Politics (B.A.)
Resources for the study of politics in the Washington area are extraordinary, and students have the opportunity to participate frequently in many history-making events that occur in this capital city. The program presents a structured curriculum of courses in political theory, international relations, and the politics and governmental institutions of the United States and foreign countries. Students majoring in politics are encouraged to consider a minor in communication, economics, English, history, information technology, or philosophy.
Seniors are required to complete an internship in a government agency, congressional office, corporate government affairs department, or other site approved by the academic internship mentor for politics. Seniors must also complete the senior seminar and a comprehensive examination.
Upon successful completion of the politics program, students will be able to
- explain the internal logic of basic political science concepts such as power, institutions, political systems, the state, conflict, and citizenship;
- acquire factual knowledge using appropriate sources;
- interpret information as a way to evaluate abstract or conceptual ideas;
- understand the motivations and beliefs of political actors from their own perspectives;
- use conceptual ideas to evaluate novel situations;
- express analysis and conclusions in clear writing;
- understand the structure and conclusions of scholarly articles in political science; and
- understand, correctly, the basic working of political institutions in the United States and around the world.
Politics Honors: Students who major in politics, achieve at graduation a minimum GPA of 3.5 in politics courses (at least 8 of which must be completed at Marymount University), and achieve superior performance in the senior thesis and comprehensive examination are eligible to graduate with honors in politics.
Degree Requirements — Politics
This degree requires a total of 120 credits.
Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements
See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for details. Politics majors will satisfy the three-course university Writing-Intensive (WI) requirement in the following way: POL 250 Research and Writing and POL 420 Senior Seminar, and POL 355 Global Security or POL 380 Politics of Latin America.
Major Requirements
To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with a faculty advisor. Some courses also satisfy Liberal Arts Core and/or University Requirements.
Eighteen (18) additional credits in politics courses at the 300- to 400-level
Sample Degree Plan — Politics
Please note that this is a sample plan; all students must consult with an advisor in making course selections.
Year One — Fall
| POL 102 | International Relations * | 3 |
| EN 101 | Composition I * | 3 |
| HI | Introductory History (HI-1) core course * | 3 |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course * | 3 |
| DSC 101 | DISCOVER First-Year Seminar * | 3 |
Year One — Spring
| EN 102 | Composition II * | 3 |
| POL 103 | Comparative Politics * | 3 |
| TRS 100 | Theological Inquiry * | 3 |
| | Natural Science (NS) core course with lab * | |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Two — Fall
| PH 100 | Introduction to Philosophy * | 3 |
| POL 210 | Western Political Concepts I | 3 |
| POL 250 | Research and Writing * | 3 |
| MA 132 | Statistical Analysis * | 3 |
| EN | Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course * | 3 |
Year Two — Spring
| POL 211 | Western Political Concepts II | 3 |
| POL 305 | American Policy Process * | 3 |
| | | |
| ECO 210 | Principles of Microeconomics * | 3 |
| | OR | |
| ECO 211 | Principles of Macroeconomics * | 3 |
| | | |
| | Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced Literature (LT-2) or Advanced History (HI-2) core course * | 3 |
| | Introductory Social Science (SS-1) or Natural Science (NS) core course * | |
Year Three — Fall
| POL 335 | American Constitutional Law I | 3 |
| | Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced History (HI-2), or Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course (Advanced History recommended) * | |
| PH | Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course * | 3 |
| | 300/400-level politics course | |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |
Year Three — Spring
| | Two (2) 300/400-level politics courses | |
| | Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course * | 3 |
| | Two (2) electives | |
Year Four — Fall
| | Three (3) 300/400-level politics courses | |
| | Two (2) electives | |
Year Four — Spring
POL 400: Internship may be taken for 3 or 6 credits. POL 400 fulfills University Requirement for Experiential Learning.
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and the Course Descriptions for further information.