Minor

July 28, 2015 by

Majors, Minors & Areas of Study

Micro- or macro-, but constantly changing. Learn why.

How do humans react to abundance and scarcity? How do policy decisions and current events bear on people’s most personal decisions? Major in economics at the University of Mary Washington and you’ll think creatively to grasp how financial, social and government structures intersect with group and individual behavior. Go beyond micro and macro theory to build quantitative, analytical, research and communication skills for a problem-solving future.

Degree Awarded

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

Areas of Study

Study micro-, macro-, industrial, environmental, health, urban and regional economics. You can take courses in the economics of social issues; government and business; money and banking; public finance; philanthropy; the history of economics; investment analysis; poverty, affluence, and equality; and more.

Career Opportunities

With a thorough understanding of the principles of economics, you could follow UMW alums who now have such positions as president of BetaTau Enterprises, analyst for the Bureau of the Census, CEO of Animators at Law, claims investigator for Geico Insurance, accountant and trader for Sempra Energy Trading Corp., economics teacher in the Peace Corps, investment broker at A.G. Edwards & Sons, and researcher with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

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Internships

UMW students have benefited from internships with SunTrust Mortgage, Edward Jones Investments, the Washington Capitals, CNN’s Crossfire, Booz Allen Hamilton, the Environmental Protection Agency, Prudential Securities, the First Nations Development Institute, Paine Webber, the Virginia Credit Union, and more.

To receive departmental honors in economics you’ll need at least a 3.5 GPA in the major. You’ll complete an individual study and write and defend an honors thesis during your senior year. UMW also has a chapter of Omicron Delta Epsilon, an international economics honor society.

Major Requirements

The economics major requires 39 credits, including eight core courses and five electives.

Minor Requirements

An economics minor requires 21 credits, including four core courses and three electives.

Numerous scholarships and awards are available for economics majors. Among them are the James Harvey Dodd Award for a junior economics major based on financial need and academic achievement. The Adam Smith Award is given to a graduating senior based on potential for graduate study. The Fred E. Miller Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a rising junior or senior who is double-majoring in economics and business administration. The Richard George Allgaier Scholarship is awarded to economics and accounting majors. Learn more about economics scholarship opportunities.

July 28, 2015 by

Majors, Minors & Areas of Study

Ready to change the world?

Software developers and analysts find innovative solutions to complex problems in science, medicine, art, music, mathematics and more. Major in computer science at the University of Mary Washington and you’ll explore what’s possible in a program that melds theory, application, technique and design. Conduct meaningful research, serve an internship, pursue a minor in data science, create something wholly original – it’s all open to you here.

Degree Awarded

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

Areas of Study

The bachelor’s program in computer science offers an array of courses, including object-oriented design, databases, computer ethics, human-computer interaction, artificial intelligence, game programming, data mining, software engineering, and more.

Career Opportunities

U.S. News & World Report ranks jobs in computing among the best in the country. A bachelor’s degree in computer science will prepare you for a career as a software developer, database administrator, computer hardware engineer, database administrator, systems analyst, network architect, Web developer, security analyst, computer programmer, and more.

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Internships

Internships allow qualified students to earn academic credit, gain real-world experience, and boost their resumes by working at technical firms, government offices, or software development agencies. Companies that have sponsored recent student internships include Microsoft, IBM, NASA, RSA, Federal Reserve Bank, US Department of Health & Human Services, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Booz Allen Hamilton, MITRE, and Northrop Grumman.

To earn honors in computer science, students who meet GPA and course prerequisites can undertake individual study under the direction of a department member.

Major Requirements

UMW’s major in computer science requires 46 credits, including multiple core courses in computer science, as well as electives in areas such as cybersecurity, machine learning and game programming.

Minor Requirements

The minor builds strong programming and problem-solving skills, and is particularly useful when combined with a major in any of the sciences, mathematics, business, economics, linguistics, or geography.

Computer science majors can apply for several scholarships and awards.

July 28, 2015 by

Majors, Minors & Areas of Study

Span the ages and circle the globe.

Study history at the University of Mary Washington, and you’ll explore the story of civilizations and individuals, learning what the past can show us about our forebears and ourselves. Based in history-rich Fredericksburg, you’ll have access to the museums, archives and libraries of Washington and Richmond. Expand your perspective through internships and study-abroad opportunities while building your research, analytical and explanatory skills for a problem-solving future.

Degree Awarded

Students majoring in history who complete all requirements earn the degree of Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in history.

Areas of Study

The history curriculum offers courses from ancient to modern times in the Americas and around the world. The major is distinctive for courses that develop critical judgment, including first-year seminars, a skills-based methods course, in-depth senior seminars, and a senior-level historical research project built on primary sources and developed with a faculty member.

Career Opportunities

UMW history majors graduate with skills in research, analysis, writing, public speaking, and digital media. Recent UMW history graduates have found careers as a PBS programmer, a museum curator, an online writer, a business owner, a high school teacher, a government contractor and a historian. Graduates may find work in media, government and government contracting, national parks, education, law and law enforcement, community service, business and more. Many earn advanced degrees in history and other fields.

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Internships

UMW is in history-rich Fredericksburg and an hour’s drive from Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Virginia, making our campus an excellent base for a history-focused internship. UMW students have found internships with the Smithsonian Institution, the National Archives, the U.S. Marine Corps at Quantico, the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, Mount Vernon, and regional museums.

To be considered for honors in history at graduation, you must have at least a 3.5 grade-point average in the major and must research, write, submit, and defend a historical paper before a faculty panel.

Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honorary society, offers opportunities to participate in social and educational activities.

Major

The history major requires 36 credits including survey courses, electives at the 200 level or higher, and electives at the 400 level. Internships are encouraged and may receive academic credit at the discretion of the department chair.

Minor

Please review the course catalog for minor requirements.

Global History Minor

The global history minor requires 21-24 credits, including a global history foundation course, several electives and a one-semester study abroad program or internship in a relevant field.

The department awards five scholarships annually through competitive application for history and American studies majors.

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.

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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.

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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.