Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Catalog Year 2025-2026

Based on VCCS Curriculum for POLITICAL SCIENCE

Transfer Guidance

Guaranteed Admission Agreement

• By meeting the following criteria, you are eligible for admission. Separate admission to the Political Science program is not required:

• Earn a transfer associate degree

• Earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 for your associate degree

• Earn grades of "C" or higher in all community college courses

• Please create an account through the www.TransferVirginia.org portal to indicate your intent to use this guarantee for admission to UMW

Important Links & Dates

• University Transfer Center: https://www.umw.edu/admissions/transfer/

• Register Intent to Transfer: After the first 45 credits, complete this form and submit it to admit@umw.edu https://www.umw.edu/admissions/wpcontent/uploads/sites/6/2021/01/Letter-... Additional details are available at TransferVirginia.org

• Admission Application: Apply by October 15 for spring admission, March 1 for summer admission, and April 1 for fall admission. Additional details and a transfer checklist are available at https://www.umw.edu/admissions/transfer/

• Financial Aid: https://www.umw.edu/financialaid/

• FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid: Apply by April 1 to ensure you receive the maximum aid for which you are eligible. FAFSA forms will still be accepted after the April 1 deadline. See studentaid.gov for required forms

What Should I Consider When Selecting Courses?

• 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. For help, see Transfer Steps and Resource Center at www.TransferVirginia.org

• UMW requires proficiency in a second language as a part of the general education requirements. This requirement may be satisfied in several ways, including completing four years of language in high school, transferring credits from a community college, or completing a sequence of language courses through the 201 level at UMW. All of the options for satisfying this requirement may be found in the UMW Catalog: https://catalog.umw.edu/undergraduate/general-education/general-educatio...

• Connect with an advisor at your community college and UMW within your first year. College Connect available in your account at www.TransferVirginia.org

Is This Degree Right For Me?

• The UMW Political Science major is geared towards giving students the knowledge and skills to look at the world and understand how and why it operates the way it does. Students learn to critically assess policies and events while strengthening their analytical, oral, and written communication skills

• The UMW Political Science major emphasizes communication and teamwork skills in our curriculum. Many of our courses are designated as Writing Intensive (WI) or Speaking Intensive (SI) to encourage students to develop and polish these vital skills that employers expect from prospective hires

• Located between the state capital and the nation’s capital, Political Science majors have the opportunity to pursue internships throughout the academic year, not just during the summer months

• Many Political Science students pursue a minor in a complementary area of study, such as Security and Conflict Studies, Environmental Sustainability, or Urban Studies to further expand their base of knowledge and expertise

What Is The Impact On My Degree Of Work I Have Already Completed?

• Associate Transfer Degree Completion: Transfer students with a VCCS AS or AAS degree have completed the UMW general education requirements except second language competency, digital intensive, diverse and global perspectives, after Mary Washington, and Beyond the Classroom general education requirements. Several of these requirements are integrated into the Political Science major. UMW does allow students to satisfy these requirements through qualifying transfer coursework

• Dual Enrollment – Completion of Associate Degree in HS: Students participating in dual enrollment programs are considered as first year applicants. Dual enrollment courses taken at the high school are treated identically with the same course when taken on a college campus; dual enrollment status does not affect the transferability of the course

• Credit for Prior Learning: UMW accepts credit for AP, IB, CLEP, Cambridge, and other qualifying previous coursework. Equivalencies are provided here: https://academics.umw.edu/registrar/transfer-information/transferring-cr... VCCS courses that receive guaranteed equivalent credit are provided here: https://academics.umw.edu/registrar/transfer-information/resources-andpu...

• Catalog Year: Students must complete general education requirements associated with the academic year that they enroll at UMW. Students complete major requirements associated with the academic year in which they declare their major

Is This College Right For Me?

• UMW offers small class sizes and courses taught by faculty committed to student learning and success

• UMW is located between Virginia’s capital and the nation’s capital and has access to public transit to allow students to pursue internships throughout the academic year

• UMW offers dozens of faculty-led or approved programs that give students the opportunity to study abroad at universities throughout the world. UMW Study Abroad programs also allow students to pursue international internship, research, and volunteer opportunities

• UMW offers high impact experiences beyond the classroom. Faculty are committed to collaborating with students on research projects and other experiences

• Learn more about our college at www.TransferVirginia.org

Did You Know That…

• 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 UMW.

What Can I Do With This Degree?

• Explore possible careers, salaries, and job outlook at www.TransferVirginia.org

• Political Science graduates work in any field imaginable, from law, local, state, national, and international government agencies, political campaigns, non-profit organizations, advocacy groups, intergovernmental organizations, secondary and higher education, and corporations

Program Successes & Highlights

• UMW’s chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honor society for majors, has won more national writing award contests than any other of the more than 700 Pi Sigma Alpha chapters on college campuses across the United States

• UMW is consistently identified as a top producer of Peace Corps Volunteers and also as a top producer of Fulbright U.S. students by the Chronicle of Higher Education. More than half of UMW’s Peace Corps volunteers and Fulbright U.S. students are Political Science majors

• Each year the Political Science Department hosts an Alumni Career Panel for majors to network with Political Science alumni about professional development career paths and opportunities

What Are My Chances For Getting Accepted?

• With an associate’s degree and a 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA, you may qualify for UMW’s Guaranteed Admissions Agreement with the Virginia Community College System. Additional details are available here: https://www.umw.edu/admissions/transfer/ourcommitment/guaranteed-admissi...

• Each fall, UMW enrolls approximately 300 students from the Virginia Community College System and other schools both inside and outside of Virginia. Learn more about applying at www.TransferVirginia.org

Do More With Your Degree!

• UMW Political Science graduates work as campaign managers, policy analysts, ambassadors, lobbyists, consultants, community organizers, and legislative directors. Our graduates are well prepared for further study in law or graduate programs in policy, public administration, and government

• All students have the opportunity to conduct research with faculty members. Several students present their work at national conferences or publish in media outlets each year

• Our students are active club participants on campus and serve as leaders in groups such as Student Government Association, Center for Community Engagement, International Relations Organization, Mock Trial, and Day on Democracy

Other Than Classes, Are There Other Program Requirements?

• Students must earn a GPA of 2.0 in both their major and overall coursework in order to complete their degree

• Students must earn at least 30 credits at UMW as a degree-seeking student (not including physical education credits)