Concentrations: None

Major requirements and their VCCS equivalents (and RBC equivalents if applicable)

JMU Course: POSC 225, U.S. Government

  • VCCS equivalents: PLS 135
  • RBC equivalents: GOVT 201

JMU Course: POSC 230, International Relations

  • VCCS equivalents: PLS 241
  • RBC equivalents: No equivalent

JMU Course: POSC 240, Comparative Politics

  • VCCS equivalents: PLS 140
  • RBC equivalents: GOVT 203

JMU Course: POSC 302, State and Local Government

  • VCCS equivalents: PLS 136
  • RBC equivalents: GOVT 253
  • NOTE: Will count as an elective in the major

JMU Course: POSC 321, Political Theory and Ideology

  • VCCS equivalents: PLS 200
  • RBC equivalents: No equivalent
  • NOTE: Will count as an elective in the major

JMU Course: POSC 351, Topics in American Politics

  • VCCS equivalents: PLS 216
  • RBC equivalents: No equivalent
  • NOTE: Will count as an elective in the major

JMU Course: POSC 361, Topics in International Relations

  • VCCS equivalents: PLS 250 or 255
  • RBC equivalents: GOVT 202
  • NOTE: Will count as an elective in the major

JMU Course: Philosophy course for the B.A. degree

  • VCCS equivalents: PHI 100, 101, 200, or 227
  • RBC equivalents: PHIL 101, 201, 202 or 203
  • NOTE: Not required to transfer; may be taken at JMU. Please Note: PHI 111 and 220 (VCCS) and PHIL 121 (RBC) will transfer but DO NOT count for the B.A. philosophy requirement.

JMU Course: PSYC 160, Life Span Human Development

  • VCCS equivalents: PSY 230 or 231 and 232
  • RBC equivalents: PSY 250
  • NOTE: Required for students pursuing teacher licensure in secondary education with an endorsement in social studies.

JMU Course: EDUC 200, Foundations of American Education

  • VCCS equivalents: EDU 200
  • RBC equivalents: No equivalent
  • NOTE: Required for students pursuing teacher licensure in secondary education with an endorsement in social studies (double major in political science and secondary education only, not required for students in the 5 year M.A.T. program).

JMU Course: HIST 225, U.S. History

  • VCCS equivalents: HIS 121 and 122
  • RBC equivalents: HIST 201 and 202
  • NOTE: Required for students pursuing teacher licensure in secondary education with an endorsement in social studies.

JMU Course: ECON 200, Introduction to Macroeconomics or ECON 201, Introduction to Microeconomics

  • VCCS equivalents: ECO 201 or 202
  • RBC equivalents: ECON 201 or 202
  • NOTE: Required for students pursuing teacher licensure in secondary education with an endorsement in social studies.

JMU Course: GEOG 200, Geography: The Global Dimension or GEOG 280, Human Geography: The Cultural Landscape

  • VCCS equivalents: GEO 210 or 220
  • RBC equivalents: GEO 101 or 103
  • NOTE: Required for students pursuing teacher licensure in secondary education with an endorsement in social studies.

JMU Course: EDUC 310, Teaching in a Diverse Society

  • VCCS equivalents: EDU 204
  • RBC equivalents: No equivalent
  • NOTE: Required for students pursuing teacher licensure in secondary education with an endorsement in social studies.

JMU Course: EXED 200, Foundations of Exceptional Education

  • VCCS equivalents: EDU 250
  • RBC equivalents: No equivalent
  • NOTE: Required for students pursuing teacher licensure in secondary education with an endorsement in social studies.

Advising Notes

Please Read: This major guide is a list of all possible major courses offered in the Virginia Community College System. Not all courses may be offered at your community college, and you are not required to complete all these courses in order to transfer. Rather, it’s designed to help you meet JMU major requirements before you transfer, and be better prepared to progress through the major once you arrive at JMU. Please be sure to read the advising notes for additional information on the major.

  1. Political Science is a B.A. degree only. The B.A. requires intermediate proficiency in a foreign language and a philosophy course. 
  2. Students seeking teacher licensure in social studies must also complete the pre-professional secondary education program (5-year program) or double major in secondary education (4-year program) and the minor in social studies. All education students must apply and be admitted to Teacher Education. See the admission requirements and use the links below to learn more about the application process.

Updated 5/23

For more information:

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