Program Details
History and Political Science Major - BA
Bachelor of ArtsBridgewater College
Transfer Guides are designed to maximize transfer credit as students complete their associate degree at the community college before transferring to the bachelor's degree program. If you are a current Virginia Community College student or are planning to start at a Virginia Community College before transferring to this institution and program, please follow the Transfer Guide to plan your courses at the community college. The following Transfer Guide(s), applicable to this program, are available in the Resource Center. If there is a program-specific Transfer Guide and a general or general studies Transfer Guide, you are advised to follow the program-specific Transfer Guide. Please see your community college advisor for assistance in selecting the best pathway.
The Department of History and Political Science prepares students for a life of active citizenship and intellectual engagement by offering diverse courses that explore the historical evolution and contemporary challenges of the world and its peoples. Knowledge of history equips students to participate in core social, political, economic and cultural institutions by tracing the trajectory of those institutions and empowering students to contribute to their future development. Political Science courses interrogate the processes by which communities decide what is important and what should be done by engaging in critical analysis of the institutions, policies and philosophies of the collective problem-solving processes known as governance. International Security and Diplomacy courses place students within the broadest context of human activity and orient them to the roles they play in the world as a single place. All the courses in the department, therefore, focus student energy on the mechanisms they need to influence the conversations that shape their world, making them effective citizens of their local, national and global communities. The department offers majors in History, Political Science, History and Political Science, and International Security and Diplomacy. Students may minor in History, Political Science or International Security and Diplomacy. History faculty offer courses in U.S., European and non-Western history. Political science courses cover American politics, global politics and political philosophy. The History and Political Science major combines these two disciplines and is the typical major of students seeking careers in secondary education. The International Security and Diplomacy major begins with core courses in the department, then branches out to upper-level courses in a wide variety of disciplines allowing students to create a path that best fits their interests. The department is home to the College's Pre-Law Society, the Model United Nations Club, Phi Alpha Theta, the honors society for history, and Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honors society. The course of study for each major emphasizes critical thinking, writing, research and project development—skills essential to any career. Faculty actively engage students with dynamic teaching that emphasizes discussion, reflection, simulations, problem-based learning and original research. This commitment extends to promoting experiential learning beyond the classroom including field trips, internships, service-learning and semester-length programs abroad. The department offers distinctive on- and off- campus experiences during May Term including trips to the United Nations, South Africa, Belgium, France and Britain. The internship program places students in law offices, nonprofits, state and local government agencies, and more. Many of our majors are elected to leadership roles in student organizations on campus. Students pursuing majors and minors in the department have a wide variety of career interests including law, secondary and higher education, government service, museum and archival work, religion, journalism and overseas development work.
Program Overview & Guidance
| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | The History and Political Science major is an interdisciplinary program in which students engage in rigorous explorations of the past, developing a nuanced understanding of societies and cultures while simultaneously studying the ideas, laws, and institutions that shape politics in the United States, other countries, and the international system. |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
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| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | All courses must be completed with a C of better. |
| Doing More With Your Degree | The History and Political Science major is explicitly designed for students who intend to teach history, social studies, and civics at the secondary level as well as students interested in careers in law. It also prepares students for graduate degrees in history, museum studies, law, and international relations. |
| Program Successes & Highlights | All students work with professors on research projects, and many pursue internships with historical organizations and independent study with professors. The overwhelming majority of graduates go on to careers in secondary education and have a high rate of placement in schools upon graduation. Students can join the Phi Alpha Theta history honors chapter, the Pi Sigma Alpha political science honors society, Model UN, and study abroad to further develop academic and leadership skills. |
Program Credit Requirements
The table below provides the requirements to complete this program if you are not following a Transfer Guide. If you have an account and have created a Portfolio, the table includes the "Applied Credits" column. This column shows how the credits you earned based on the experiences you entered may be applied to satisfy these requirements. You can find schools where you can take courses that will transfer and apply to this degree using the Where Can I Find An Equivalent Course feature in the Transfer Tools menu.
A formal determination of credits awarded for your prior learning and their applicability to the degree requirements can only be made by the institution. The formal determination and resulting map may reflect higher or lower number of credits to be completed to achieve this program.
Applicable Admissions Agreements
The table below lists admissions agreements between Bridgewater College and partner institutions that may guarantee admission to this program if you meet the required criteria. Click on the title name of the agreement to view a summary of those criteria.
You can view the full text of these Agreements in the Resource Center
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
| Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Associate Transfer Degree Completion | Completing an AA, AS, or AA&S degree will waive all but 4 credits of our Foundations in Liberal Arts Program. Students who graduate with a transfer-oriented associate degree (A.A., A.S., or A.A.&S.), will have all Bridgewater general education course requirements waived except for two courses (2-4 total credit hours). These are our Connected Learning (CL) 150 course designed to serve as an orientation for transfer students, and CL 400 that serves as a senior capstone experience. CL 400 may be delivered within the major (3 credits) or separately (1 credit). |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School | The completion of an Associate Degree concurrent with high school results in course work towards your degree and most general education courses satisfied. Students who graduate with a transfer-oriented associate degree (A.A., A.S., or A.A.&S.), will have all Bridgewater general education course requirements waived except for two courses (2-4 credit hours). These are our Connected Learning (CL) 150 course designed to serve as an orientation for transfer students, and CL 400 that serves as a senior capstone experience. CL 400 may be delivered within the major (3 credits) or separately (1 credit). |
| Credit for Prior Learning | Bridgewater College may award credit for Advanced Placement and military experience. See the linked pages for credit evaluation policies. |
| Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information
| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | You'll be part of a vibrant community where people truly know and care for one another. Bridgewater is home to approximately 1,500 full-time students (undergraduate and graduate), 80% of whom live on campus. With an average class size of 19, you'll make lasting connections with your professors and classmates. You won't lack for opportunities to get involved with more than 50 student clubs and organizations to choose from. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year is determined by the academic year of the first semester of attendance at Bridgewater College. |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year is determined by the academic year of the first semester of attendance at Bridgewater College. |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | VCCS Students need to declare an intent to transfer to Bridgewater after completing a minimum of 15 credits towards the transfer-oriented associate degree. VCCS Students should complete all Bridgewater transfer application requirements, and apply for graduation from VCCS. |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emory & Henry University | Social Science- History Track | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Emory & Henry University | Interdisciplinary History and Integrative Social Sciences Teacher Preparation (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Emory & Henry University | Interdisciplinary History and Social Sciences Teacher Preparation (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Emory & Henry University | Interdisciplinary Mathematics & Teacher Preparation (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Randolph-Macon College | History (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-9199.11 | Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites. | Management Occupations |
| 11-9199.02 | Compliance Managers | Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards. | Management Occupations |
| 19-3093.00 | Historians | Research, analyze, record, and interpret the past as recorded in sources, such as government and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters. | Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations |
| 25-1125.00 | History Teachers, Postsecondary | Teach courses in human history and historiography. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. | Educational Instruction and Library Occupations |
| 11-9199.08 | Loss Prevention Managers | Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures. | Management Occupations |
| 11-9199.00 | Managers, All Other | All managers not listed separately. | Management Occupations |
| 11-9199.01 | Regulatory Affairs Managers | Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures. | Management Occupations |
| 11-9199.10 | Wind Energy Development Managers | Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects. | Management Occupations |
| 11-9199.09 | Wind Energy Operations Managers | Manage wind field operations, including personnel, maintenance activities, financial activities, and planning. | Management Occupations |
Cost To Complete