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In this section Politics (B.A.) Politics (Minor)

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

• students will demonstrate evidence of satisfactory oral and written communication skills as well as competency in critical analysis and/or problem solving;
• students will demonstrate an understanding of principles in politics;
• students will demonstrate a comprehensive and analytical understanding of principles and functions of politics; and
• students will demonstrate the ability to develop a research question and/or thesis, gather appropriate evidence from primary and/or secondary sources, and analyze the evidence in a well written and well organized research paper that affirms or refutes the research question and/or thesis.

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.

Sample Degree Plan - Politics 3+3 Partnership with Catholic University School of Law

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*

DSC 101 DISCOVER First-Year Seminar*

Introductory Social Science (SS-1) core course*

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 211 Principles of Macroeconomics (SS-1 core course)

Introductory Social Science (SS-1) or Natural Science (NS) core course*

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

Advanced Theology/Religious Studies (TRS-2) or Theological Ethics (TRS-E) core course*

Fine Arts (FNA), Advanced History (HI-2), or Advanced Literature (LT-2) core course*

300-400 level politics courses

POL 400 Internship § **

POL 420 Senior Seminar § *

Year Four — Fall (classes to be completed at Columbus School of Law)

Catholic University law school courses, including Lawyering Skills

Year Four — Spring (classes to be completed at Columbus School of Law)

Catholic University law school courses, including Lawyering Skills

§ Requirement for the major

* Fulfills Liberal Arts Core/University Requirements. See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core and Course Descriptions for further information.

**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

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