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.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Core Courses
INTL 500	Fundamentals of International Relations	3
PPOG 503	Political Philosophy	3
PPOL 505	Applied Public Policy Research Methods	3
PSCI 500	Scientific Inquiry and Research Design	3
PSCI 501	American Government	3
PSCI 600	Comparative Politics	3
PSCI 610	Contemporary Political Process & Trends	3
Total Hours		21

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
General Cognate 1
Choose nine credit hours of General Cognate courses		9
Total Hours		9

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

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Thesis or Elective Courses 1,2
PSCI 688	Thesis Proposal	3
PSCI 689	Thesis Research 3	3
PSCI 690	Thesis Defense 4	0
Total Hours		6

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 Semester		Hours
PSCI 501	American Government	3
PPOG 506	Introduction to Geopolitics and International Diplomacy	3
PPOL 505	Applied Public Policy Research Methods	3
	Hours	9
Second Semester
PPOG 502	Economics and Public Policy	3
PPOG 503	Political Philosophy	3
Elective 1		3
	Hours	9
Third Semester
PSCI 600	Comparative Politics	3
Elective 1		3
Elective 1		3
	Hours	9
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
	Hours	9
	Total Hours	36

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.