Overview

Course overview

The Political and Social Thought program at University of Virginia has four basic components

The PST Core Seminars (6 credits, taken in the third year);
Two Foundation Courses (drawn from a large number of possible courses; 6 credits);
6 credits each in three “Study Areas” defined by the student in collaboration with the Director;
A Thesis completed in the fourth year (6 credits attributed to the thesis itself, plus 2 credits for the thesis-workshop seminars).

The third-year Core Seminar is intended to build a strong sense of intellectual community. In the fourth year, students focus on their individual thesis projects, receiving guidance from the bi-weekly thesis seminar and workshop. “Study Areas” are flexible, and might correspond to a theme; to a particular object of study; to a region of the world; or to a discipline or sub-discipline.

Because of the intense and cohesive nature of the program over two years, study abroad during the school year cannot ordinarily be allowed.

The program attracts able, creative, diverse, and independent students with strong interests — theoretical and practical — in politics and society. Each spring, 18-20 rising third-year students are selected for the program from a substantial applicant pool. Students are chosen on the basis of grades, a writing sample, a faculty recommendation, and a short application essay.

Careers

Members of recent classes from the Political and Social Thought program at University of Virginia, have been accepted to law schools at Harvard, Yale, N.Y.U., and Virginia and to Ph.D. programs at the same and similar institutions. Other students have gone on to careers in publishing, investment banking, community organizing, theater, and positions in NGOs and advocacy groups like Amnesty International. In short, PST majors find themselves well-prepared for careers in a wider variety of fields.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Origins of Modern Thought
Marx
Origins of Contemporary Thought
Justice, Law, and Morality
Political Philosophy
Law and Society

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-08-24 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-01-05 00:00:00

Language

English

Credits

120 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Charlottesville, United States

Disciplines

Political Science View 1410 other Bachelors in Political Science in United States

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

We are not aware of any English requirements for this programme.

Other requirements

General requirements

A cover sheet including your full name (Last, First Middle); student ID number (from your student card); email address, cellphone number; cumulative GPA; permanent mailing address; and, finally, the name, email and department of your recommender.
Your transcript. An unofficial transcript, downloaded as a pdf, is available from your Student Center in SIS. Be sure to rename the dowloaded file with your last name.

A letter of recommendation by a faculty member

A list of your three proposed areas of study, with two specific courses per area.

A 300-500 word essay describing your interest in the program

A digital copy of paper submitted to a previous course

A brief statement of your most important extracurricular activities that also explains why you find the commitment worthwhile.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

55436 USD / year

≈ 55436 USD / year
Out-of-State

55436 USD / year

≈ 55436 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

16258 USD / year

≈ 16258 USD / year

Living costs

Charlottesville

United States

990 - 1600 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Get Visa Support

Get personalized guidance from a certified VFS Global advisor and save 20% through Studyportals.

Avoid common visa mistakes and delays
Know exactly what documents you need
Get a clear checklist tailored to your situation

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Political and Social Thought.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About