Advising Plan
First year advising plan
Students in their first year take courses that meet a combination of requirements for the Political Science and International Relations major and the Liberal Arts Core, following a plan they make in consultation with an academic advisor. Majors should also meet regularly with Political Science and International Relations faculty members to discuss their plans. In particular, students in their first year should start thinking about study abroad and internship opportunities.
Political Science and International Relations majors entering Marymount in fall 2026 should take POL 101A and POL 102A in fall 2026, and POL 103A in spring 2027.
Other courses to take during your first year include:
- TRS 100
- PH 100
- EN 101 and 102
- A course meeting the Natural Science (NS) requirement
- MA 095 for students who are advised to take it
Transitioning to the second year
Students in their second year in the Political Science and International Relations major typically take POL 210, 230, and 250, and often one or two additional elective courses in the major. Those courses do not need to be taken in any particular order. EN 102 is a prerequisite for all of those. Students advancing to their second year should consult with a faculty mentor in the program to discuss their plans. The second year can also be a good time to complete a semester-long study abroad program.
Sample degree plan for the Political Science and International Relations major
All students must consult with an advisor in making course selections that meet their individual needs. We strongly encourage students to complete at least one full semester abroad; students who study abroad for a semester typically do it sometime between the spring semester of their second year and the fall semester of their senior year.
Here is a sample four-year degree plan for Political Science and International Relations:
| Year One | |
|---|---|
| Fall | Spring |
| EN 101 – Composition I | EN 102 Composition II |
| POL 101 – Power and Society | POL 103 – Comparative Politics |
| POL 102 – International Relations | TRS 100 – Theological Inquiry |
| PH 100 – Introduction to Philosophy | Natural Science with a lab |
| Introductory History | University elective |
| Year Two | |
|---|---|
| POL 230 – American Policy Process (offered only in fall) | |
| POL 210 – Theory of Democracy (offered only in spring) | |
| POL 250 – Research and Writing | |
| Political Science elective | |
| Introductory Literature | |
| Introductory Social Science | |
| Mathematics | |
| Fine Arts, Advanced Literature, or Advanced History | |
| University elective | |
| University elective |
| Year Three | |
|---|---|
| Political Science elective | |
| Political Science elective | |
| Political Science elective | |
| University elective | |
| University elective | |
| University elective | |
| University elective | |
| Fine Arts, Advanced Literature, or Advanced History | |
| Moral Reasoning Course | |
| Introductory Social Science or Natural Science |
| Year Four | |
|---|---|
| Fall (at Marymount or study abroad) | Spring |
| POL 400 – Internship | POL 420 – Senior Seminar (offered only in spring) |
| Political Science elective | Political Science elective |
| University elective | University elective |
| University elective | University elective |
| University elective | University elective |
