Government (B.S.) - Politics and Policy & Public Policy (M.A.P.P.) - Think Tank and Policy Research
Important: This degree plan is effective for those starting this degree program in fall 2024 through summer 2025. This degree plan will remain in effect for students who do not break enrollment or who do not change degree programs, concentrations, or cognates.
General Education/Foundational Skills Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Communication & Information Literacy 1 | ||
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| Communications Elective | 3 | |
| Information Literacy Elective | 3 | |
| Information Literacy Elective | 3 | |
| Technological Solutions & Quantitative Reasoning 1 | ||
| UNIV 104 | Instructional Technology for Successful Online Learning | 0-3 |
| Math Elective | MATH 114 or higher | 3 |
| Critical Thinking 1 | ||
| RLGN 104 | Christian Life and Biblical Worldview 2 | 4 |
| Critical Thinking Elective | 3 | |
| Civic & Global Engagement 1 | ||
| Cultural Studies Elective | 3 | |
| Social & Scientific Inquiry 1 | ||
| Natural Science Elective | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective | 3 | |
| Christianity & Contexts 1 | ||
| BIBL 104 | Survey of Old and New Testament | 4 |
| THEO 104 | Introduction to Theology Survey 2 | 4 |
| Total Hours | 39-42 | |
- 1
Refer to the list of approved general education electives before enrolling in foundational skill requirements
- 2
Students transferring in 45 or more UG credit hours will have the requirement of RLGN 104 waived; Students transferring in 60 or more UG credit hours will also have the requirement of THEO 104 waived
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BS in Government - Major Foundational Courses | ||
| GEOG 200 | Introduction to Geography 1 | 3 |
| GOVT 200 | Constitutional Government and Free Enterprise 1 | 3 |
| GOVT 220 | American Government 1 | 3 |
| MATH 201 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics 1 | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
- 1
Course may fulfill select general education requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BS in Government - Politics & Policy Major Core | ||
| GOVT 230 | Public Policy Research and Writing | 3 |
| GOVT 330 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| GOVT 350 | Political Economy and Public Policy | 3 |
| GOVT 421 | American Constitutional History | 3 |
| GOVT 425 | American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| PPOG 503 | Political Philosophy | 3 |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BS in Government: Politics & Policy Concentration | ||
| GOVT 210 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| GOVT 301 | Ancient Political and Economic Ideas | 3 |
| GOVT 302 | Modern Political and Economic Ideas | 3 |
| GOVT 320 | American Executive Processes/Institutions | 3 |
| GOVT 321 | American Judicial System | 3 |
| GOVT 322 | American Legislative System | 3 |
| GOVT 324 | Applied Ethics in Public Policy | 3 |
| GOVT 327 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| GOVT 329 | American Exceptionalism | 3 |
| GOVT 340 | International Relations | 3 |
| GOVT 474 | American Political Parties | 3 |
| GOVT 492 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| PPOG 500 | Introduction to Research and Writing | 3 |
| Total Hours | 39 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BS in Government: Politics and Policy Free Electives | ||
| Choose 4-16 credit hours of Free Electives | 4-16 | |
| Total Hours | 4-16 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MAPP - Think Tank Policy Research Core Courses | ||
| PPOG 502 | Economics and Public Policy | 3 |
| PPOG 504 | Leadership, Statesmanship, and Governance | 3 |
| PPOG 506 | Introduction to Geopolitics and International Diplomacy | 3 |
| PPOL 501 | Foundations of American Governance: An Introduction to Public Policy | 3 |
| PPOL 505 | Applied Public Policy Research Methods | 3 |
| Total Hours | 15 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MAPP - Think Tank & Policy Research Cognate | ||
| PPOG 600 | Think Tank, Research, Training, and Policy Development | 3 |
| PPOG 600 | Think Tank, Research, Training, and Policy Development | 3 |
| PPOG 600 | Think Tank, Research, Training, and Policy Development | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MAPP - Think Tank Policy Research Thesis or Elective Courses 1,2 | ||
| PPOG 688 | Thesis Proposal 1 | 3 |
| PPOG 689 | Thesis Research 1,2,3 | 3 |
| PPOG 690 | Thesis Defense 1,2 | 0 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
- 1
Students may take two elective courses4 instead of PPOG 688, PPOG 689, & PPOG 690
- 2
Any student who is not ready for enrollment in PPOG 690 after completing PPOG 689 may be required, as determined by the student’s thesis chair, to repeat PPOG 689 until deemed ready for enrollment in PPOG 690
- 3
While PPOG 689 may be taken more than once, only one enrollment in the course will be permitted to count toward degree requirements
- 4
Choose from the following courses: Any 500-600 level course offered by the Helms School of Government. Other 500-600 level courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis
All applicable prerequisites must be met
Graduation Requirements
- 150 Total hours
- 120 Credit hours must be 100-400 level courses (PPOG 502 and PPOG 503 included)
- 2.0 Overall grade point average required for undergraduate degree
- 3.0 Overall grade point average required for graduate degree
- 30 Credit hours of undergraduate courses must be upper-level courses (300-400 level)
- Grade of 'C' Minimum required for all upper level courses in the major (300-400 level)
- Grade of 'C' No more than two grades of C may be applied to Masters level courses (includes grades of C+ & C-)
- Grade of 'D' No grades of D may be applied to Masters level courses (includes grades of D+ & D-)
- 25% Of the undergraduate courses in the major must be taken through Liberty University
- 50% Of the graduate concentration must be taken through Liberty University
- 30 Credit hours of undergraduate courses must be completed through Liberty University
- 6 years Degree must be completed within 6 years
- Grad App Submission of Degree Completion Application must be completed within the last semester of a student's anticipated graduation date
- CSER All requirements must be satisfied before a degree will be awarded
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| BIBL 105 | Old Testament Survey | 2 |
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| THEO 201 | Theology Survey I | 2 |
| UNIV 101 | Foundational Skills | 1 |
| Information Literacy Elective (GEOG 200) 1 | 3 | |
| GOVT 200 | Constitutional Government and Free Enterprise | 3 |
| GOVT 230 | Public Policy Research and Writing | 3 |
| Elective | 1 | |
| CSER | ||
| Hours | 18 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| BIBL 110 | New Testament Survey | 2 |
| Critical Thinking Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Cultural Studies Elective (GOVT 220) 1 | 3 | |
| GOVT 302 | Modern Political and Economic Ideas | 3 |
| GOVT 321 | American Judicial System | 3 |
| GOVT 322 | American Legislative System | 3 |
| CSER | ||
| Hours | 17 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| Information Literacy Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Social Science Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Technology Competency 2 | 0-3 | |
| Elective | 1 | |
| Hours | 7-10 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| GOVT 210 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| GOVT 301 | Ancient Political and Economic Ideas | 3 |
| GOVT 320 | American Executive Processes/Institutions | 3 |
| GOVT 327 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| CSER | ||
| Hours | 18 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| EVAN 101 | Evangelism and the Christian Life | 2 |
| RLGN 105 | Introduction to Biblical Worldview | 2 |
| THEO 202 | Theology Survey II | 2 |
| GOVT 324 | Applied Ethics in Public Policy | 3 |
| GOVT 350 | Political Economy and Public Policy | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| CSER | ||
| Hours | 18 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| Communication Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Natural Science Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| GOVT 329 | American Exceptionalism | 3 |
| GOVT 330 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| GOVT 340 | International Relations | 3 |
| GOVT 425 | American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| GOVT 474 | American Political Parties | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| CSER | ||
| Hours | 18 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| MATH Elective (MATH 201) 1 | 3 | |
| GOVT 421 | American Constitutional History | 3 |
| GOVT 492 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| PPOG 500 | Introduction to Research and Writing | 3 |
| PPOG 503 | Political Philosophy | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| CSER | ||
| Hours | 18 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| PPOG 502 | Economics and Public Policy | 3 |
| PPOG 600 | Think Tank, Research, Training, and Policy Development | 3 |
| PPOG 688 | Thesis Proposal 3 | 3 |
| PPOL 501 | Foundations of American Governance: An Introduction to Public Policy | 3 |
| PPOL 505 | Applied Public Policy Research Methods | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PPOG 504 | Leadership, Statesmanship, and Governance | 3 |
| PPOG 506 | Introduction to Geopolitics and International Diplomacy | 3 |
| PPOG 600 | Think Tank, Research, Training, and Policy Development | 3 |
| PPOG 600 | Think Tank, Research, Training, and Policy Development | 3 |
| PPOG 689 | Thesis Research 3,4,5 | 3 |
| PPOG 690 | Thesis Defense 3,4 | 0 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 150-153 | |
- 1
Refer to the list of approved general education electives at www.liberty.edu/gened before enrolling in foundational skills requirements
- 2
All students must pass the Computer Assessment OR complete applicable INFT course; refer to www.liberty.edu/computerassessment for more information
- 3
Students may take two additional elective courses6 instead of PPOG 688, PPOG 689, & PPOG 690
- 4
Any student who is not ready for enrollment in PPOG 690 after completing PPOG 689 may be required, as determined by the student’s thesis chair, to repeat PPOG 689 until deemed ready for enrollment in PPOG 690
- 5
While PPOG 689 may be taken more than once, only one enrollment in the course will be permitted to count toward degree requirements
- 6
Choose from the following courses: Any 500-600 level course offered by the Helms School of Government. Other 500-600 level courses will be considered on a case-by-case basis