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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.

ECO 210Principles of Microeconomics *

3

OR

ECO 211Principles of Macroeconomics *

3

MA 132Statistical Analysis *

3

POL 102International Relations *

3

POL 103Comparative Politics *

3

POL 210Western Political Concepts I

3

POL 211Western Political Concepts II

3

POL 250Research and Writing *

3

POL 305American Policy Process *

3

POL 335American Constitutional Law I

3

POL 400Internship *

3

POL 420Senior Seminar *

3

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 102International Relations *

3

EN 101Composition I *

3

HI
Introductory History (HI-1) core course *

3

Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course *

3

DSC 101DISCOVER First-Year Seminar *

3

EN 101: WR core course

Year One — Spring

EN 102Composition II *

3

POL 103Comparative Politics *

3

TRS 100Theological Inquiry *

3

Natural Science (NS) core course with lab *

One (1) elective

3

EN 102: WR core course

TRS 100: TRS-1 core course

Year Two — Fall

PH 100Introduction to Philosophy *

3

POL 210Western Political Concepts I

3

POL 250Research and Writing *

3

MA 132Statistical Analysis *

3

EN
Introductory Literature (LT-1) core course *

3

PH 100: PH-1 core course

MA 132: MT core course

Year Two — Spring

POL 211Western Political Concepts II

3

POL 305American Policy Process *

3

 

ECO 210Principles of Microeconomics *

3

OR

ECO 211Principles 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 *

POL 305: SS-2 core course

ECO 210, ECO 211: SS-1 core course

Year Three — Fall

POL 335American 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 400Internship *

3

POL 420Senior Seminar *

3

Three (3) electives

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.