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.

• Earn a minimum GPA of 2.5 for your associate degree.

• Earn grades of “C” or higher in all community college courses. VCU will accept credit for repeated courses for “D” or “F” grades.

Important Links & Dates

• University Transfer Center: https://transfer.vcu.edu/.

• Admission Application: By March 15 for fall admission and November 1 for spring at https://www.vcu.edu/admissions/apply/.

• Financial Aid: https://semss.vcu.edu/our-services/financial-resources-and-guidance/.

• FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid: March 1 for fall semester at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

What Should I Consider When Selecting Courses?

• Complete your English courses and start your math sequence in your first year.

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

• Connect with an advisor at your community college and the VCU Transfer Center (https://transfer.vcu.edu/) in your first semester.

Is This Degree Right For Me?

• 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 political process and government of the United States, comparative studies of government and politics, international relations, theories of politics and government, and research methods. 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, lobbying, consulting, risk analysis, and diplomacy.

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

• Associate Transfer Degree Completion: The completion of a transfer associate degree results in all lower-division general education requirements being met when you transfer to VCU.

• Dual Enrollment – Completion of Associate Degree in HS: The completion of an associate degree concurrent with high school results in 60 credits of coursework applied towards your degree and VCU’s general education courses will be satisfied. High school students must apply to VCU as freshman applicants for orientation and engagement purposes.

• Credit for Prior Learning: VCU accepts AP, IB, Cambridge, CLEP, DANTES, and military credits.

• Catalog Year: VCU will honor the degree requirements of the VCU Undergraduate Bulletin in effect at the time of the student’s first post-high school enrollment into an appropriate associate degree at the two-year institution. Students must stay enrolled at their community college and take no more than four years to complete their associate degree. Students must also enroll at VCU within one year of completing their associate degree.

Is This College Right For Me?

• Located in downtown Richmond, within two hours of the beach, the mountains and Washington DC, VCU provides top-ranked academic programs, research opportunities and an urban setting so students can live and learn in the real world.

• VCU is a large, public research institution dedicated to the success and well-being of students and the Richmond community.

• Diversity, inclusion and equity are deeply ingrained core values at VCU. If you are looking to connect with a broad range of people, come join us!

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

Did You Know That…

• Completing your associate transfer degree satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the likelihood you will complete your bachelor’s degree?

• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college could exhaust your financial aid there and reduce your future financial aid at VCU?

What Can I Do With This Degree?

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

Program Successes & Highlights

• The Department of Political Science offers unique courses and opportunities that help students gain firsthand experience and pursue meaningful research projects on issues they care about. In the Political Campaigns and Communication course, for example, students travel to New Hampshire to meet with presidential candidates and volunteer for candidate campaigns. Meanwhile, students in the department’s Diplomacy Lab work with State Department officials to research a real-world problem affecting U.S. foreign policy and make recommendations directly to diplomats and policy makers in foreign governments. Faculty affiliations with the Institute for Democracy, Pluralism, and Community Empowerment and the Institute for Sustainable Energy and Environment open doors for students interested in community empowerment, political engagement, social justice, the environment, and energy. Recent students have also created nonprofit organizations, traveled abroad to study in Kenya, Italy, and Australia, conducted field research with professors, presented co-authored research articles at major conferences, participated in podcasts, and even published their work in prominent periodicals.

What Are My Chances For Getting Accepted?

• If you apply through general application instead of through the Guaranteed Admission Agreement, you will be considered for admission with all other transfer applicants.

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

Do More With Your Degree!

• VCU’s 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. This means field trips, research opportunities, and hands-on service learning are the norm for the department. Students can also apply for the Virginia Capitol Semester program where students work directly in the office of a Virginia Delegate or Senator during the General Assembly. The department also offers dedicated support, mentoring, and programming to help students apply for internships, jobs, and graduate school.

Other Than Classes, Are There Other Program Requirements?

• All students must complete at least one VCU “REAL” experiential learning activity in order to graduate from VCU. Examples of REAL activities include: internships, research, and service learning. This requirement may be satisfied by completing a 300-level (or higher) REAL course or through an approved REAL co-curricular experience.

• Learn more at https://real.vcu.edu/.