Political Science
Degree: B.A., Political Science
Department of Political Science and International Affairs
Political Science, the study of how various political systems work, is a Bachelor of Arts degree program. The department offers courses ranging from U.S. political institutions and behavior to international politics and conflict. UMW’s proximity to Richmond and D.C. provides many outlets for students to gain practical knowledge of the field, including visits to Virginia’s state capital and to Washington, D.C., internships in governmental offices, and involvement in major political events, such as the United Nations’ student conference and state and national campaigns. Political Science is an excellent background for a career in law, urban planning, teaching, government, public service, and private enterprise; it also lends itself to further study in graduate school.
Major Requirements
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PSCI 101A | Introduction to Political Science 1 | 3 |
PSCI 102A | Introduction to International Relations 1 | 3 |
PSCI 201 | American Government | 3 |
Select one course each to be chosen by faculty advisor and student from each of the following subfields: American Politics; Comparative Politics; International Relations; Political Theory | 12 | |
Select 15 additional credits in political science | 15 | |
Total Credits | 36 |
- 1
PSCI 101A Introduction to Political Science and PSCI 102A Introduction to International Relations is a prerequisite to all Political Science courses, except PSCI 201 American Government.
Effective for students matriculating Fall 2020 and beyond, completion of one Writing Intensive (WI) course and one Speaking Intensive (SI) course must be taken within the major.
General Education Requirements
The general education requirements for Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degrees apply to all students who are seeking to earn an undergraduate B.A., B.S. or B.S.Ed. degree.
Students seeking a Bachelor of Liberal Studies degree have a separate set of BLS general education requirements.
Electives
Elective courses are those that are not needed to fulfill a general education requirement or major program requirement but are chosen by the student to complete the 120 credits required for graduation with a B.A./B.S./B.S.Ed. degree or the BLS degree. These courses may be taken graded or pass/fail (or S/U in the case of physical education and 100-level dance). No student in a regular B.A./B.S./B.S.Ed. program may count more than 60 credits in a single discipline toward the 120 credits required for graduation.
Total Credits Required for the Degree: 120 credits
Political Science and International Affairs Department
Rosalyn L. Cooperman, Chair
Jason W. Davidson, Career Advisor and Director of the Security and Conflict Studies Minor
Faculty
Professors
Rosalyn L. Cooperman
Jason W. Davidson
Stephen J. Farnsworth, Director of the Center for Leadership and Media Studies
Surupa Gupta
Emile J. Lester
Associate Professor
Ranjit Singh
Assistant Professor
Guanyi Leu
Melissa Martinez
Jared A. McDonald