Government (B.S.) - Politics & Policy - Online
Important: This degree plan is effective for those starting this degree program in fall 2025 through summer 2026. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
- 1
Course may fulfill select general education requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| GOVT 490 | Political Theory | 3 |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 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 458 | Public Policy Development in the Political Environment | 3 |
| GOVT 474 | American Political Parties | 3 |
| GOVT 492 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Total Hours | 39 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Free Electives | ||
| Choose 15-21 credit hours of Free Electives | 15-21 | |
| Total Hours | 15-21 | |
All applicable prerequisites must be met
Graduation Requirements
- 120 Total hours
- 2.0 Overall grade point average
- 30 Hours must be upper-level courses (300-400 level)
- Grade of 'C' Minimum required for all courses in the major
- 25% Of major and concentration taken through Liberty University
- 30 Hours must be completed through Liberty University
- Grad App Submission of Degree Completion Application must be completed within the last semester of a student's anticipated graduation date
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| THEO 104 | Introduction to Theology Survey | 4 |
| RLGN 104 | Christian Life and Biblical Worldview | 4 |
| UNIV 104 | Instructional Technology for Successful Online Learning | 0-3 |
| Social Science Elective (GOVT 200) 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 14-17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| BIBL 104 | Survey of Old and New Testament | 4 |
| GOVT 220 | American Government | 3 |
| Communications Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Information Literacy Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Information Literacy Elective 1 | 3 | |
| MATH Elective 1 | 3 | |
| GOVT 210 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| GOVT 230 | Public Policy Research and Writing | 3 |
| GOVT 301 | Ancient Political and Economic Ideas | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Cultural Studies Elective 1 | 3 | |
| GOVT 302 | Modern Political and Economic Ideas | 3 |
| GOVT 320 | American Executive Processes/Institutions | 3 |
| GOVT 322 | American Legislative System | 3 |
| GOVT 329 | American Exceptionalism | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| GOVT 324 | Applied Ethics in Public Policy | 3 |
| GOVT 327 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| GOVT 330 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| GOVT 340 | International Relations | 3 |
| GOVT 421 | American Constitutional History | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Natural Science Elective 1 | 3 | |
| GOVT 321 | American Judicial System | 3 |
| GOVT 350 | Political Economy and Public Policy | 3 |
| GOVT 425 | American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| GOVT 458 | Public Policy Development in the Political Environment | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| GOVT 474 | American Political Parties | 3 |
| GOVT 490 | Political Theory | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| GOVT 492 | Senior Seminar | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120-123 | |
- 1
Refer to the list of approved general education electives at www.liberty.edu/gened before enrolling foundational skills requirements.