Major Requirements

 
The Department of Government and Politics offers four undergraduate curriculum options:
 

GVPT Major Requirements - Bachelor of Arts (GVPT-B.A. track)

GVPT Major Requirements - Bachelor of Science (GVPT-B.S. track)

International Relations Major Requirements - Bachelor of Arts (IR-B.A. track)

International Relations - Bachelor of Science (IR-B.S. track)

 

The GVPT and IR B.A. tracks expose students to cutting-edge political science research in the major areas of the field, including American politics, comparative politics, and international relations, as well as training in political methodology. The IR-B.A. track provides more focused coursework in international relations and comparative politics; the concentration is formally recorded on the student's transcript. The B.S. tracks emphasizes data science and the production of empirical political science research.

Determining which track is right for you depends on what kind of career you want to pursue, as well as your interest in research. If you want to learn how to interpret research related to political science generally, the GVPT-B.A. or IR-B.A. could be a good choice. The training provided in those tracks would prepare you for many careers in the government, nonprofit organizations, or the private sector. Both B.A. tracks will provide an excellent foundation for a law degree or master’s degree program.

If you are more interested in producing quantitative political science research, you should consider the Bachelor of Science option. The B.S. tracks are primarily for students with a strong background and interest in statistics and data science. If you want to pursue a Ph.D. in political science (or a related field), or work in a career in which you conduct empirical research, you should consider the B.S. degree.

If you are considering the IR-B.A. or either of the B.S. tracks, we strongly encourage you to complete the prerequisite coursework early to help you decide if the track is right for you (IR-B.A. track: GVPT200 & GVPT280/282; B.S. tracks: GVPT201 & GVPT320).

Students are permitted to switch tracks. Please contact GVPTAdvising [at] umd.edu for instructions on changing tracks.

 

GVPT - BA

IR - BA

GVPT - BS

IR - BS

Benchmarks

  • GVPT170
  • One of STAT100, MATH107, MATH113, MATH115, MATH120, MATH135, MATH136, or MATH140 
  • One 200-level GVPT course (may not be experiential learning)
  • Academic Writing 

Benchmarks

  • GVPT170 
  • One of STAT100, MATH107, MATH113, MATH115, MATH120, MATH135, MATH136, or MATH140
  • One 200-level GVPT course (may not be experiential learning)
  • Academic Writing 

Benchmark 1

  • GVPT170
  • GVPT201
  • One of STAT100, MATH107, MATH113, MATH115, MATH120, MATH135, MATH136, or MATH140 
  • Academic Writing

Benchmark 2

  • GVPT320

Benchmark 1

  • GVPT170
  • GVPT201
  • One of STAT100, MATH107, MATH113, MATH115, MATH120, MATH135, MATH136, or MATH140 
  • Academic Writing

Benchmark 2

  • GVPT320

GVPT Theory Requirement

  • GVPT241*

IR Foundational Courses

  • GVPT200*
  • GVPT280 or 282*
  • GVPT241*

GVPT Foundational Course

  • One of GVPT200, 280, or 282

IR Foundational Courses

  • GVPT200
  • GVPT280 or 282
  • GVPT-IR/Comparative Course of Choice

GVPT Methods Requirement

  • GVPT201*

IR Methods Requirement

  • GVPT201*

GVPT Methods Requirements

  • GVPT Methods Course 300/400 
  • GVPT Quantitative Methods Course 300/400 
  • GVPT Quantitative Methods Course 300/400 

IR Methods Requirements

  • GVPT Methods Course 300/400 
  • GVPT-IR/Comparative Quantitative Methods Course 300/400 
  • GVPT Quantitative Methods Course 300/400

GVPT Courses of Choice

  • GVPT* 
  • GVPT
  • GVPT
  • GVPT 300/400 
  • GVPT 300/400
  • GVPT 300/400
  • GVPT 300/400
  • GVPT 300/400
  • GVPT 300/400

IR Courses of Choice

  • GVPT*
  • GVPT 300/400 
  • GVPT-IR/Comparative 300/400
  • GVPT-IR/Comparative 300/400
  • GVPT-IR/Comparative 300/400
  • GVPT-IR/Comparative 300/400
  • GVPT-IR/Comparative 300/400

GVPT Courses of Choice

  • GVPT 
  • GVPT
  • GVPT 300/400
  • GVPT 300/400 
  • GVPT 300/400

IR Courses of Choice

  • GVPT-IR/Comparative 300/400
  • GVPT-IR/Comparative 300/400
  • GVPT-IR/Comparative 300/400

GVPT Skills Requirements

  • ECON200
  • Elementary Foreign Language Requirement
  • 1 Quantitative Skills Course
  • 1 Additional Skills Course (either a second Quantitative Skills Course or 1 Intermediate Foreign Language Course)

IR Skills Requirements

  • ECON200
  • Elementary Foreign Language Requirement
  • 1 Quantitative Skills Course
  • 1 Intermediate Foreign Language Course

GVPT Skills Requirements

  • ECON200
  • Elementary Foreign Language Requirement
  • Quantitative Skills - B.S Track Course 1
  • Quantitative Skills - B.S Track Course 2

IR Skills Requirements

  • ECON200
  • Elementary Foreign Language Requirement
  • 1 Quantitative Skills - B.S Track Course
  • 1 Additional Skills - B.S Track Course (either a second Quantitative Skills - B.S Track Course or 1 Intermediate Foreign Language Course)

*Course may be used to satisfy the 200-level GVPT Benchmark Course Requirement for the GVPT-BA and IR-BA majors.

Courses

List of Courses and Available Syllabi

All GVPT courses

Testudo Schedule of Classes

Courses Per Semester