Political science courses are generally reading and writing intensive, so students enrolled in two-year programs are better served taking courses that are known to require both. In this way students will become accustomed to the expectations they will find in political science at JMU. Additionally, statistics is a pre-requisite to one of the core classes in the political science major, completion of which in the two-year program is advised, but not mandatory.

The best courses to complete in a two-year program prior to transferring to JMU as a declared political science major are U.S. Government, statistics, international relations, and comparative politics. Most students who transfer into JMU political science will have at the very least completed U.S. government, but any of the aforementioned courses will serve as appropriate gateway courses into the major at JMU. Political science majors at JMU earn the Bachelor of Arts degree, which requires two years of foreign language as well as one philosophy class. Thus a student in a two-year program intending to transfer to JMU as a political science major may also want to work on their foreign language requirement, and maybe complete one philosophy class.

• Create a schedule for all required courses, pay attention to prerequisites and when courses are offered, complete your first math and English courses in your first year
• Connect with an advisor at your community college and James Madison University within your first year via College Connect

While a minor or a second major is not required of JMU political science majors, many students do commit to studying a minor or second major. The political science major is not restricted in this regard, but can carry a minor or second major in any area of interest compatible with your other commitments. Internships are not required of political science majors, but they are recommended, and credit towards the major may be earned by enrolling in our internship course. The Department of Political Science also offers a Washington Semester program that provides all majors offered by the Department of Political Science to spend a semester in Washington where they combine an internship experience with an academic program of study.

Most of our students are able to complete their major and degree requirements within the standard four-year period. Our graduates are also able to find jobs in a variety of fields—in both the public and private sectors—once they leave JMU. Our alumni network has proved helpful in directing our majors toward job and career prospects upon graduation. For those who are interested, the Washington Semester supplies both academic coursework as well as potential career networking.

• Completing your Associate transfer degree post-high school satisfies all lower division general education requirements and increases the chance of completing your bachelor's degree?
• Exceeding 3 years or 90 credits at your community college means you may have exhausted your financial aid at that college and have limited your future financial aid at: James Madison University