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
PLCY 700	Foundations of Public Policy	3
PLCY 702	Founding Era and the Constitution	3
PLCY 703	Contemporary Challenges to Constitutional Order and the Role of the State	3
PLCY 705	Political Actors and Institutions	3
PLCY 802	Competing Visions of Statesmanship	3
PLCY 804	Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations	3
Total Hours		18

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Research Methods & Tools Courses
PLCY 805	Policy Analysis and Research Design	3
PLCY 807	Program Evaluation 1	3
or PLCY 808	Game Theory and Formal Modeling
PLCY 809	Advanced Research Methods for Policymakers 1	3
PLCY 810	Quantitative Methods I 1	3
PLCY 812	Qualitative Methods 1	3
Total Hours		15

¹

Students may request to substitute other research methods courses offered in the Helms School of Government, including PLCY 811, PLCY 815, and PLCY 816.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Social Policy Cognate
PLCY 710	Social Issues and Public Policy	3
PLCY 850	Introduction to Social Policy Studies	3
PLCY 851	Research Seminar in Social Policy	3
Total Hours		9

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Capstone Courses
PLCY 885	Research Concept	3
PLCY 887	Capstone I	5
PLCY 888	Capstone II 1	5
PLCY 889	Capstone III 1	5
PLCY 890	Capstone IV 1	0
Total Hours		18

¹

Any student who has not completed the milestones required for this course, as described in the Helms School of Government Capstone Handbook, may be required to repeat this course.

  All applicable prerequisites must be met

Graduation Requirements

• Complete 60 hours
• A maximum of 50% of a post-graduate and doctoral degree 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 grades lower than a B- may be applied to the degree
• Successful completion of Research Concept
• 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
PLCY 700	Foundations of Public Policy	3
PLCY 702	Founding Era and the Constitution	3
PLCY 703	Contemporary Challenges to Constitutional Order and the Role of the State	3
	Hours	9
Second Semester
PLCY 705
PLCY 802	Competing Visions of Statesmanship	3
PLCY 804	Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations	3
	Hours	6
Third Semester
PLCY 805	Policy Analysis and Research Design	3
PLCY 807 or PLCY 808	1 or
PLCY 809	Data and Analysis for Policymakers	3
	Hours	6
Fourth Semester
PLCY 810	Quantitative Methods I 1	3
PLCY 812	Qualitative Methods 1	3
PLCY 850	Introduction to Social Policy Studies	3
	Hours	9
Fifth Semester
PLCY 710	Social Issues and Public Policy	3
PLCY 851	Research Seminar in Social Policy	3
PLCY 885	Research Concept	3
	Hours	9
Sixth Semester
PLCY 887
	Hours	0
Seventh Semester
PLCY 888	2
	Hours	0
Eighth Semester
PLCY 889	2
	Hours	0
Ninth Semester
PLCY 890	2
	Hours	0
	Total Hours	39

¹

Students may request to substitute other research methods courses offered in the Helms School of Government, including PLCY 811, PLCY 815, and PLCY 816.

²

Any student who has not completed the milestones for this course, as described in the Helms School of Government Capstone Handbook, may be required to repeat this course.