B.A. in Political Science
Harrisonburg, USA
BA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
USD 6,434 / per semester **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* regular admission | November 1st, 2022: early admission
** in-state tuition fee | $15,076: out-of-state tuition fee. Additional fees may apply
Key Summary
About: The B.A. in Political Science at James Madison University gives a liberal arts foundation in U.S. politics, international relations, political philosophy and comparative politics. You’ll learn research methods, quantitative and qualitative analysis and finish a writing-intensive capstone. The program offers a Washington Semester, a non-partisan public affairs club and faculty expertise across elections, public policy and regional studies.
Career Outcomes: Graduates gain skills for roles in government, law, public policy, non-profit, campaigns, consulting and political communication. Job and internship listings include law clerk, analyst, policy intern, program manager and public affairs fellow. You can also pursue graduate study or internships.
Political Science majors at JMU have a foundation for amazing careers.
Our majors take courses in U.S. politics and policy, international relations, political dynamics abroad and political philosophy. Our vast network of alumni helps students transition to careers in public service and many other fields. Political science students graduate with a wide range of powerful skills for understanding their community, country and the world. They gain experience with quantitative and qualitative analysis, advanced written communication, research methods and critical thinking. These prized abilities serve as a foundation for careers in government, consulting, public policy, business, political communication and the non-profit sector.
We seek to enhance the quality of public policy and civic life at home and abroad by teaching students, conducting research and collaborating with people inside and outside of the JMU community.
The Political Science program offers a strong liberal arts major for students interested in all aspects of politics and public policy. Students are required to complete a core set of courses introducing them to political theory, the global community, American politics and research methods. All students complete a writing intensive capstone course that requires them to apply knowledge and skills from previous coursework to a major research project in a chosen area of interest. The Washington Semester Program allows students to spend a semester living and working in Washington, D.C. while earning credit for their degree. The Political Science department also hosts a non-partisan club for students interested in public affairs.
The department takes pride in preparing them to think critically and analytically and to communicate their ideas well. Graduates go on to careers in law, government, non-profit organizations, campaigns, policy analysis and with private firms affected by government policy. A dedicated faculty includes specialists in elections, media and politics, public policy, international security, international law, peace studies, political philosophy, U.S. governmental institutions, and major geographic regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East).
For a major in political science, the student must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 39 credit hours, including:
- A 17-hour core introduces students to the conduct of political inquiry in the major areas of the discipline, an awareness of global issues and cultural diversity, and the techniques of original research.
- An 18-hour depth requirement in which students take at least one course from three of the major areas of political inquiry and acquire additional experience in the application of research techniques.
- A four-hour capstone experience designed to bring together knowledge gained in different courses into a coherent whole, to foster a capacity for lifelong learning, to connect the major to experiences outside the university, and to provide the opportunity to work individually with a faculty member.
Required Courses
- General Education 41 Credit Hours 1
- Foreign Language classes (intermediate level required) 0-14 Credit Hours 2
- Philosophy course (in addition to General Education courses) 3 Credit Hours
- University electives 23-37 Credit Hours
- Major requirements (listed below) 39 Credit Hours
Footnotes
1 The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.
2 The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of the second semester of the intermediate level of the student’s chosen language (typically 232) or by placing out of that language through the Department of Foreign Language’s placement test.
Major Requirements
Core Requirements
- POSC 225. U.S. Government [C4AE] Credits: 4.00
- POSC 201. Introduction to Western Political Theory Credits: 3.00
- POSC 295. Research Methods Credits: 4.00 1
- POSC 230. International Relations Credits: 3.00
- POSC 240. Comparative Politics Credits: 3.00
Footnote
1 MATH 220, POSC 225 and one of the following: POSC 230, POSC 240, PPA 200, or PPA 265 are prerequisites for POSC 295.
Electives
In addition to the core requirements, political science majors must elect 18 hours of approved courses as shown, including at least one upper-level course from each of the four major areas of political inquiry. Students are encouraged to complete the core requirements before taking elective courses. A political science major may seek permission to count a completed Senior Honors Project as a three-credit elective within the major. Students must consult with the political science program coordinator prior to conducting an honors project to clarify the specific nature of its potential applicability to the major’s elective options.
Choose one course from each of the four areas: 12 Credit Hours
Comparative Politics
- POSC 340. Politics of Development Credits: 3.00
- POSC 341. Social Movements in the U.S. and Abroad Credits: 3.00
- POSC 344. Politics of the European Union Credits: 3.00
- POSC 345. Politics of Western Europe Credits: 3.00
- POSC 346. Politics of Central and Eastern Europe Credits: 3.00
- POSC 347. Comparative Public Policy Credits: 3.00
- POSC 348. The Politics of Cultural Pluralism Credits: 3.00
- POSC 350. Latin American Politics Credits: 3.00
- POSC 353. African Politics Credits: 3.00
- POSC 354. Politics of the Middle East Credits: 3.00
- POSC 355. East Asian Politics Credits: 3.00
- POSC 356. Politics of China Credits: 3.00
- POSC 371. Topics in Comparative Politics Credits: 3.00
- POSC 383. Women and Politics in Comparative Perspective Credits: 3.00
or - WGSS 383. Women and Politics in Comparative Perspective Credits: 3.00
- POSC 440. Post-Conflict Societies Credits: 3.00
- POSC 457. Fates of Empires Credits: 3.00
or - HIST 357. Fates of Empires Credits: 3.00
International Relations
- POSC 331. Human Rights in Theory and Practice Credits: 3.00
or - JUST 331. Human Rights in Theory and Practice Credits: 3.00
- POSC 361. Topics in International Relations Credits: 3.00
- POSC 370. U.S. Foreign Policy Credits: 3.00
- POSC 372. Ethics and International Politics Credits: 3.00
or - JUST 372. Ethics and International Politics Credits: 3.00
- POSC 379. International Laws of War Credits: 3.00
- POSC 392. Peace Studies Credits: 3.00
or - JUST 392. Peace Studies Credits: 3.00
- POSC 393. Human Security Credits: 3.00
- POSC 394. International Conflict Credits: 3.00
- POSC 395. International Law Credits: 3.00
- POSC 396. International Organizations Credits: 3.00
- POSC 397. The Politics of International Economic Relations Credits: 3.00
- POSC 430. International Security and Conflict Management Credits: 3.00
- POSC 435. International Terrorism Credits: 3.00
- POSC 458. International Political Analysis Credits: 3.00
Political Theory
- POSC 310. Ancient Political Theory: Classical Greek Political Philosophy to Roman Stoicism Credits: 3.00
- POSC 311. The Ideas and Legacies of Medieval and Renaissance Political Theory Credits: 3.00
- POSC 315. Political Theory: Early Modern to the 19th Century Credits: 3.00
- POSC 316. Contemporary Political Theory Credits: 3.00
- POSC 321. Political Theory and Ideology Credits: 3.00
- POSC 330. American Political Thought Credits: 3.00
- POSC 332. African American Political Thought Credits: 3.00
- POSC 333. American Political Thought II: Civil War to the Present Credits: 3.00
- POSC 334. Political Thought of James Madison Credits: 3.00
- POSC 381. Topics in Political Theory Credits: 3.00
American Government
- POSC 302. State & Local Gov Credits: 3.00
- POSC 325. Constitutional Law Credits: 3.00
- POSC 326. Civil Rights Credits: 3.00
- POSC 351. Topics in American Politics Credits: 3.00
- POSC 362. Political Behavior Credits: 3.00
- POSC 364. Political Parties in America Credits: 3.00
- POSC 365. American Political Campaigning Credits: 3.00
- POSC 366. Introduction to the Politics of Race and Ethnicity Credits: 3.00
- POSC 367. U.S. Immigration and Refugee Law Credits: 3.00
- POSC 368. Interest Groups, Lobbying, and Public Policy Credits: 3.00
- POSC 369. Elections and Voting Behavior Credits: 3.00
- POSC 378. Borderlands Policy: Latina/o/x Politics in Context Credits: 3.00
- POSC 380. The U.S. Presidency Credits: 3.00
- POSC 382. The Role of Religion in American Politics Credits: 3.00
- POSC 384. Minority Group Politics Credits: 3.00
- POSC 385. The U.S. Congress Credits: 3.00
- POSC 386. The U.S. Judiciary Credits: 3.00
- POSC 387. The Appellate Process and Practice Credits: 3.00
- POSC 472. Media and Politics Credits: 3.00
Two additional electives chosen from the 300 or 400 level: 6 Credit Hours
For three of these six credit hours, students may also take one of the following courses:
- POSC 200. Global Politics [C4GE] Credits: 3.00
- POSC 300. Politics and Film Credits: 3.00
- POSC 301W. The Washington Semester Experience Credits: 3.00
- POSC 391. Topics in Public Policy Credits: 3.00
- POSC 398. Simulations Credits: 3.00
- POSC 493. Political Communication Internship Credits: 4.00
- POSC 493W. Political Communication Internship in Washington Credits: 6.00
- POSC 495. Internship in Political Science Credits: 4.00
- POSC 495W. Washington Semester Internship in Political Science Credits: 6.00
- PPA 200. Introduction to Public Policy Credits: 3.00
- PPA 265. Public Administration Credits: 3.00
Senior Capstone
Students should fulfill the senior capstone requirement for each major and minor separately. This means that senior experiences completed for one major or minor cannot normally be counted for another. Students who have questions about a particular situation should see the academic unit head or appropriate academic unit coordinator for clarification.
- POSC 492. Senior Seminar in Political Science Credits: 3.00-4.00 2
Footnote
2 This course fulfills the College of Arts and Letters writing-intensive requirement for the major.
A successful career and a meaningful life is what it’s all about. Whether it’s an internship, a great first job or a top graduate school appointment, JMU Dukes make their dreams ignite. You will, too.
Here are current openings available to JMU students.
Jobs for JMU Students
Politics
- Reinsurance Actuarial Analyst- Reach Program at Gallagher
- Catastrophe Risk Modeling Analyst- Reach Training Program at Gallagher
- Energy Services Coordinator at University of Northern Iowa Human Resources
- Business Operations Manager (General) - Fiscal Services - E213 at Fresno Unified School District
- Vice Principal II - Computech - E190 at Fresno Unified School District
- Development Associate at REPRO Rising Virginia
- (#R25295) Blended Case Manager / Salisbury Behavioral Health at RHA Health Services, LLC
- (#R25225) Blended Case Manager / Salisbury Behavioral Health at RHA Health Services, LLC
- (#R25222) Blended Case Manager / Salisbury Behavioral Health at RHA Health Services, LLC
- Sales Center Representative- Telework/Remote at Self Storage Plus
- Human Resources Coordinator at National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
- Law Clerk I- Great Falls, Montana at Montana Judicial Branch
- Deputy Juvenile Probation Officer I- Malta, Montana, Mord at Montana Judicial Branch
- IT Business Analyst/Trainer, Helena, Montana at Montana Judicial Branch
- Court Reporter - Electronic or Steno (Billings, Montana) at Montana Judicial Branch
- Deputy Juvenile Probation Officer I- Polson, Montana at Montana Judicial Branch
- Law Clerk I- Bozeman, Montana at Montana Judicial Branch
- Law Clerk I- Moses, Billings, Montana at Montana Judicial Branch
- Scientist, Analytical Chemistry at Eurofins
- Government
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at Hanover County Government
- Psychiatrist at Hanover County Government
- Entry Level Software Engineer - On Site at SRC, Inc
- Government Risk Strategy Consulting Associate - Winter 2023 at RSM US LLP
- Government Risk Strategy Consulting Associate - Summer 2023 at RSM US LLP
- Enterprise Architect Manager at Chesterfield County Local Government
- Systems Engineer (Entry-Level)- Chantilly, VA at Peraton
- Auditor 1 at Pennsylvania Auditor General
- Recent Graduate - Human Centered Design Specialist at Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Health & Fitness Article Writer at Bodybuilding.com
- Administrative Secretary - General Government at Village of Schaumburg
- Project Manager: Technology Acquisition of Mail & Package Sorting Equipment(procure, set-up, test & distribute at MBA CSi
- Principal Planner at COUNTY OF FRANKLIN
- Honeywell opportunity - req369966 - Logistics - Secure Communications Specialist - 3 - FMT at Honeywell
- Finance Director at Baker Tilly
- Senior Information Systems Security Engineer (ISSE) at ENSCO, Inc.
- Senior Principal Early Childhood Technical Assistance (TA) Specialist at SRI International
- Research Scientist - Peptide Chemist at SRI International
- Accountant at Navient
Law Enforcement
- NPDES Permit Writer (Natural Resource Specialist 3) at Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
- Postdoctoral Appointee - Computer Science Research Institute at Sandia National Laboratories
- Full Stack developer at Finalcover LLC
- Frontend Developer at Finalcover LLC
- Juvenile Justice Compliance Monitor at Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
- Staff Attorney at Michigan Supreme Court
- Police Officer 1- OPOTA Cert required at Summit Behavioral Healthcare
- Personnel Security Specialist - Investigations Case Analyst at Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) - HQ Quantico, VA
- Recreation Leader I, Newhall Community Center - PTS at City of Santa Clarita
- Chaplain at Federal Bureau of Prisons
- Laser/Optical Technologist at Sandia National Laboratories
- DevOps Engineer at Modine Manufacturing Company
- Medical Laboratory Scientist (Recent Graduates) at Natera
- Senior Software Delivery Lead at Michigan Supreme Court
- Kobre & Kim LLP | Litigation Assistant Position | Seoul (Immediate Start) at Kobre & Kim, LLP
- Kobre & Kim LLP | Litigation Assistant Position | São Paulo (Immediate Start) at Kobre & Kim, LLP
- Deputy Juvenile Probation Officer I- Malta, Montana, Mord at Montana Judicial Branch
- IT Business Analyst/Trainer, Helena, Montana at Montana Judicial Branch
- Deputy Juvenile Probation Officer I- Polson, Montana at Montana Judicial Branch
Internships for JMU Students
- Politics
- Digital Communications and Public Affairs Fellow at Monument Advocacy
- MRC NewsBusters Paid Internship - Spring 2023 at Media Research Center
- International Research Analyst at Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)
- Cyber Security Intern - Fairfax, VA at CGI
- BPI Client Services/Paid Media Fellowship Program-Spring 2023 at Bully Pulpit Interactive
- 2023 Risk Management Division Summer Analyst Program - New York at Societe Generale
- 2023 Information Technology Summer Analyst Program (New York) at Societe Generale
- 2023 Information Technology Summer Analyst Program (Chicago) at Societe Generale
- 2023 Investment Banking Summer Analyst Program - New York at Societe Generale
- 2023 Investment Banking Summer Analyst Program - Chicago at Societe Generale
- 2023 Investment Banking Summer Analyst Program - Houston at Societe Generale
- 2023 Markets Summer Analyst Program (New York) at Societe Generale
- 2023 DFIN Summer Analyst Program - New York at Societe Generale
- 2023 Operations Summer Analyst Program - New York at Societe Generale
- 2023 Operations Summer Analyst Program - Chicago at Societe Generale
- Factory Farming Awareness Coalition - National College Internship Spring 2023 at Factory Farming Awareness Coalition
- Factory Farming Awareness Coalition - National College Internship Summer 2023 at Factory Farming Awareness Coalition
- Health Policy Intern at Community Education Group
- 2023 Intern - Global Military Sales Analyst - Hunt Valley, MD at Textron
Government
- Intern - Government Affairs (Summer 2023) at United Airlines
- Information Governance Advisor Summer Intern at USAA
- Compliance Analyst - Explorer Summer Intern Program - 2023 at Barclays
- Internal Audit Analyst - Explorer Summer Intern Program - 2023 at Barclays
- Internal Audit Analyst - Explorer Summer Intern Program - 2023 at Barclays
- State Advocacy Intern at BSA | The Software Alliance
- Digital Communications and Public Affairs Fellow at Monument Advocacy
- Systems Engineer Intern (Summer 2023) at Sierra Nevada Corporation
- Government Risk Strategy Consulting Intern - Summer 2023 at RSM US LLP
- Internal Audit Finance Intern at PetSmart
- Safety Intern - Kiewit Safety (Summer 2023) at Kiewit
- Digital Marketing & Social Media Internship at Georgia State Games
- Environmental Science and Engineering AmeriCorps Fellow at U.S. Dept. of Interior - Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
- 2023 Intern - National Security Consulting at Guidehouse
- Analyst Summer Intern at Rystad Energy
- Field Engineer Internship- Power Delivery- Bianchi- Nationwide, USA at Infrastructure & Energy Alternatives, Inc
- Field Engineer Internship- Heavy Civil- American Civil Constructors- Benicia, CA at Infrastructure & Energy Alternatives, Inc
- Software Engineer: Spring/Summer 2023 Co-Op or Internship (Full-Time) - San Diego, CA at Quartus Engineering
- Mechanical Design or Analysis Engineer: Spring/Summer 2023 Co-Op or Internship (Full Time) - San Diego, CA at Quartus Engineering
Law Enforcement
- NPDES Permit Writer (Natural Resource Specialist 3) at Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
- Postdoctoral Appointee - Computer Science Research Institute at Sandia National Laboratories
- Full Stack developer at Finalcover LLC
- Frontend Developer at Finalcover LLC
- Juvenile Justice Compliance Monitor at Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
- Staff Attorney at Michigan Supreme Court
- Police Officer 1- OPOTA Cert required at Summit Behavioral Healthcare
- Personnel Security Specialist - Investigations Case Analyst at Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) - HQ Quantico, VA
- Recreation Leader I, Newhall Community Center - PTS at City of Santa Clarita
- Chaplain at Federal Bureau of Prisons
- Laser/Optical Technologist at Sandia National Laboratories
- DevOps Engineer at Modine Manufacturing Company
- Medical Laboratory Scientist (Recent Graduates) at Natera
- Senior Software Delivery Lead at Michigan Supreme Court
- Kobre & Kim LLP | Litigation Assistant Position | Seoul (Immediate Start) at Kobre & Kim, LLP
- Kobre & Kim LLP | Litigation Assistant Position | São Paulo (Immediate Start) at Kobre & Kim, LLP
- Deputy Juvenile Probation Officer I- Malta, Montana, Mord at Montana Judicial Branch
- IT Business Analyst/Trainer, Helena, Montana at Montana Judicial Branch
- Deputy Juvenile Probation Officer I- Polson, Montana at Montana Judicial Branch
Madison awards more than 400 one- to four-year scholarships each year to incoming students. The primary criterion for merit-based scholarships is exceptional academic performance. Other selection criteria may include leadership, involvement, and career goals.
The Madison Scholarships Hub is the application center for all JMU Foundation scholarships at James Madison University. To access the Madison Scholarships Hub, log in to MyMadison. Under the Applicant tab, click on the Madison Scholarships Hub logo.
All students are encouraged to fill out the General Application in the Madison Scholarships Hub to be considered for various scholarship opportunities. Qualifications for the majority of our scholarships are based on the General Application information as well as information pulled directly from your admissions application.
Review the criteria carefully for any recommended scholarship opportunities you are presented with and if you meet the qualifications, click apply to submit the additional required information. Deadlines vary across departments so be sure to complete the General Application as soon as possible to receive full consideration. Some scholarship opportunities become available starting in the fall while others open later so be sure to check back in January, February and March.