Politics Major Requirements

We offer two majors: Government and Foreign Affairs. 

All majors take courses in four subfields – American Politics (PLAP), Comparative Politics (PLCP), International Relations (PLIR), and Political Theory (PLPT) – with some classes, including in research methods, that cut across these fields (PLAD). Majors take courses across all subfields, but with different concentrations. Government Majors concentrate in American Politics or Political Theory. Foreign Affairs Majors concentrate on global politics, combining courses in Comparative Politics and International Relations.

Both Government and Foreign Affairs majors must complete 30 credits of course work in the Department of Politics plus 12 credits of related coursework, as specified below.

Prerequisites to declare a Government or Foreign Affairs major

To begin the major declaration process:

• Students must have already have 6 credits of PLxx (PLAP, PLCP, PLIR, PLPT, PLAD) coursework (two classes) taken at UVa (i.e., no transfer courses or external credit).
• Students must have earned a grade of “C” or better in each course and have an average GPA of 2.5 across the two.

At the time of declaring:

• In addition to the 6 credits noted above, students intending to declare a major should currently be enrolled in additional politics classes.
• If declaring during your fourth term (spring of second year), you should be enrolled in one additional PLxx course (a total of 9 credits are required by the end of the semester).
• If declaring during your fifth term (fall of third year), including incoming third-year transfer students, you should be enrolled in two additional PLxx courses (a total of 12 credits by the end of the semester).

Deferring major declaration:

• If you have not completed sufficient Politics courses with a grade of C or better before fifth term, you may request to defer the declaration of the major
• To do so, you must be currently enrolled in two PLxx courses at UVa.

Minimum Performance Requirements

Only courses with a grade of at least “C” count toward major requirements.  

Students who earn a grade of “C–” or lower in three PLxx courses may not continue as majors.

Major Course Requirements

Our majors consist of four components:

Distribution (12 credits)

All majors, regardless of whether Government or Foreign Affairs, must take a minimum of 3 credits (one class) in each of the four political science subfields:

• American Politics (PLAP)
• Comparative Politics (PLCP)
• International Relations (PLIR)
• Political Theory (PLPT)

Major track concentration (9 credits)

• Government Major (American Politics Track): minimum of 9 additional PLAP credits (three classes)
• Government Major (Political Theory Track): minimum of 9 additional PLPT credits (three classes)
• Foreign Affairs Major: minimum of 9 additional PLCP and/or PLIR credits (three classes)

Electives (9 credits)

Nine additional credits in any Politics Department courses:

• American Politics (PLAP)
• Comparative Politics (PLCP)
• International Relations (PLIR)
• Political Theory (PLPT)
• Cross-field, methodology, and department-wide (PLAD)

Related Courses (12 credits)

Twelve credits in courses from closely related disciplines other than Politics. SIS will automatically pick up courses with the following mnemonics:

AAS, AMST, ANTH, COMM 3410, COMM 3420, EAST, ECON, ETP, GDS, GSGS, GSSJ, GSVS, HIAF, HIEA, HIEU, HILA, HIME, HISA, HIST, HIUS, MDST, MESA, MEST, PHIL, LPPA, LPPP (except LPPP 3001 and LPPP 3559), LPPS, PSYC, RELA, RELB, RELC, RELG, RELH, RELI, RELJ, RELS, SOC, WGS.

The Director of the Undergraduate Program can also consider other courses for approval as “related.” If you have taken a course in a department or program not listed above that you believe to be related to the study of politics, contact the DUP and provide a copy of the syllabus. Decisions remain at the discretion of the DUP.

Course Level Requirements

• PLxx 1000-level: no more than 9 credits
• PLxx 3000-level or above: at least 15 credits
• PLxx 4000-level or above: at least 3 credits
• Related courses 3000-level or above: at least 6 credits

DOUBLE MAJORING

Students may declare a second major in another department or program, in which case the application for a degree must be approved by both departments or interdepartmental programs. 

Students who double major must submit at least 18 credits in each major. Credits applied toward one major may not be included in the core 18 hours of the other major, and no more than two courses can be counted simultaneously for two majors unless one or both majors is interdisciplinary.

Students may apply up to two classes (six credits) towards their Politics (Government or Foreign Affairs) major and a second major.

Students intending to declare a Politics major must pick one: Government or Foreign Affairs. It is not possible to double major in both.

Dual Enrollment & AP Credit

No advanced placement (AP) or dual enrollment credit may count toward the 30 credits of PLxx coursework required for the major or for “Related Course” credit. (Note: AP and dual enrollment courses in Politics can still count as general education credit toward graduation; but cannot count as part of your major).

Politics Minor Requirements

We offer two minors: Government and Foreign Affairs.

All minors must complete at least 15 credits of resident course work. No transfer or study abroad credit can be applied to the minor.

MINIMUM PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

Only courses with a grade of at least “C” count toward minor requirements.  

MINOR COURSE REQUIREMENTS

• All minors must take courses in at least two of the four fields of the Department: American Politics (PLAP), Political Theory (PLPT), Comparative Politics (PLCP) and International Relations (PLIR).
• At least 9 credits must be concentrated within a minor track
  • Government minor – American Politics (PLAP)
  • Government minor – Political Theory (PLPT)
  • Foreign Affairs minor – Comparative Politics (PLCP) and/or International Relations (PLIR).
• No more than 6 credits may be taken at the PLxx-1000 introductory level, with a limit of 3 introductory credits per field.
• At least 3 credits must be taken at the 4000 or 5000 level. 

HOW TO DECLARE A MAJOR OR A MINOR

Declaring a politics major

1. Choose one of our two majors
   → Foreign Affairs (concentrate in IR or CP)
   → Government (concentrate in AP or in PT)
2. Complete the Politics Major Declaration Form
   → This is just a plan to be sure you understand the requirements
   → We know it will change depending on your interest and course offerings
   → Pay attention to subfield and level requirements
   → AP & Dual-enrollment do not count for the major
   → See Politics course listings on Lou’s List or SIS
3. Rename form as LASTNAME_PoliticsMajorWorksheet.pdf
4. E-mail form to our Undergraduate Coordinator, Sharon Marsh (smm4g@virginia.edu)
5. Wait for email confirmation from Ms. Marsh
6. Complete the College of Arts & Sciences major declaration form
   → Include only PLxx courses (not related courses)
7. Submit DocuSign electronically
8. Congratulations!

Declaring a politics Minor

1. Complete the Minor Declaration Form
2. E-mail form to our Undergraduate Coordinator, Sharon Marsh (smm4g@virginia.edu)

Questions?

Contact our Undergraduate Coordinator, Sharon Marsh, in Gibson Hall 183 or by email.

Transfer & Study-Abroad Credit

We welcome transfer students to our majors, and also encourage our majors to study abroad.

Applying major credit from a non-UVA institution:

The following limits apply to credit from another institution that can be applied to your major.

• Up to 6 hours of PLxx transfer/study abroad (non-UVA) credit may count toward the Government or Foreign Affairs Elective requirement.
• Up to 6 hours of transfer/study abroad (non-UVA) credit may count toward the Related Courses requirement.

* Please note: no transfer or study abroad credit can be applied to the Politics minors (see Politics Minor Requirements).

Approval for transfer credit:

• See the College Transfer Course Requirements website for transfer of credit forms from U.S. institutions.
• If you will be attending a “UVa direct credit program,” you do not need to take any action. Courses taken in UVa programs are treated just like courses taken on Grounds. Courses that are designated as Politics (Plxx) will automatically count toward your major or minor.

Approval of study abroad credit

For study abroad programs, students should initiate the process of approvals well before the program begins. Refer to the College’s Study Abroad website for vital information. We recommend the Education Abroad Workshop” available there. 

• If you will be attending a “UVa direct credit program,” you do not need to take any action. Courses taken in UVa programs are treated just like courses taken on Grounds. Courses that are designated as Politics (Plxx) will automatically count toward your major or minor.
• Study abroad courses through an external (non-UVA) institution, must be approved by the Politics Department’s Director of Undergraduate Programs (DUP) in order to count for major credit. To gain pre-approval for courses, prior to studying abroad, you must:
  • List the Politics “Elective” or “Related” courses you want to take on the College Study Abroad Transfer Credit Pre-Approval Form (available through the Study Abroad office).
  • See if your courses are listed in the international equivalency database. If the courses are listed, use the UVA course equivalencies provided to fill out your pre-approval form
  • If the course is not listed or you are uncertain about the UVA course equivalency, leave that field blank. Then, email a copy of the syllabus or detailed course description to the Politics Department DUP, who will assess the course.
  • The DUP will, upon approving the course, assign it a a UVA course equivalency that can be listed on your pre-approval form.
  • The pre-approval form must be signed by the DUP and submitted to the Study Abroad office.
  • If you need to change you pre-approved schedule once you are abroad, use the College Study Abroad Final Credit Approval Form to get approval for any new or updated courses you take abroad.

Major Advising

The Department holds two group advising sessions each semester in the weeks before preregistration. At these sessions, the Director of Undergraduate Programs and the Undergraduate Assistant review major requirements, answer questions, and release your advising hold so you can register for courses. Watch for announcements of the advising session each semesters. You must attend one of these sessions or come see Ms. Marsh in her office to have your advising hold lifted.

For questions about major or minor requirements, whether particular courses count, dealing with SIS, and the like, please contact Undergraduate Assistant, Sharon Marsh or in S183 Gibson Hall.

Each Politics major also has a faculty advisor assigned. Faculty advisors are happy to discuss the discipline of political science, your course of study, and your future plans. They can also answer questions about major requirements. You can email your faculty advisor, attend regular office hours, or schedule a meeting for a different time via email. 

Information for Transfer Students

Students who plan to major in Government or Foreign Affairs will ideally lay the groundwork for their major at UVA before they arrive on Grounds. Two Politics courses taken at another institution may count toward the elective credit in each of our majors. Completion of at least one Politics course before arrival at UVA and Summer and/or Fall enrollment in two Politics courses will enable students transferring into the College to declare a Government or Foreign Affairs major in the Fall of their third year.

All transfer students should consult the Director of Undergraduate Programs about their plans.

Transfer Student Orientation Presentation

Forms

• Politics Major Declaration Form
• Minor Requirements/Declaration
• Honors Program Application

FAQs

Can I get major credit for Politics courses taken in a Study Abroad Program?

Yes. As stated in our requirements, with approval, up to six credits may be directly applied to the major elective component of your program. An additional six credits may be applied as related courses.

1. Start by visiting the College’s Study Abroad website and the University’s Education Abroad site to familiarize yourself with the wealth of resources available. All students must complete the “Education Abroad Workshop” available there. The steps to follow are clearly laid out in this workshop.
2. If you will be attending a “UVa direct credit program,” you are all set. Courses taken in UVa programs are treated just like courses taken on Grounds.
3. If your program is not UVa direct credit: Well before you actually go abroad, obtain the College’s Study Abroad Credit approval form and choose the classes you will be taking. Gather as much information (description, syllabus, etc.) about the courses as possible.
4. Bring or email the form to the Department’s Director of the Undergraduate Program.
5. Upon approval the form should be submitted to the College Dean.

If I take a cross-listed Politics course under a non-PLxx mnemonic, will this apply to my major or minor?

PLxx courses that are cross-listed count toward our majors and our minor as PLxx courses, even when you are enrolled under the cross-listed mnemonic (e.g. EVSC, MDST, LPPA). To ensure that SIS recognizes this, please email the Undergraduate Assistant, Sharon Marsh or visit Gibson room S183 with this information. Because cross-listed courses are Politics courses, they do not count toward the Related Courses requirement. 

How many courses do I need before I can declare a major in Government or Foreign Affairs?

See "Politics Major Requirements."

Where are the forms to fill out for a major?

The forms are electronically available on this page, or in hard copy from S183 Gibson Hall.

Do Advanced Placement (AP) classes count toward major or minor requirements?

No.

Do high-school dual enrollment courses count toward major or minor requirements?

No.

Do transfer courses from other institutions count toward major or minor requirements?

Yes, if you have received UVa transfer credit for course(s), then with the approval of the DUP, and in accordance with College guidelines, you may count the following toward major requirements:

• Up to six hours of PLxx transfer and/or study abroad credit toward the Government or Foreign Affairs elective component major requirements.
• Up to six hours of non-PLxx transfer and/or study abroad credit may count toward the Related Courses requirement.

See the College Forms website for transfer of credit forms from U.S. Institutions.

For study abroad programs, students should initiate the process of approvals well before the program begins. Refer to the College’s Study Abroad website for vital information.

Can I create an independent study course in Politics?

We strongly discourage independent studies by undergraduate students in the Politics Department. It is almost always better for students to find a seminar that meets their interests. We allow very rare exceptions. These are instances when a Politics Department faculty member and an undergraduate student decide together to pursue a particular topic outside the confines of an established course.

If a faculty member has suggested an independent study to you, then you should consult about preparing a syllabus for the independent study. You and the instructor will need to create a schedule of weekly meetings outside of faculty office hours and a complete list of readings and assignments you will complete during the term of the independent study. Your readings and assignments should be at least the amount you see in a typical 4000 or 5000 level seminar, meaning at least 150-200 pages of reading a week and writing assignments adding up to at least 2,500 words. Then you will submit your plans to the DUP, who will approve or disapprove your independent study.

Can I double-count a class toward the major and toward another UVA graduation requirement?

Yes. Courses that meet UVA distribution requirements (e.g. “social science”, “humanities”) can also count toward the 30 hours of PLxx credit required for the major and toward the 12 hours of related credit.

Can I count the same course toward two majors or toward both a major and a minor?

Students may declare a second major in another department or program, in which case the application for a degree must be approved by both departments or interdepartmental programs. Students receive one diploma, but the double major status is reflected on their transcript. Students who double major must submit at lease 18 credits in each major, credits applied toward one major may not be included in the core 18 hours of the major, and no more than two courses can be counted simultaneously for two majors unless one or both majors is interdisciplinary.

Students may apply up to two classes (six credits) toward both Government or Foreign Affairs and a second major.

Can I double-major or minor in Government and Foreign Affairs?

No. You must choose just one of our majors. You can of course take more than the 30 hours required.

Can I receive credit for an internship?

Yes, but not for PLxx credit toward the 30 hours required for the major. For questions on how to obtain and/or receive academic credit for internships, consult the UVA Career Center’s website on internships.

My advisor is gone for the semester/year. How do I get a new one?

If your advisor is on leave for a fully academic year, you will be assigned a new advisor. If your advisor is gone for only one semester, see any other faculty member or the DUP.

What counts as a related course for my major?

Both of our majors require 12 credits of courses in "Related" disciplines other than Politics. See the Major Requirements section, above, for details on which courses. In extraordinary circumstances, the Director of Undergraduate Programs can consider other courses for approval.

How can I change the courses that SIS counts toward the Related Courses requirement?

SIS automatically picks up Related Courses based on the mnemonic, and there is no way to tell SIS not to count one of those courses. You may petition the Director of Undergraduate Programs to approve courses that are not automatically picked up by SIS.

Can I change the courses that SIS uses to calculate my major GPA?

SIS’s algorithm for identifying major courses cannot be changed. However, your major GPA does not print on your transcript, so consistent with the honor code you may calculate your major GPA using whichever courses you have taken that meet the major requirements. (See the sections, above, for the major requirements, and consult with Ms. Marsh if you have any questions or concerns about which courses count toward which requirements.)

When can I meet with my advisor or the DUP?

Most faculty members have regular office hours. Please note that these are subject to change each semester. If you have an unmovable conflict with your advisor's or the DUP's office hours, contact them by email to schedule an alternate meeting time.