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Politics (B.A.) 3+3 Partnership with Catholic University Law School

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 the politics program, students will be able to

students will synthesize, analyze, and critically evaluate major arguments in the discipline;
students will demonstrate an understanding of fundamental political processes, institutions, actors, behavior, and ideas; and
students will demonstrate an understanding of major theories, methods, and concepts in political science.

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 with lab *

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)*

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

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

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*

Two (2) electives

Year Four — Fall

Three (3) 300/400-level politics courses §

Two (2) electives

Year Four — Spring

POL 400 Internship § **

POL 420 Senior Seminar § *

Three (3) electives

§ Requirement for the major

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

** Internship may be taken for 3 or 6 credits. POL 400 fulfills University Requirement for Experiential Learning.

Politics (B.A.) 3+3 Partnership with Catholic University Law School

Marymount has a direct entry affiliation agreement with Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law. This enables qualified third-year Marymount students in designated majors to be admitted to the first year of law school during their senior year at Marymount. Politics students who are interested in direct entry to the Columbus School of Law after their junior year at Marymount should discuss the 3+3 partnership with their major advisor as soon as they become interested. The advisor will guide students through the selection of Marymount courses and refer them to the Office of Admissions of the Columbus School of Law as potential applicants. Qualified students may receive credit from both Marymount and Catholic University for a maximum of 29 credits taken at the Columbus School of Law. For more information and details on eligibility, please see Pre-Law Studies and Advising.

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

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)*