1. Transfer Student Orientation Politics Department
2018

2. Welcome to our Department!
What we study (the fields in political science)
Who can help you
Navigating our websites, SIS, Lou’s List
Forms for transfer students

3. The DUP in Politics This summer: Lynn Sanders lsanders@virginia.edu
After : Allen Lynch

4. Who can REALLY help you: Ms
Who can REALLY help you: Ms. Sharon Marsh Graduate/Undergraduate Assistant, LSA S183 Gibson Hall 1540 Jefferson Park Ave Office Hours: 10-1 and 3-6 (434)

5. Lots of info at our website
Details in this slideshow also available on Department webpages
Major declaration worksheets
Links to faculty office hours, webpages, addresses
Info about events in Department

8. Which major should I pursue?
They are similar
The difference is in the “track”
they are really really close. The difference is in the "track" - in Government you take 3 concentration classes in either PLAP or PLPT; for FA you concentrate on PLIR or PLCP. In theory you could use the same set of ten classes, organized slightly differently across the requirement areas, to complete either major. (After completing the "distributions" - 1 class in each of 4 main Politics fields, a student who took 3 PLAP courses and 3 PLIR courses could treat each of these sets of three as either their "concentration" or "electives" to complete either a Government or Foreign Affairs major).

9. Our two majors Government Foreign Affairs Political Theory
American Politics
Foreign Affairs
Comparative Politics
International Relations

10. Both majors have 4 parts The “Distribution” requirements (4 courses)
The “track” requirements (3 courses)
Politics “electives” (3 courses)
Related courses (4 courses)

11. Both majors require the same “distributions”…
At least one course from 4 major subfields
American Politics
Comparative Politics
International Relations
Political Theory
Maybe explain “plad” is all department – methods that all the fields use, or some courses that cross fields

12. Our courses
PLAD – All Department (methods and inter-sub-disciplinary courses)
PLAP – American Politics
PLCP – Comparative Politics
PLIR – International Relations
PLPT – Political Theory

13. Depending on your major
You’ll pick PLAP, PLPT, PLIR or PLCP for your track or focus

14. Whatever your major You can take any PL** courses for your electives
The electives section is also where your transfer credit gets counted

15. What are RELATED courses?
These are NOT PL** courses but instead courses in fields closely related to Politics like Economics, History, Sociology and Philosophy
Our major requires 10 PL** courses and 4 related courses

16. Levels
1000s – big introductions, “survey” courses, usually large lectures (maximum of 3 allowed)
2000s – focused introductions, specialized courses, usually smaller classes (up to 5 allowed)
3000s – focused intermediate level, narrower topical courses ( or higher required)
4000s – seminars with research component and more writing (1 required)

17. Enrolling for Fall 2018
Some general guidelines

18. Pick TWO
Most of you will want to choose TWO courses for Fall 2018 starting with these PL** mnemonics (the only exception is if you already enrolled in a PL** class at UVA during summer 2018)
Do NOT choose courses that duplicate courses you completed at your previous institution and for which you have received College credit

19. SIS or Lou’s List Full information about classes available either way
Lou’s list is easier for searching classes
SIS gives you access to waitlists, classes, more

20. How many PL** classes should I take?
TWO if you want to DEFER the FA or Gov major
if you have never taken a PL** equivalent but want to major in Government or Foreign Affairs
If you have completed one or more PL** equivalent course after high school
If you aren’t sure Gov or FA is the right major but want to test it out
Maybe THREE
If you are experienced and focused, if you have completed at least two PL** equivalents

21. Worksheets
Blue or green forms OR link at “FORMS” on our website:
LIST any PL** courses you completed after high school
These courses must appear on your transfer credit report
List the UVA classes you’ll use for your major …

22. When can I declare?
After you have completed TWO PL** courses at UVA with no grade lower than a C and with a GPA in the two courses of at least 2.5
So late December 2018/early January 2019 for most of you

23. UVA GPAs
A+, A A- B+ B B- C+ C C-
4.0
3.7
3.3
3.0
2.7
2.3
2.0
1.7

24. What will I do this Fall since I cannot declare?
You may request permission to DEFER declaration of the major in Government or Foreign Affairs

25. To do this you MUST
submit a plan of courses for your major by completing a declaration worksheet
Enroll in TWO PL** courses for Fall 2018
Earn the required GPA in the two courses
Complete a Deferral form (available from the College Registrar at Monroe Hall or from Ms. Marsh) listing the ten PL** courses in your plan
Secure approval of this form from our Department

26. Will Politics courses from my old college count for my major?
Yes, But only after you declare (that is they cannot count as prerequisites)
Two courses (six credits) of PL** will count
Two courses (six credits) of RELATED coursework will count

27. Should I take a RELATED course this Fall?
Quite possibly yes. PROs:
If you aren’t sure that Gov or FA is the right major, a RELATED course can be a step towards a major in that field instead of one of the Politics majors
If you do major in our Department, you will count this course towards your major

28. NEXT STEPS …
Look at Lou’s List or SIS, see what is available Fall 2018
Pencil in these choices in your major worksheet
Enroll in two PL** courses when SIS is open to you
Pencil in other courses you could take in the future on the worksheet
After you finish the worksheet, fill out a DEFERRAL form if you wish to defer your major in Government or Foreign Affairs

29. Applying transfer credit to the major
After your major declaration is complete (after you complete the pre-reqs in December or January) then ask Ms. Marsh or the DUP and we will help you get these classes “re-tagged” to count towards your major – they will count as “electives”