Degree: B.A., Political Science
Department of Political Science and International Affairs
Political Science, the study of how various political systems work, is a Bachelor of Arts degree program. The department offers courses ranging from U.S. political institutions and behavior to international politics and conflict. UMW’s proximity to Richmond and D.C. provides many outlets for students to gain practical knowledge of the field, including visits to Virginia’s state capital and to Washington, D.C., internships in governmental offices, and involvement in major political events, such as the United Nations’ student conference and state and national campaigns. Political Science is an excellent background for a career in law, urban planning, teaching, government, public service, and private enterprise; it also lends itself to further study in graduate school.
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Students will understand of American national institutions.
2. Students will understand political life in Europe.
3. Students will understand principal categories of political analysis.
4. Students will appreciate the nature of systematic inquiry.
5. Students will understand democratic/pluralist models.
6. Students will understand principal theories of international relations.
7. Students will understand principal ideas of major political theorists.
8. Students will have facility in discipline-specific written communication.
Students will maximize the program's advantage based on the location of the university and active faculty.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSCI 101A | Introduction to Political Science 1 | 3 |
| PSCI 102A | Introduction to International Relations 1 | 3 |
| PSCI 201 | American Government | 3 |
| Select one course each to be chosen by faculty advisor and student from each of the following subfields: American Politics; Comparative Politics; International Relations; Political Theory | 12 | |
| Select 15 additional credits in political science | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
- 1
PSCI 101A Introduction to Political Science and PSCI 102A Introduction to International Relations is a prerequisite to all Political Science courses, except PSCI 201 American Government.
Effective for students matriculating Fall 2020 and beyond, completion of one Writing Intensive (WI) course and one Speaking Intensive (SI) course must be taken within the major.
General Education Requirements
The general education requirements for Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degrees apply to all students who are seeking to earn an undergraduate B.A., B.S. or B.S.Ed. degree.
Students seeking a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree have a separate set of BLS general education requirements.
Electives
Elective courses are those that are not needed to fulfill a general education requirement or major program requirement but are chosen by the student to complete the 120 credits required for graduation with a B.A./B.S./B.S.Ed. degree or the BLS degree. These courses may be taken graded or pass/fail (or S/U in the case of physical education and 100-level dance). No student in a regular B.A./B.S./B.S.Ed. program may count more than 60 credits in a single discipline toward the 120 credits required for graduation.
Total Credits Required for the Degree: 120 credits
Plan of Study
This suggested plan of study should serve as a guide to assist students when planning their course selections. It is not a substitute for a student's Degree Evaluation or the Program Requirements listed for this major in the catalog. Academic planning is the student's responsibility, and course selections should be finalized only after speaking with an advisor. Students should familiarize themselves with the catalog in effect at the time they matriculated at the University of Mary Washington. Students should also familiarize themselves with general education requirements which can be fulfilled through general electives as well as major/minor course requirements. Course requirements and sequencing may vary with AP, IB, CLEP, Cambridge or previous coursework, transfer courses, or other conditions. To be considered full-time, an undergraduate student must be enrolled in 12 or more credits for the semester.
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| FSEM 100 | First-Year Seminar | 3 |
| PSCI 101A or PSCI 102A |
Introduction to Political Science or Introduction to International Relations |
3 |
| General Education Courses | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSCI 102A or PSCI 101A |
Introduction to International Relations or Introduction to Political Science |
3 |
| General Education Courses | 12 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSCI 201 | American Government | 3 |
| General Education Courses | 12 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Core PSCI Course | 3 | |
| General Education Courses or Electives | 12 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| Core PSCI Course | 3 | |
| PSCI Elective | 3 | |
| General Education Courses or Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Core PSCI Course | 3 | |
| PSCI Elective | 3 | |
| General Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| Core PSCI Course | 3 | |
| PSCI Electives | 6 | |
| General Electives | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| PSCI Elective | 3 | |
| General Electives | 12 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Note: Political Science majors may count PSCI 491 Individual Study in Political Science and PSCI 499 Internship (3 credits maximum) with departmental approval.
Political Science and International Affairs Faculty
Rosalyn L. Cooperman, Chair
Jason W. Davidson, Career Advisor and Director of the Security and Conflict Studies Minor
Stephen J. Farnsworth, Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies
Professors
Rosalyn L. Cooperman
Jason W. Davidson
Stephen J. Farnsworth
Surupa Gupta
Emile J. Lester
Associate Professors
Ranjit Singh
Assistant Professors
Guanyi Leu
Melissa Martinez
Jared A. McDonald