Marymount University
Undergraduate Catalog 2014-15
Politics
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 this program, students will be able to
- demonstrate knowledge of political theory, principles, and functions of American government, and international relations through various methods of political analysis;
- demonstrate satisfactory skills in the development of a research question and/or thesis, gathering appropriate evidence from primary and/or secondary sources related to that question, providing an analysis of that evidence in a well-written and well-organized research paper that affirms or refutes the research question and/or thesis; and
- present themselves as professionals by effectively utilizing their critical analysis, problem-solving, and communication skills in applied settings such as an internship.
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
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 Advanced International Relations Theory 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 210 Principles of Microeconomics or ECO 211 Principles of Macroeconomics
POL 102 International Relations
POL 103 Comparative Politics
POL 210 Western Political Concepts I
POL 211 Western Political Concepts II
POL 250 Research and Writing
POL 305 American Policy Process
POL 335 American Constitutional Law
POL 400 Internship
POL 420 Senior Seminar
Eighteen (18) additional credits in politics electives
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 102 International Relations §
EN 101 Composition I (WR core course)*
Introductory History (HI-1) core course*
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course*
DSC 101 DISCOVER First-Year Seminar*
Year One — Spring
EN 102 Composition II (WR core course)*
POL 103 Comparative Politics § *
TRS 100 Theological Inquiry (TRS-1 core course)*
Natural Science (NS) core course
One (1) elective
Year Two — Fall
PH 200 Introduction to Philosophy (PH-1 core course)*
POL 210 Western Political Concepts I §
POL 250 Research and Writing § *
MA 132 Statistical Analysis (MT core course)*
Introductory Literature (LT-1 core course)*
Year Two — Spring
POL 211 Western Political Concepts II §
POL 305 American Policy Process (SS-2 core course) § *
ECO 210 Principles of Microeconomics or
ECO 211 Principles of Macroeconomics (SS-1 core course)
300-400 level politics courses
One (1) elective
Year Three — Fall
POL 335 American Constitutional Law §
Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced History (HI-2), or Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course (Advanced History recommended)*
Advanced Philosophy (PH-2) or Philosophical Ethics (PH-E) core course*
300/400-level politics course §
One (1) elective
Year Three — Spring
Two (2) 300/400-level politics courses §
Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course*
Introductory Social Science (SS-1) or Natural Science (NS) core course*
Two (2) elective
Year Four — Fall
Two (2) 300/400-level politics courses §
Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced History (HI-2), or Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course*
Two (2) electives
Year Four — Spring
POL 400 Internship § **
POL 420 Senior Seminar § *
Two (2) electives
§ Requirement for the major
* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and Course Descriptions or further information.
** Internship may be taken for 3 or 6 credits. POL 400 fulfills University Requirement for Experiential Learning.
Politics (Minor)
Minor Requirements
POL 102 International Relations or POL 103 International Relations
POL 104 American Government
POL 210 or POL 211 Western Political Concepts I or II
Six (6) additional credits in POL or HU electives, including at least one course that carries the WI designation
Catalog Contents
Academic Information and Policies
Academic Integrity Policy Summary
Credit Acquisition Opportunities
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Student Academic Policies
Students Pursuing a Double Major or Dual Degrees
Students Enrolled in Bachelor’s/Master’s Programs
University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core
Undergraduate Pre-professional Studies
Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area
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