GVPT Benchmark Requirements

Benchmark Requirements

In accordance with the University's policies, the Department of Government and Politics expects students to make timely progress toward graduation. Under normal circumstances, full-time students are expected to complete their degree requirements in four years. Students should successfully complete a specific number of courses each academic year. To help measure progress during the early stages of a student's studies in government and politics, students will have to complete courses designated as benchmarks within a specified number of semesters in order to continue in the major.

GVPT B.A. and International Relations B.S. students must complete the following four courses within two semesters of entering the major:

  • GVPT170 with a grade of C- or higher
  • One 200-level GVPT course with a grade of C- or higher (may not be experiential learning)
  • One of STAT100, MATH107, MATH113, MATH115, MATH120, MATH135, MATH136, or MATH140 with a grade of C- or higher
  • Academic Writing with a grade of C- or higher

Note: At least one of the GVPT courses must not be from AP/IB/CLEP credit.

 

GVPT B.S. and International Relations B.S. students must complete the following courses within three semesters of entering the major:

Benchmark 1

Students must complete the following four courses within two semesters of entering the major:

  • GVPT170 with a grade of C- or higher
  • GVPT201 with a grade of C- or higher
  • One of STAT100, MATH107, MATH113, MATH115, MATH120, MATH135, MATH136, or MATH140 with a grade of C- or higher
  • Academic Writing with a grade of C- or higher

Benchmark 2

Students must complete the following course within one semester of the time they have to complete their Benchmark 1 requirements:

  • GVPT320 with a grade of C- or higher

 

The two-semester window for completing the benchmark requirements begins in the term for which the major change/addition becomes effective. For example, if you change/add the major AFTER the Schedule Adjustment period for Fall 2022, the effective term for your major change/addition will be the next full term, Spring 2023. You would then have Spring 2023 and Fall 2023 to complete the benchmark requirements. If you change/add the major BEFORE the end of the Schedule Adjustment period, the effective term for your major change/addition is the current term. You would have the current term and the next full term to complete the benchmark requirements. For example, if you change/add the major before the Schedule Adjustment period for Fall 2022, the effective term for your major change/addition will be Fall 2022. You would then have Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 to complete the benchmark requirements.

Students who do not successfully complete their benchmark requirements within the allotted time periods are subject to dismissal from the major. Students who are dismissed from the GVPT major due to failure to meet benchmarks may not return to the major in future semesters.

 

Effective Fall 2022, GVPT is transitioning from Limited Enrollment Program Gateway requirements to Benchmark requirements. This change has no impact on GVPT students who were admitted to the major under the Limited Enrollment Program Gateway requirements and policies. Please contact GVPT Advising if you have questions about these changes.