How do we govern ourselves?
As a political science major at the University of Mary Washington, you’re positioned for politics – in Fredericksburg, halfway between the capital cities of Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia. You’ll transform classroom knowledge into professional accomplishment at the local, state or national level and graduate ready to help shape a complex world.
Degree Awarded
Students majoring in political science who complete all requirements earn the degree of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in political science.
Areas of Study
Learn how political systems function through courses ranging from U.S. government to international politics. Choose from courses covering the American presidency, the U.S. federal judiciary, political parties and elections, foreign policy, comparative governments, international relations, politics of developing countries, theory and practice of revolution, gender and politics, mass media politics, and more.
Career Opportunities
Political science is an ideal start for a career in law, urban planning, teaching, government, and private enterprise. Our political science alumni win Fulbright Scholarships, get published in peer-reviewed journals, work for presidential campaigns and at the highest levels of local, state, and national government, and go to well-regarded graduate schools. To see where our graduates have landed, visit careers.
Internships
UMW students have had internships in many congressional and other governmental offices in Washington, D.C., Richmond, and Fredericksburg, and at such organizations as the World Bank, the American Enterprise Institute, Common Cause, ABC News, and Washington Monthly. Students in this major have an internship placement rate of 100 percent.
To graduate with honors, you’ll maintain at least a 3.4 grade-point average overall and in the major. You’ll conduct an independent study and write and defend an honors thesis. Some recent examples: “Counterinsurgency in the Philippines,” “The Shining Path in Peru,” “Independent Peace Movements in Eastern Europe,” “The Latin American Debt Crisis,” and “Conservatism in America.”
Major Requirements
The political science major requires 36 credits including introductory courses and at least one writing-intensive class. You’ll choose additional courses from the fields of American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory, and you’ll pursue your interests in-depth through departmental electives.
Minor Requirements
The Department of Political Science and International Affairs offers a minor in security and conflict studies.
Scholarships are available specifically for political science majors, but you can also apply for numerous scholarships available to students in all majors.