Political Science is a preparatory program for those with aspirations of assuming leadership positions in the legal profession, politics, or community activism. The curriculum offers unique perspectives on problems of political violence, terrorism, genocide, and human rights abuses, and provides experiential learning opportunities to grapple with these problems in real-world contexts.
What to Expect Studying at Notre Dame of Maryland University
Small class sizes and personal attention provide a climate for individualized learning while custom electives, internships, and study abroad opportunities allow you to focus the major to your own interests and goals.
Research Opportunities
One of the hallmarks of our rich educational environment is the opportunity to participate in research in your field of interest.
Nancy Kreiter Student Research Day provides the perfect forum to showcase your hard work with a formal research presentation to the Notre Dame community.
Additional Opportunities
Our students have conducted research at a variety of institutions, including:
- Local and State Government Agencies
- Local, National, and International Non-Governmental Organizations
- United Nations
- Police and Law Enforcement Agencies
- Supreme Court
- National Security Agency
- State Department
Political Science Careers
- Law
- Public Service
- International Affairs
- Global Advocacy
- Humanitarian Assistance
- National Security
- Diplomacy
- Non-Profit Sector
- Foundations
- Think Tanks
- Non-Governmental Organizations
- Journalism
- Academic Research
- Teaching
Internships & Employment
Gaining experience through an internship is highly encouraged. Our faculty will work with you to find an appropriate placement.
Our graduates are employed at organizations such as:
Study Abroad
Notre Dame offers extensive opportunities to enrich your education and gain a global perspective through a study abroad experience.
Additional Info
Sample program of study for the political science major. Students should select courses with the assistance of a faculty advisor.
| Fall | Spring | ||
|---|---|---|---|
First Year |
|||
| NDMU-100 Perspectives in Education | 4 | POL-202 American Government in Comparative Perspective | 3 |
| POL-101 Introduction to Politics | 3 | Natural Science | 4 |
| Foreign Language | 3 | Philosophy or Religious Studies (200) | 3 |
| ENG-101 College Writing | 3 | General Education/Electives | 6 |
| History | 3 | [16 credits] | |
| [15 credits] | |||
Second Year |
|||
| POL-103 Introduction to International Affairs | 3 | Philosophy or Religious Studies (300) | 3 |
| ECO-211 Macroeconomics | 3 | COM-106 Fundamentals of Oral Comm | 3 |
| Philosophy or Religious Studies (200) | 3 | Fine Arts | 3 |
| MAT-215 Basic Statistics | 3 | General Education/Electives | 6 |
| English Literature | 3 | [15 credits] | |
| [15 credits] | |||
Third Year |
|||
| POL-361 Methods in Research | 3 | POL-312 Legal Reasoning | 3 |
| POL-430 International Organizations | 3 | HIS-330 European Foreign Relations | 3 |
| Philosophy or Religious Studies Values | 3 | POL-319 or 412 | 3 |
| Physical Education | 1 | General Education/Electives | 6 |
| General Education/Electives | 6 | [15 credits] | |
| [16 credits] | |||
Fourth Year |
|||
| HIS-404 U.S. Foreign Relations | 3 | POL-401 Political & Economic Globalization | 3 |
| General Education/Electives | 12 | POL-217 Civic Participation & Leadership | 3 |
| [15 credits] | POL-456 Senior Seminar | 3 | |
| General Education/Electives | 6 | ||
| [15 credits] | |||
REQUIRED CORE:
POL 101 Introduction to Politics
POL 103 Introduction to International Affairs
POL 217 Civic Literacy and Inclusive Governance
POL 351 Politics of Developing Nations
POL 361 Methods Political Science Research
POL/HIS 390 Environmental Politics in US
POL 401 Political & Economic Globalization
POL 430 International Organizations (moving from elective to core)
POL 456 Senior Seminar
IDS 361 Internship (3 credits)
______
Three of the following:
POL 290 Gender in Islamic Societies (name change already approved)
POL/HIS 325, Revolution and Terrorism
POL 370 Model OAS
POL 440 Global Issues
POL 404 U.S. Foreign Relations (moving from core to elective)
One of the following:
POL 202 American Politics in Comparative Perspective
POL/HIS 219 The American Presidency
POL 412 Constitutional Law
POL 324 Gender, Politics, and the Law
POL 344 Civil Liberties/Civil Rights
Required core:
POL-103 Introduction to International Affairs
HIS/POL 325 Revolution and Terrorism
POL-351 Problems of Developing Nations
POL-361 Methods in Political Science Research
POL-401 Political and Economic Globalization
HIS-404 U.S. Foreign Relations
POL-430 International Organizations
POL-456 Senior Seminar
IDS 361 Internship
Five of the following:
POL/HIS 200 Genocide
POL 250 Political Ideologies
POL/HIS-252 Latin American History/Politics
POL/HIS-290 Gender in Islamic Societies
HIS-328 Post-Colonial Africa
HIS-331 Modern China
HIS-338 Russia
HIS-340 The Holocaust
POL-370 Model OAS
POL/HIS-402 Gender, War, and Peace
Required Core:
POL-101 Introduction to Political Science or POL 103 Introduction to International Relations
POL-202 American Politics/Comp Perspective or POL-219 American Presidency
POL-217 Civic Literacy and Inclusive Governance
POL-312 Legal Reasoning
POL-324 Gender, Politics, and the Law
POL-344 Civil Liberties/Civil Rights
POL-361 Methods in Political Research
POL-412 Constitutional Law
POL-370 Model OAS or POL-430 International Organizations
POL/HIS-456 Senior Seminar
One internship or study abroad experience
Three additional courses
Courses fulfilling this requirement include, but are not limited to:
BUS-304 Legal Environment of Business I
BUS-305 Legal Environment of Business II
COM-441 Mass Communication Law
CRM-107 Introduction to Criminology
CRM-307 Theories of Crime
CRM-310 The Criminal Justice System
HIS/POL-200 Genocide
HIS/POL-290 Gender in Islamic Societies
HIS 344 The Holocaust
HIS 402 Women, War, and Peace
HIS-404 U.S. Foreign Relations
PHL-310 Logic
POL 201 Politics of Misinformation
POL-260 Immigration Law and Policy
POL-390 Environmental Policy in US
POL 440 Global Issues
Revised 2023-2024 Academic year