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Program Overview

The Political Science Major with National Security Studies Option is a comprehensive program designed to equip students with a deep understanding of political science and national security studies. This program is offered by the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech.

Program Curriculum

The program curriculum is divided into several components:

• Degree Core Requirements:
  • PSCI/IS 1034: Introduction to International Studies and Political Science (3 credits)
  • PSCI 2014: Introduction to Political Theory (3 credits)
  • PSCI/PPE 2024: Research Methods in Political Science (3 credits)
  • Select one of the following:
    • PSCI/IS/GEOG 2054: Introduction to World Politics
    • PSCI/IS/GEOG 2064: The Global Economy and World Politics
• Required Political Science Core Elective Courses:
  • Select 9 hours of courses in Political Science, 6 of which must be at the 3000 or 4000 level
• Major Requirements:
  • Political Science Major Courses:
    • PSCI 1014: Introduction to United States Government and Politics (3 credits)
    • or PSCI 1014H: Honors Introduction to United States Government and Politics
    • PSCI/IS 1024: Comp Gov & Politics (3 credits)
    • or PSCI 1024H: Honors Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics
  • Advanced Theory and Practice in Political Science:
    • Select one of the following:
      • PSCI/PHIL 3015: Political Theory
      • PSCI/PHIL/PPE 3016: Political Theory
      • PSCI/IS 4024: Seminar in Diplomacy and Security
      • PSCI/IS 4054: Seminar in Global Political Economy
      • PSCI/IS 4064: Seminar in Global Development
      • PSCI/IS 4074: The Politics of Cybersecurity
      • PSCI/BIT/CS 4164: Future of Security: Integrative Solutions for Complex Security Systems
      • PSCI/IS/FREC 4174: Climate Change and the International Policy Framework
      • PSCI 4214: Senior Seminar in Political Behavior
      • PSCI 4314: Senior Seminar in Political Institutions
      • PSCI 4324: Senior Seminar in Constitutional Law
      • PSCI 4414: Senior Seminar in Public Administration
      • PSCI 4514: Senior Seminar in Comparative Politics
      • PSCI/IS 4614: Senior Seminar in International Relations
      • PSCI/IS 4714: Senior Seminar in Policy Analysis
      • PSCI 4724: Senior Seminar in Political Theory
      • PSCI 4754: Internship Program
      • PSCI 4974: Independent Study
      • or PSCI 4974H: Independent Study
      • PSCI 4994: Undergraduate Research
      • or PSCI 4994H: Undergraduate Research
• Requirements for the Political Science Major (National Security Studies Option):
  • National Security Studies Political Science Courses:
    • Select three of the following:
      • PSCI/IS 3104: Security Studies: Theories and Concepts
      • PSCI/IS 3114: Global Security
      • PSCI/IS 3125: Intelligence and National Security
      • PSCI/IS 3126: Intelligence and National Security
      • PSCI/IS 3134: Global Conflict and War
      • PSCI/IS 3135: Strategies of Modern Warfare
      • PSCI/IS 3136: Strategies of Modern Warfare
      • PSCI/IS 3194: Nuclear Strategy & Politics
      • PSCI 3314: Congress
      • PSCI 3324: The Presidency
      • PSCI 3564: Violent Political Change
      • PSCI/IS 3624: Foreign Policy and Diplomacy
      • PSCI/IS 3625: US-Russia Foreign Policies
      • PSCI/IS 3626: US-Russia Foreign Policies
      • PSCI/IS 3694: Far-right Violence in the United States
      • PSCI/IS 3704: National Security Strategy
      • PSCI/IS 3734: National Security
      • PSCI/IS 3795: Global Terrorism and Counterterrorism
      • PSCI/IS 3796: Global Terrorism and Counterterrorism
      • PSCI/IS 3824: European Union's Foreign and Security Policy
      • PSCI/IS 3825: European Union's Foreign Relations
      • PSCI/IS 3826: European Union's Foreign Relations
      • PSCI/IS 3834: European Security Governance
      • PSCI/IS/GEOG 3844: European Geopolitics
      • PSCI/IS 3934: NATO & European Security
      • PSCI/IS 4034: Topics in Diplomacy Lab
      • PSCI/IS 4074: The Politics of Cybersecurity
      • PSCI/IS 4734: Theories and Practices of International Conflict Management
      • PSCI/IS 4735:
      • PSCI/IS 4736: Topics in Multilateral Diplomacy Workshop
      • PSCI/IS 4744: Intelligence Analysis Workshop
  • Political Science Electives:
    • Select a minimum of 3 additional hours of courses in Political Science
  • Required Hours in National Security Related Courses:
    • Select four of the following:
      • ARBC 3274: War and Arab Culture
      • AS 4215: National Security Forces in Contemporary American Society
      • AS 4216: National Security Forces in Contemporary American Society
      • GEOG/IS/PSCI 3034: The CIA: Its Capabilities in Todays Geo-Political World
      • GEOG/GEOS 4084: Modeling with Geographic Information Systems
      • GEOG 4314: Spatial Analysis in Geographic Information Systems
      • GEOG/GEOS 4354: Introduction to Remote Sensing
      • HIST 3254: The Vietnam War
      • HIST 3374: French Empire
      • HIST 3484: Nazi Germany: History and Memory
      • HIST 3534: Modern Military History
      • HIST 3544: World War II
      • HIST 3554: Age of Globalization
      • HIST 3564: The Cold War
      • HIST 3594: The Rise of Modern Latin America
      • HIST 3644: Twentieth-Century Russia
      • HIST 3654: Arab-Israeli Conflict
      • HIST 3664: Revolutionary China
      • HUM/RLCL 3204: Multicultural Communication
      • JMC/IS 4044: International Communication
      • MGT 3804: Topics for Cadet Global Leadership Studies
      • MN 3005: Navigation and Naval Operations
      • MN 3006: Navigation and Naval Operations
      • MN 3204: Evolution of Warfare
      • MN 4204: Amphibious Warfare
      • MS 3005: Military Science III, Army Reserve Officer Training Corps
      • MS 3006: Military Science III, Army Reserve Officer Training Corps
      • RLCL/HIST/JUD 3494: The Holocaust
      • SOC 3504: Population Trends and Issues
• Free Electives:
  • Select remaining courses to complete 120 credit hour graduation requirement
• Pathways to General Education:
  • Pathways Concept 1 - Discourse:
    • Select one of the following:
      • ENGL 1105 & ENGL 1106: First-Year Writing and First-Year Writing
      • COMM 1015 & COMM 1016: Communication Skills and Communication Skills
    • Select 3 hours in Pathway 1a
  • Pathways Concept 2 - Critical Thinking in the Humanities:
    • Select 6 hours in Pathway 2
  • Pathways Concept 3 - Reasoning in the Social Sciences:
    • PSCI 1014: Introduction to United States Government and Politics
    • or PSCI 1014H: Honors Introduction to United States Government and Politics
    • PSCI/IS 1024: Comp Gov & Politics
    • or PSCI 1024H: Honors Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics
  • Pathways Concept 4 - Reasoning in the Natural Sciences:
    • Select 6 hours in Pathway 4
  • Pathways Concept 5 - Quantitative and Computational Thinking:
    • Select 6 hours in Pathway 5f
    • Select 3 hours in Pathway 5a
  • Pathways Concept 6 - Critique and Practice in Design and the Arts:
    • Select 6 credits: 3 design + 3 arts, or 6 integrated design & arts
  • Pathways Concept 7 - Critical Analysis of Identity and Equity in the United States:
    • PSCI 1014: Introduction to United States Government and Politics
    • or PSCI 1014H: Honors Introduction to United States Government and Politics

Satisfactory Progress

To proceed satisfactorily toward a degree, a student must complete PSCI 1014 Introduction to United States Government and Politics, PSCI 1024 Comp Gov & Politics, and PSCI 2024 Research Methods in Political Science by the end of the semester in which 60 hours have been attempted; must maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.0 and must maintain an in-major GPA of 2.0.

Graduation Requirements

Hours Requirement

A total of 120 hours is required to graduate with a Political Science degree.

In Major GPA

All of the courses used in the degree core, major, and option requirements are included in the in-major GPA. The overall and in-major GPAs required for graduation are 2.0.

Free Electives

Hours not required by the Pathways General Education or the major are “free electives” and may be taken anywhere in the university.

Prerequisites

Some courses required for the major have pre-/co-requisite and/or enrollment requirements. Please refer to the Undergraduate Course Catalog or consult your advisor for information about pre-/co-requisite and enrollment requirements.

Regarding Double Majors and Minors

The Department of Political Science offers majors in Political Science, International Studies, International Relations, National Security and Foreign Affairs, and Environment, Development, and Global Economy, as well as minors in Political Science, International Studies, International Relations, National Security and Foreign Affairs, and Global Development and Political Economy. Courses for the majors and minors overlap significantly. Therefore, Political Science majors may not pursue multiple majors and/or minors within the department.

Foreign Language Requirement

Foreign Language

• Students who completed 3 years of a single foreign, classical, or sign language in high school have completed the requirement.
• Students who did not complete 3 years of a single foreign, classical, or sign language in high school may complete the requirement as follows:
  • Complete 2 years of a single foreign, classical, or sign language in high school plus an 1106 foreign language (e.g., FR, GR, SPAN) or the equivalent in college (these 3 hours do count toward the 120 required for graduation and calculate into the GPA)
  • or Complete an foreign language (e.g., FR, GR, SPAN) grouping or the equivalent in college (these 6 hours do not count toward the 120 required for graduation)

Plan of Study Grid

First Year

• Fall Semester:
  • PSCI 1034: Introduction to International Studies and Political Science (3 credits)
  • PSCI 1014: Introduction to United States Government and Politics (3 credits)
  • ENGL 1105: First-Year Writing (3 credits)
  • Pathway 4 (3 credits)
  • Pathway 5f (3 credits)
• Spring Semester:
  • PSCI 1024: Comp Gov & Politics (3 credits)
  • ENGL 1106: First-Year Writing (3 credits)
  • Pathway 4 (3 credits)
  • Pathway 5f (3 credits)
  • Free Electives (3 credits) Second Year
• Fall Semester:
  • PSCI 2014: Introduction to Political Theory (3 credits)
  • PSCI 2024: Research Methods in Political Science (3 credits)
  • Pathway 1a (3 credits)
  • Pathway 2 (3 credits)
  • Free Electives (3 credits)
• Spring Semester:
  • PSCI 2054: Introduction to World Politics (3 credits)
  • PSCI 1XXX/2XXX/3XXX (3 credits)
  • Pathway 2 (3 credits)
  • Free Electives (3 credits)
  • Free Electives (3 credits) Third Year
• Fall Semester:
  • PSCI NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES COURSE (3 credits)
  • NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES RELATED FIELD (3 credits)
  • Pathway 6a (3 credits)
  • Free Electives (3 credits)
  • Free Electives (3 credits)
• Spring Semester:
  • PSCI 1XXX/2XXX/3XXX (3 credits)
  • PSCI NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES COURSE (3 credits)
  • NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES RELATED FIELD (3 credits)
  • Pathway 6d (3 credits)
  • Free Electives (3 credits) Fourth Year
• Fall Semester:
  • PSCI NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES COURSE (3 credits)
  • PSCI 3XXX/4XXX (3 credits)
  • NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES RELATED FIELD (3 credits)
  • Pathway 5a (3 credits)
  • Free Electives (3 credits)
• Spring Semester:
  • PSCI 3XXX/4XXX (3 credits)
  • PSCI ADVANCED THEORY AND PRACTICE (3 credits)
  • NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES RELATED FIELD (3 credits)
  • Free Electives (3 credits)
  • Free Electives (3 credits)