilities of citizenship in our democracy.

• The knowledge, tools, and skills learned in the political science department's courses are also intended to give students a strong foundation for graduate study in political science, public administration, law, or other disciplines and to prepare them for professional careers in public service, politics, interest group representation, business, journalism, teaching, and other professions.

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

• Associate Transfer Degree Completion: RMC divides its general education requirements into four sections: Effective Communication, The Pillars of the Liberal Arts, Cross-Area Requirements, and Wellness. Students admitted to RMC who meet the terms of this GAA or who transfer with an Associate's Degree will be granted junior status. Students will be considered as having fulfilled RMC's lower division general education requirements, with the following exclusions and exceptions: Students must complete any additional foreign language coursework necessary to satisfy the Effective Communication requirement of two consecutive courses in a foreign language or completion of a foreign language through the intermediate level (212 or 215). Students must complete the college's Cross-Area Requirements, most of which can be fulfilled through major programs and should not significantly increase the time to completion of degree. These requirements include one course that is designated as non-western, one course that is attentive to diversity and inclusion, one course that is experiential in its delivery, and one course that fulfills the collegiate capstone requirement. When applicable, students may apply courses taken for the VCCS transfer-oriented associate degree program to these remaining requirements.

• Associate Degree Concurrent with High School: This agreement is not applicable to students earning an associate degree concurrent with high school. High school students earning a concurrent associate degree will apply for admission consideration as a first-year student (not transfer student), and transfer credit will be reviewed on a course-by-course basis.

• Credit for Prior Learning: Students having earned credits through prior learning are still eligible for guaranteed admission. VCCS credit for courses completed through Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Armed Services experiences, and other prior learning assessments will not automatically be eligible for individual transfer to RMC; such courses will be evaluated according to RMC's policy on credit-by-examination.

• Catalog Year: 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. Students must complete the degree requirements in effect at the time of their matriculation at RMC.

Is This College Right For Me?

• Students enrolled at Randolph-Macon College attend classes primarily Monday-Friday between 8 am - 5 pm with very few evening courses.

• RMC is a residential college, and all students are generally required to live on campus. To learn more about the residential experience and policy for living off campus: https://www.rmc.edu/campus-life/housing-and-dining/housing/policy-for-li...

• The large majority of RMC coursework is offered in-person and on campus. A very limited selection of online courses is offered in summer sessions.

• Learn more about our college at www.rmc.edu

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 limited your future financial aid at RMC.

• 60% of transfer applicants are accepted. You have college experience, and that matters. We strive to make your transition to RMC as seamless as possible. In fact, we have been cited as a Phi Theta Kappa Honor Roll institution for our commitment to our transfer students.

• Learn more about applying at https://www.rmc.edu/admissions-and-aid/how-to-apply/.

What Can I Do With This Degree?

• An RMC political science degree provides you with a strong foundation for careers in law, public administration, election campaigns, social justice, and public service.

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

Program Successes & Highlights

• Randolph-Macon political science majors test their skills with internships at agencies and organizations at the heart of our nation's government. Students gain valuable, hands-on skills for future careers and graduate study as they engage with constituents, lobbyists and other legislators, and learn about event planning, legislative tracking, and political communication. RMC political science students recently completed internships at: U.S. Congress (offices of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate), U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Virginia General Assembly, The Hanover County (VA) General District Court.

• The Political Science department offers study-travel courses during the College's January Term to Japan (PSCI 330: Comparative Politics) and, every four years, to experience the New Hampshire presidential primary election (PSCI 306: Retail Politics).

• Students are encouraged to do one-on-one mentored research with political science faculty members. Students regularly present their research at national conferences and have also published their work in peer-reviewed journals and books.

Other Than Classes, Are There Other Program Requirements?

• Students are required to complete a capstone experience in their senior year.

• No more than one half of the courses in a major or minor can be transferred; at least one-half of the semester hours of the major or minor must be taken at Randolph-Macon.