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
PPOG 500	Introduction to Research and Writing	3
PPOG 502	Economics and Public Policy	3
PPOG 503	Political Philosophy	3
PPOG 504	Leadership, Statesmanship, and Governance 1	3
PPOG 506	Introduction to Geopolitics and International Diplomacy 1	3
PPOL 501	Foundations of American Governance: An Introduction to Public Policy	3
PPOL 505	Applied Public Policy Research Methods 1	3
Total Hours		21

¹

Students are strongly encouraged to take PPOG 500 Introduction to Research and Writing (3 c.h.), PPOG 502 Economics and Public Policy (3 c.h.), PPOG 503 Political Philosophy (3 c.h.), and PPOL 501 Foundations of American Governance: An Introduction to Public Policy (3 c.h.) before this course.  The content of these courses will help set a foundation for the remaining Public Policy course work

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Leadership Cognate
PPOG 624	Presidential Leadership	3
PPOG 625	Legislative Leadership	3
PPOG 626	State and Local Leadership	3
Total Hours		9

Course List

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

¹

Students may take two electives³ instead of PPOG 688 Thesis Proposal (3 c.h.), PPOG 689 Thesis Research (3 c.h.), & PPOG 690 Thesis Defense (3 c.h.)

²

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

³

Any student who is not ready for enrollment in PPOG 690 Thesis Defense (3 c.h.) after completing PPOG 689 Thesis Research (3 c.h.) may be required, as determined by the student’s thesis chair, to repeat PPOG 689 Thesis Research (3 c.h.) until deemed ready for enrollment in PPOG 690 Thesis Defense (3 c.h.)

⁴

While PPOG 689 Thesis Research (3 c.h.) may be taken more than once, only one enrollment in the course will be permitted to count toward degree requirements

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
PPOG 500	Introduction to Research and Writing	3
PPOG 503	Political Philosophy	3
PPOL 501	Foundations of American Governance: An Introduction to Public Policy	3
	Hours	9
Second Semester
PPOG 502	Economics and Public Policy	3
PPOG 504	Leadership, Statesmanship, and Governance 1	3
PPOL 505	Applied Public Policy Research Methods 1	3
	Hours	9
Third Semester
PPOG 506	Introduction to Geopolitics and International Diplomacy 1	3
PPOG 624	Presidential Leadership	3
PPOG 625	Legislative Leadership	3
PPOG 626	State and Local Leadership	3
	Hours	12
Fourth Semester
PPOG 688	Thesis Proposal	3
PPOG 689	Thesis Research 2,3,4	3
PPOG 690	Thesis Defense 2,3	0
	Hours	6
	Total Hours	36

¹

Students are strongly encouraged to take PPOG 500, PPOG 502, PPOG 503, and PPOL 501 before these courses. The content of the initial courses will help set a foundation for the remaining Public Policy coursework.

²

Students may take two additional elective courses⁵ instead of PPOG 688, PPOG 689, and PPOG 690. 

³

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.

⁴

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

⁵

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.