Majors

July 28, 2015 by

Majors, Minors & Areas of Study

Accounting, the bedrock of business

If you have a mind for numbers, analysis and absolute accuracy the accounting major at the University of Mary Washington can open up your future. Accounting is the bedrock of any business, governmental entity or nonprofit organization. At UMW you’ll learn broad principles to specific strategies, preparing you to excel in this essential profession.

Degree Awarded

Students majoring in Accounting who complete all requirements earn the degree of Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business Administration with a major in Accounting.

Areas of Study

Core business courses will give you a solid foundation for major-specific offerings including Accounting for Managers, Business Law for Accountants, and Auditing.

Career Opportunities

A bachelor’s degree in accounting will prepare you for a variety of public, management, government, and internal accounting positions. Work with individuals, nonprofit groups, small businesses, and large corporations on financial planning, payroll, taxes, and auditing.

See Career Paths

Internships

The College of Business recognizes that internships not only help students develop academically, they contribute to the real-world experience and form connections that can lead to careers after graduation. The COB maintains a list of local internships that require business and accounting knowledge.

Learn about earning academic honors at the University of Mary Washington.

The accounting major requires 12 prerequisite credits, 30 core business credits, and 18 credits in upper-level accounting courses.

July 28, 2015 by

Majors, Minors & Areas of Study

Turn on your brain.

Major in psychology at the University of Mary Washington, and you’ll have classes and labs with committed faculty who are authorities on aspects the human experience. Transform classroom knowledge into professional experience through research projects, internships, or even spend a semester learning applied behavioral analysis at the New England Center for Children. Meet the challenge as you prepare yourself for higher study or a career that makes a difference.

Areas of Study

Psychology majors study traditional areas of psychology and its recent trends and theories. They receive extensive training in methodology and statistics. Many students join faculty-led research teams and conduct yearlong research projects. The psychology major emphasizes developing skills in critical thinking, writing, oral communication, and research.

Career Opportunities

An understanding of yourself and others puts you in line for jobs such as business research, social work, human resource management, computer applications, counseling and case management in social service and mental health organizations, and more. Or aim for graduate work for a future in fields like forensic psychology, counseling, and research.

See Career Paths

Internships

Psychology majors must take at least one out-of-the-classroom course, called the Out of Class Requirement. You may do a yearlong research project with a faculty member, then present your work at a conference. Or you can find a relevant internship or opportunity for community service.

Approved Internships

Psychology majors may qualify to join the Psi Chi honor society. Learn more about earning academic honors for your major.

Major Requirements (effective Fall 2023)

The major in psychology requires 37 credit hours, beginning with general psychology. You will take core courses in statistics and research methods and explore a wide breadth of psychological domains including social/psychopathology/personality, biological, cognitive, developmental, and human diversity. Finally, you will do a research capstone and an out of class capstone.

Minor Requirements

Those interested in psychiatric healthcare, pharmacology, or related graduate training may be interested in the neuroscience minor.

The Department of Psychological Science offers three named scholarships, each of which may have more than one recipient in an academic year.

July 28, 2015 by

Majors, Minors & Areas of Study

Walls can talk.

Old buildings aren’t just weathered wood – they’re portals to the history our ancestors lived. The University of Mary Washington’s historic preservation program is among the nation’s largest and best-regarded. Explore design, conservation and material culture in historic Fredericksburg, with fieldwork and internship opportunities in Washington, Richmond and Colonial Williamsburg. Build your research, analytical and communications skills as you work to preserve tangible connections to our history.

Historic Preservation Degree Requirements

The historic preservation major requires 37 credits from introductory, intermediate, and advanced course offerings within the department. Independent study and an internship are strongly encouraged.

What courses will I take?

Historic preservation at the University of Mary Washington encompasses architectural conservation, archaeology, urban planning and design, documentation, fieldwork, material culture, museum curatorship and management, and international preservation.

Historic Preservation Courses

What can I do with a historic preservation degree?

Many University of Mary Washington historic preservation majors find immediate employment after graduation, in fields as varied as archaeology, city planning, museum administration, building restoration, transportation policy, archiving, and cultural resource management.
The Department of Historic Preservation maintains a job bank of internships and full-time positions across the country for which historic preservation majors and graduates may qualify.

See Career Paths

Internship and Job Opportunities

Fredericksburg’s many museums and historic sites are a fertile ground for internships for historic preservation majors. And our proximity to Richmond, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., creates even more opportunities. Many UMW students find paid internship opportunities with the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior, and some positions are open only to historic preservation majors.

Historic Preservation Job Bank

To be considered for honors in historic preservation, you must have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 overall and at least 3.25 in historic preservation by the end of junior year. During the senior year, you’ll complete an honors thesis involving two semesters of original research and writing. It may be in any area of preservation, including archaeology, architectural conservation or history, folk culture, landscape, museums, preservation law, and preservation planning. The thesis must be accepted by the historic preservation faculty, which then decides whether to grant honors upon commencement.

UMW historic preservation majors can apply for numerous dedicated scholarships.

July 28, 2015 by

Majors, Minors & Areas of Study

Know chemistry, know the universe.

Chemistry is the bridge between the physical and life sciences, the key to understanding every material aspect of the universe. Major in chemistry at the University of Mary Washington and you’ll master the properties of matter and make vital connections among disciplines. You’ll challenge yourself with courses and labs that ignite your passions, preparing you to make breakthroughs whether you enter the career world right away or pursue advanced study.

Degree Awarded

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

Areas of Study

UMW’s bachelor’s program in chemistry covers societal, organic, physical, and environmental chemistry, and offers courses in biochemistry, chemical analysis, chemical outreach, and more.

Career Opportunities

A chemistry degree from UMW will prepare you for a career or advanced studies in environmental chemistry, chemical engineering, clinical chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, biomedical and forensic science, or technical sales. Our graduates have found careers at NASA, Dow, Virginia Power, Pfizer, the Naval Research Laboratory, Atlantic Research, Estee Lauder, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Naval Surface Warfare Center, and the National Institutes of Health.

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.

To earn departmental honors in chemistry, you must have at least a 3.25 grade-point average in chemistry and 3.0 overall. You’ll complete an independent research project, then write and defend a thesis. Students pursuing departmental honors enroll in Chemistry 491 for four credits in each semester of the senior year.

Major Requirements

Chemistry majors must complete 39 credits, including 19 upper-level courses. Students may complete extra coursework to earn an American Chemical Society-certified degree.

Minor Requirements

A minor in chemistry requires at least 15 credits, including general chemistry with a lab, either organic chemistry or chemical analysis, each with a lab, and three more courses, to include no more than one lab, chosen from biochemistry, environmental chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and physical chemistry.

Numerous scholarships and awards are available for chemistry majors.

July 28, 2015 by

Majors, Minors & Areas of Study

Command a language spoken by millions.

Major in German at the University of Mary Washington, and you’ll master composition and conversation, study German culture, economics, and architecture, and explore the literatures of Austria and Germany. Spend a summer or semester studying in Erfurt, Germany, and consider a minor in business German to prepare for an international career in industry, tourism or diplomacy.

Degree Awarded

Students majoring in German who complete all requirements earn the degree of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in modern foreign languages.

Areas of Study

UMW offers beginning and intermediate German; introduction to German literature; business German; German civilization; advanced German literature courses; advanced grammar, conversation, and composition; seminars in German; individual studies; and for-credit internships.

Career Opportunities

UMW German graduates find career opportunities in interpreting, translating, research, social services, education, and international business.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the demand for interpreters and translators will increase by more than 46 percent between 2012 and 2022, making this field one of the fastest-growing occupations.

See Career Paths

Internships

Internships offer hands-on experience and course credit to juniors and seniors. Recent UMW German students have had internships with the U.S. State Department, the FBI, and Volkswagen USA. There also are internship opportunities abroad.

Students who have at least a 3.5 grade-point average in the French major and a 3.0 GPA overall by the beginning of senior year can apply to complete a research-based thesis for departmental honors. A three-member committee will hear the thesis defense and determine whether honors will be awarded.

An undergraduate research grant, awarded through the Office of Academic Affairs, may be available for travel and other thesis-related expenses.

Major Requirements

Students complete eight courses on the advanced level, including two required courses in writing and speaking; one required course in literature and culture; and five electives in advanced literature, culture, or language.

Minor Requirements

The German minor requires 26 credits including core classes and three upper-level electives.

The minor in business German also requires 26 credits including a sequence of business or economics courses.

Eligible students can apply for scholarships to defray costs of faculty-led travel programs. Multiple awards are made each semester. Several scholarships also are available to help students spend a semester studying abroad.