The political science curriculum at Radford University is intended to provide undergraduates with a broad background in the discipline within the broader context of a liberal education. The major and minor requirements in political science are intended to develop students’ analytical and communication skills as well as a knowledge of politics and government.

Given its objectives, the curriculum covers six areas corresponding with the subfields of modern political science:

1. American politics
2. Public administration
3. Comparative politics
4. International relations
5. Methodology
   
6. Political philosophy.

For students desiring to teach political science at the secondary level, the teacher licensure option is offered through the Bachelor of Science program for Social Science. Students may pursue either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.

In addition to the core of required courses, all political science students must complete course work in one of two concentrations.

Required Departmental Core (12 credits)

• POSC 110 - Introduction to Politics
• POSC 120 - Introduction to American Government
• POSC 231 - Comparative Government
• POSC 241 - Theories of International Relations

Concentration (21-30 credits)

B.A./B.S. Requirements (6-12 Credits)

Electives
Students should consult with their academic advisors in selecting elective courses to complete 120 semester hours required for graduation.

Total Credits Needed for Degree -120

Concentrations

Concentration in Political Science (21 credits)

Students must complete one upper-level course (other than POSC 485, POSC 488, POSC 490, or POSC 498) in each of the following areas: American Government (AG), Comparative Government (CG), International Relations (IR), and Political Theory (PT). In addition, students must complete either POSC 490, Seminar, or POSC 491 - Scope and Methods in Political Science (PT). The total hours earned in political science must be a minimum of 33.

Concentration in Public Administration and Public Service (30 credits)

Students must complete

• POSC 300 - Public Administration (AG, PA)
• POSC 335 - American Public Policy (AG, PA)
• POSC 432 - Public Organization Theory and Leadership (AG, PA)
• POSC 435 - Contemporary Problems in Public Administration (AG, PA)

and one of the following AG courses:

• POSC 320 - Congress (AG)
• POSC 321 - The American Presidency (AG)
• POSC 330 - State and Local Government (AG)
• POSC 331 - Urban and Metropolitan Politics (AG)
• POSC 485 - Internships in Political Science and Public Administration

Note:

Students also complete one upper-level course (other than POSC 485, POSC 488, POSC 490, or POSC 498) in each of the following areas: Comparative Government (CG), International Relations (IR), and Political Theory (PT). In addition, students must complete both POSC 490, Seminar (preferably on a Public Administration topic, which may then be counted toward the 15 hours in the concentration field), and POSC 491 - Scope and Methods in Political Science (PT). The total hours earned in political science must be a minimum of 42.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate with a major in Political Science, a student must have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher in all courses taken with a POSC prefix.

Teaching Licensure

Students wishing to teach government at the secondary level should declare a social science major (see Social Science, B.A. and/or Social Science, B.S.). To strengthen credentials as a government teacher, students should consider a double major in both social science and political science.

Minor in Political Science (18 Semester Hours)

The minor in political science consists of two courses from among POSC 110, POSC 120, POSC 231, and POSC 241; and twelve additional hours in the department, at least nine of which are at the 300- or 400-level.