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Majors

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Majors, Minors & Areas of Study

English: Creative Writing

Unleash your words to change the world.

Creative writing challenges, entertains, enlightens, and transforms – powers so potent authoritarians have tried to ban them from the earliest days of the written word. Major in creative writing at the University of Mary Washington and you’ll channel those powers as you develop your craft and build your body of original work. Become a more insightful reader and thinker as you gain the broad liberal arts and sciences knowledge to open a future without limits.

Degree Awarded

Students majoring in English: Creative Writing who complete all requirements earn the degree of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English.

Areas of Study

Majors often go on to graduate school to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree; teach at the high school level; or work in the fields of publishing, editing, and public relations. They are also often lifelong writers, many going on to publish their own creative work.

Career Opportunities

Majors often go on to graduate school to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree; teach at the high school level; or work in the fields of publishing, editing, and public relations. They are also often lifelong writers, many continuing to place their creative work in magazines and journals, both print and online.

See Career Paths

Internships

Students may complete for-credit internships to gain knowledge and job experience. Many students study abroad to increase cultural awareness, broaden their perspectives, and develop skills for an increasingly international employment marketplace.

To earn honors in English, you must have a 3.7 GPA in the major and earn an A on an honors project approved by your advisor.

The concentration requires 36 credits, including five creative writing courses and courses in linguistics and literature. Literature courses must include one pre-1900, one post-1900, and one course in literature of historically marginalized groups.

The Department of English and Linguistics offers numerous scholarships and awards, include some available specifically for the study of creative writing.

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Majors, Minors & Programs

Biochemistry

What functions sustain life?

Major in biochemistry at the University of Mary Washington and you’ll come to understand living organisms, starting at the molecular and atomic levels. Challenge yourself with such courses as organic chemistry, bioinformatics, the biology and biochemistry of proteins, physical chemistry and more, then apply your knowledge through research and internships. As you discover where your scientific passions lie, you’ll pave your path to a career in medicine, dentistry, nutrition, agriculture, environmental science, or a field you create for yourself.

Degree Awarded

Students majoring in Biochemistry who complete all requirements earn the degree of Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Chemistry.

Areas of Study

In the UMW biochemistry major, which you will pursue through the Department of Chemistry, you’ll take chemistry, biology, and physics as well as biochemistry lectures and labs. If you choose, there are electives in nutrition and metabolism, the biology of cancer, biochemistry of proteins, and more.

Career Opportunities

A biochemistry degree is great preparation for a career in dentistry, medicine, veterinary medicine, nutrition, and more. For some, it leads to entry-level careers in medicine, agriculture and the environment. Because of the transferable and highly employable skills you develop during your studies, you’ll have the choice to pursue careers outside of science as well.

See Career Paths

Internships

Students are encouraged to pursue research and internship opportunities with such employers as the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the American Chemical Society.  Learn more about UMW internships in chemistry, some of which are specific to biochemistry.

“I just feel like that’s the place where I can help the most people, people who are facing extremely slim odds of making it through their illnesses. … I feel that’s my calling.”

Matt Tovar
Class of ’18

Pursuing graduation with departmental honors in biochemistry requires a 3.25 grade-point average in your chemistry courses and a 3.0 overall GPA. You’ll complete an independent research project, then write and defend a thesis. Students pursuing department honors register for Chemistry 491 for four credits in each semester of the senior year.

To receive a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry, you must earn 48 credits from the disciplines of biology and chemistry. You will also need to complete the introductory physics sequence and calculus I and II. You may choose electives tailored to your interests, such as nutrition, cancer research, or others to prepare you for future endeavors.

Each year, the department awards two UMW Foundation research-focused scholarships (Mahoney and Rodgers fellowships) and two more general scholarships (Cook and Crissman scholarships). These are awarded annually on the basis of merit and, in some cases, financial need. In addition, there are three other scholarships that the department offers on a rotating basis with the other science departments (Cope, Gill, and Rimnac scholarships).

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Majors, Minors & Areas of study

Environmental Geology

Driven to understand – and protect – our planet?

Major in environmental geology at the University of Mary Washington and you’ll examine Earth and its environments through a problem-solving mindset. Combine coursework with practical research and internships, preparing yourself for an exciting career that could help curb the hazards that threaten our planet. UMW’s location near the Rappahannock River – between the Chesapeake Bay and the Shenandoah Valley – is a prime spot for fieldwork, and our proximity to D.C. and Richmond allows our majors to gain practical experience through internships. Whether you’re interested in graduate study or immediate employment in industry, environmental consulting, teaching, government or nonprofits, you’ll graduate ready for the next exciting stage in your geologic career.

Degree Awarded

Students majoring in environmental geology who complete all requirements earn the degree of Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Environmental Science and Geology.

Areas of Study

UMW’s bachelor’s program in environmental geology includes courses in field methods, mineralogy, sedimentation and stratigraphy, structural geology, soil science, hydrogeology, and geographic information science (GIS). Choose additional coursework in watershed management, energy resources, climate change, and more. Independent research and internships are highly recommended.

Career Opportunities

Thanks to plentiful opportunities for independent study, research, and internships, and the state-of-the-art facilities available in UMW’s Jepson Science Center, students who earn their degrees in environmental geology from UMW are poised to find work in environmental consulting, government, teaching, and several other fields. Many go on to graduate study at highly competitive universities.

See Career Paths

Internships

Our students land internships with private industry, government agencies, and NGOs. Recent UMW geology students have held internships with the City of Fredericksburg, Army Corps of Engineers, National Resources Conservation Services, Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries, Friends of the Rappahannock, and the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. More information on internships can be found through the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, or through Academic and Career Services.

Students with a 3.00 overall GPA and a 3.25 average in geology courses may pursue Honors in Geology or Environmental Geology by completing an independent research project and writing and defending a thesis.

UMW’s environmental geology major requires 43 credits, including two required chemistry courses and six required geology courses, with the remainder of the required credits in geology, geography, or environmental science. Environmental geology majors also are encouraged to do independent study and research during their senior year.

A complete list of available scholarships is provided by UMW’s Office of Financial Aid.

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Majors, Minors & Areas of Study

Philosophy: Pre-Law

Headed for law school?

Prepare your legal mind with a major in philosophy: pre-law at the University of Mary Washington. You’ll challenge yourself with courses in logic, ethics and the legal system while testing your powers of argument through Mary Washington’s renowned mock trial and debate teams. Law firm internships, LSAT study sessions, pre-law advising and more position UMW pre-law alumni to excel at the nation’s top schools of law.

Degree Awarded

Students majoring in philosophy: pre-law concentration who complete all requirements earn the degree of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in philosophy and religious studies.

Areas of Study

Many students in UMW’s pre-law program choose to major in philosophy, but even if you decide to pair your pre-law studies with another of our majors – political science or psychology, for example – you’ll still study the philosophy of ancient Greece, the early modern era, law, ethics, logic, and more.

In addition, UMW offers the “3+3 Accelerated Program” with George Mason University. It allows highly motivated students a fast track to earn both a bachelor’s degree and a law degree in six, rather than seven, years of study.

Career Opportunities

The pre-law track in philosophy prepares you for entry to law school.

Internships

The Department of Classics, Philosophy, and Religion offers opportunities to complete research, present at conferences, and make valuable contacts for the professional world.

To graduate with honors in philosophy, you must have at least a 3.5 grade-point average in the major. You’ll complete a research project and write and defend a senior thesis. If you choose another major to combine with pre-law, you may pursue honors in that program.

Major Requirements

The pre-law concentration requires 33 credits, made up mostly of courses in philosophy – including the philosophy of law, ancient and modern philosophy, ethics, and non-Western philosophy – as well as logic.

Minor Requirements

The pre-law concentration requires 33 credits, made up mostly of courses in philosophy and also requiring Latin, logic, and philosophy of law.

The Department of Classics, Philosophy, and Religion offers several scholarships and awards.

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Majors, Minors & Areas of Study

Data Science

Data drives the world.

UMW’s major and minor in data science cover the evidence-based approaches, analytical models, and stat-centered processes critical in nearly every field. Understand complex systems and make sound decisions in today’s quick-changing world. Study techniques for analyzing big data, social media, consumer information, demographic trends, sports data, and more. Collaborate with scientists and statisticians from the nearby Dahlgren Naval Surface Warfare Center. Understand the behavior of complex systems, aid in decision-making and become essential to any modern enterprise.

Areas of Study

As a data science minor at UMW, you’ll gain fundamentals in math, computer science, statistics, and business analytics. Choose from courses in data mining, modeling and simulation, linear algebra, statistics, and analytics application development.

Career Opportunities

No matter what your major, UMW’s data science minor will enhance your credentials and provide you with a skill set beneficial to the career path you choose – business, education, government, you name it. With companies around the world realizing the value of leveraging large amounts of information to make effective decisions, data science is an exploding job market.

Internships

At UMW, internships give data science minors valuable real-world experience and resume-boosting on-the-job training. Many data science students find internships with the Dahlgren naval base and affiliated defense contractors. Plenty of analytics and data science opportunities, many with nonprofits, exist in nearby Washington, D.C. A complete list of available internships is provided by Career Services.

Major

Please review the course catalog for major requirements.

Minor

UMW’s data science minor requires 15 credits in areas including math, data science, computer science, and business administration.

At UMW, the Department of Computer Science offers a variety of scholarships.