Political Science and International Relations (B.A.)

• 120 credits
• $1,190 per credit hour
• Courses offered on campus full time and part time, with select courses available online
• Fall and Spring intakes
• Marymount University is accredited by the Southern Assoc. of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

About half of our Political Science and International Relations majors at Marymount begin their college careers here, and about half begin their studies at another college or university and then transfer to Marymount. Both paths allow students to take advantage of the small class sizes, individual faculty mentoring, alumni connections, and study abroad and internship options that are the hallmarks of Marymount’s Political Science and International Relations program.

• Starting at Marymount
  Students who complete four full years at Marymount begin by following the first-year advising plan and then, starting their second year, branch out into specialty programs and courses in consultation with their faculty mentors and academic advisors.
• Transferring to Marymount
  Students who transfer to Marymount can complete their degree requirements and graduate on time, provided they have made good progress towards a degree at their previous institution. All Political Science and International Relations (political science, government, public policy, international relations, international affairs, etc.) courses taken at other accredited institutions will count towards the Political Science and International Relations major. Students who have completed an associate’s degree at an accredited community college can complete the Political Science and International Relations major from start to finish and graduate from Marymount in two years, even if they have not taken any prior politics courses.

A Political Science and International Relations degree from Marymount will open many doors and career opportunities here in the D.C. metro area and across the country. In fact, employment in politics is projected to grow 6% over the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

So, what can you do with a Political Science and International Relations degree from Marymount? Our graduates work in the public and private sectors and hold titles such as:

• Campaign organizer
• Lobbyist
• Media associate
• Operations and legal assistant
• Political outreach manager
• Senior policy advisor

When you graduate, you can also move on to graduate programs in international affairs, law, political management, and public policy. No matter your interests, Marymount’s Political Science and International Relations degree will set you up for success.

• Completed application submitted through the Marymount Application or Common App
• High school transcripts
• Letter(s) of recommendation (optional)
• Personal essay (optional, although highly encouraged)
• A résumé may be provided should an applicant have any gaps in enrollment
• Non-native English speakers must meet our English Language Proficiency Requirement
• Students or former students of schools outside the U.S. may be considered international applicants, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, and be subject to additional international admissions requirements

Marymount University does not consider SAT/ACT scores for admission or scholarship purposes.

POL 101: Exploring Power and Society in the National Capital Area
An introduction to the study of politics and society in the Washington, D.C., area. This course makes use of site visits in Arlington, Va. and Washington, D.C., as students develop research skills and an understanding of the relationship between power and society at the local, national, and international levels.

POL 241: Global Political Economy
An in-depth examination of theories that explain how political systems address economic inequality, development, trade, labor relations, investment, migration, and natural resources, with applications to contemporary international politics.

POL 315: The Presidency
This course surveys the historical development and the constitutional powers of the Office of the President. Analysis is presented of the principal roles in national and world politics played by modern presidents.

Complete list of undergraduate Political Science and International Relations courses

Welcome to Marymount University’s School of Social and Behavioral Sciences! We offer undergraduate degrees in Communication, Criminal Justice, Political Science and International Relations, and Psychology. We offer a variety of unique minors, including Sociology, interdisciplinary minors such as Gender and Society, Forensic Psychology, Forensics and Criminal Investigations, Sports Communication, and many more! These undergraduate degrees provide students with the skills necessary to succeed in a career, graduate school, and life. At the graduate level, we offer master’s degrees in Forensic and Legal Psychology, a unique combined Counseling and Forensic and Legal Psychology degree, and beginning in Fall 2024, a master’s degree in Social Work. We offer several pathways from undergraduate to graduate degrees that will reduce the number of years spent studying (and paying for school), such as our 3+3 Bachelor’s to Law degree, our B.A. to M.B.A. Program, and our B.A. to Forensic and Legal Psychology M.A. Program. I invite you to explore our numerous degree options.

We are a diverse community of scholars who actively live Marymount’s mission by engaging in lifelong learning, serving others, and fostering connections with people around the globe. The School of Social and Behavioral Sciences houses disciplines that attempt to solve pressing problems of our times using different lenses, but overlapping scientific methods appropriate to the study of people and the structures and organizations they create. Our vibrant classrooms are safe spaces where students can explore new ideas. All students complete at least one internship, where they apply skills learned in the classroom to real-world problems.

Our full-time faculty are both experts in their fields and passionate educators who foster students’ intellectual curiosity and support their personal growth. Our part-time faculty are actively working in their fields and provide important professional connections for our students. All of our faculty are expert teachers with years of experience in the classroom. Our faculty take pride in the successes of our graduates, and the advising and support we provide for our students lay the foundation for successful careers.

I encourage you to come to campus to experience Marymount for yourself. I invite you to meet the faculty, mingle with other students, learn about our programs, and see the difference Marymount University can make for your future!

Linda R. Cote, Ph.D.
Director, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Click here to view our Faculty

“The academics and the rigor of Marymount University and the Political Science and International Relations program really helped me become the professional that I am today. While enrolled at Marymount, I was the president of College Democrats, the treasurer of the Pre-Law Student Society, a student global ambassador, and worked as a desk assistant. I chose Marymount because of its location close to D.C., and because it had a small, tight-knit community environment that suited my personality. My advice to students in the B.A. Political Science and International Relations program is to take advantage of the study abroad programs, do as many internships as you can, and network with the alumni and students around you.” — Alyssa Batchelor, Class of 2015, Principal Strategist at Hill & State Strategies in Arlington, Va.