Political Science (M.S.) - General

Political Science (M.S.) - General

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.

Core Courses
INTL 500Fundamentals of International Relations3
PPOG 503Political Philosophy3
PPOL 505Applied Public Policy Research Methods3
PSCI 500Scientific Inquiry & Research Design3
PSCI 501American Government3
PSCI 600Comparative Politics3
PSCI 610Contemporary Political Process & Trends3
Total Hours21
General Cognate 1
Choose nine credit hours of General Cognate courses9
Total Hours9
1

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

Thesis or Elective Courses 1,2
PSCI 688Thesis Proposal3
PSCI 689Thesis Research 33
PSCI 690Thesis Defense 40
Total Hours6
1

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

2

Students may take two elective courses1 instead of PSCI 688, PSCI 689, & PSCI 690.

3

While PSCI 689 may be taken more than once, only one enrollment in the course will be permitted to count toward degree requirements

4

Any thesis student who is not ready for enrollment in PSCI 690 after completing PSCI 689 may be required, as determined by the student’s thesis chair, to repeat PSCI 689 until deemed ready for enrollment in PSCI 690

All applicable prerequisites must be met

Graduation Requirements

  • Complete 36 hours
  • A maximum of 50% of the program hours may be transferred if approved and allowable, including credit from an earned degree from Liberty University on the same academic level
  • 3.0 GPA
  • No more than two grades of C may be applied to the degree (includes grades of C+ & C-)
  • No grade of D or below may be applied to the degree (includes grades of D+ & D-)
  • Degree must be completed within 5 years
  • Submission of Degree Completion Application must be completed within the last semester of a student’s anticipated graduation date

Program Offered in Online Format

Plan of Study Grid
First SemesterHours
PSCI 501 American Government 3
PPOG 506 Introduction to Geopolitics and International Diplomacy 3
PPOL 505 Applied Public Policy Research Methods 3
 Hours9
Second Semester
PPOG 502 Economics and Public Policy 3
PPOG 503 Political Philosophy 3
Elective 1 3
 Hours9
Third Semester
PSCI 600 Comparative Politics 3
Elective 1 3
Elective 1 3
 Hours9
Fourth Semester
PSCI 610 Contemporary Political Process & Trends 3
PSCI 688 Thesis Proposal 3
PSCI 689 Thesis Research 2,3,4 3
PSCI 690 Thesis Defense 3,4 0
 Hours9
 Total Hours36
1

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.

2

While PSCI 689 may be taken more than once, only one enrollment in the course will be permitted to count toward degree requirements.

3

Any student who is not ready for enrollment in PSCI 690 after completing PSCI 689 may be required, as determined by the student's thesis chair, to repeat PSCI 689 until deemed ready for enrollment in PSCI 690.

4

Students may take two elective courses1 instead of PSCI 688, PSCI 689, and PSCI 690

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