Mount Saint Mary’s University

    Political Science | Bachelor of Arts
    (M)POWER Experiential Major Map

    A clear pathway for academic success, career formation, leadership development, and post-graduate preparation.

    Program Overview

    Core program information and early student priorities.

    Program Details

    Program
    Degree
    Map Type
    Political Science
    Bachelor of Arts
    (M)POWER Experiential Major Map

    Cultivate Learning

    Milestones across the first year, middle years, and final year.

    Summer Pathways / FYS / FYE

    Stage
    Key Actions
    First Year Experience
    • Review general education requirements.
    • Take an introductory history or political science course in fall to connect with faculty and the department’s focus.
    • Meet with a faculty advisor.
    Middle Years
    • Take research methods and writing-intensive courses that build strong analysis and argument skills.
    • Practice presenting and defending ideas out loud to think on your feet.
    • Join monthly department meetings with students and faculty.
    • Pursue internships, fellowships, or summer research when available, including CAIC-supported projects.
    • Attend field trips and cultural experiences like Global Village, Getty Villa visits, and other department-led events.
    Last Year
    • Complete a capstone or senior seminar that pulls your learning together.
    • Present your work and practice oral defense skills.
    • Review final requirements with your advisor.
    • Attend end-of-year recognition events when offered and use them to celebrate skills and growth.

    Academic Success

    Checklist items and recommended course sequencing.

    Academic Success Checklist

    Year
    Fall
    Spring
    First Year
    • FYS 1A (2)
    • POL 101 (3)
    • POL 15 (3)
    • ENG 1A (3)
    • Language (4)
    • FYS 1B (2)
    • POL 153 (3)
    • MTH 38 (3)
    • ENG 1B (3)
    • Language (4)
    Second Year
    • UD POL-G (3)
    • POL 1 (3)
    • POL 176 (3)
    • PHI 168A (3)
    • PHI 103 (3)
    • UD POL-G (3)
    • POL 2 (3)
    • BIO 10 (3)
    • PHI 170 (3)
    • PHI 10 (3)
    • Elective (3)
    Third Year
    • UD POL (3)
    • UD POL-US (3)
    • UD POL (3)
    • ECO 195 (3)
    • Elective (3)
    • Elective (3)
    • UD POL (3)
    • UD POL-US (3)
    • UD POL (3)
    • WST 101 (3)
    • Elective (3)
    • Elective (3)
    Last Year
    • UD POL (3)
    • UD POL (3)
    • UD POL (3)
    • Elective (3)
    • Elective (3)
    • UD POL (3)
    • UD POL (3)
    • UD POL (3)
    • Elective (3)
    • Elective (3)

    Career Formation and Experience

    Career readiness milestones and experience-building opportunities.

    Career Formation

    Stage
    Activities
    First Year
    Attend (M)POWER First-Year Discernment & Life Design Summit.
    Second Year
    Attend (M)POWER Sophomore Summit.
    Third Year
    Attend (M)POWER Junior Summit and unlock micro-credential access.
    Last Year
    Attend (M)POWER Junior Summit and unlock micro-credential access.

    Gain Experience

    • Talk early with faculty about pathways in law, policy, and public service.
    • Start building writing, speaking, and critical thinking skills.
    • Use department experiences to explore careers in law, policy, public service, and related fields.
    • Prepare for graduate school by planning for required tests and using available Kaplan test prep.
    • If in pre-law, plan on law school visits each fall, including Loyola’s Women in the Law Day, and aim for a spring pre-law conference.
    • If in pre-law, join moot court or mock trial and compete each year, with nationals possible after regionals.
    • Attend conferences like the SCUR Conference and, when possible, regional conferences with undergraduate sections.
    • Participate in Sacramento LobbyCorps and engage in faculty-led research opportunities.

    Leadership Development

    Leadership principles and opportunities connected to MOUNTLeads.
    The Four Core Principles of Mount Leads
    Awareness of Self and Personal WellnessEthical Decision Making & IntegrityCommunication Skills and Critical ThinkingActive Citizenship
    Area
    Opportunities
    Personal Leadership
    • Participate in MOUNTLeads Leadership Summit.
    • Apply to be a MOUNTLeads Leadership Scholar.
    • Sign up for community service with Women’s Leadership & Community Engagement or student clubs and organizations.
    Group Dynamics
    • Preparing Women to Lead (PLEN) (Y2+).
    • Community Student Ambassador Program (Y2+).
    • Become a peer mentor through Summer Pathways, Orientation Assistants/Leader, (M)POWER Peer Mentor, or others.
    • Pursue leadership in clubs/organizations, Student Activities Council, Student Government Association, Community Assistants, Peer Wellness, and more.
    Self-Reflection
    • MOUNTLeads Overnight Leadership Retreat (Y2+).
    • Explore service-oriented or community- and social-impact career pathways.
    • Attend “I Lead, We Lead” Workshop Series.
    Engage Locally for Post-Grad Success
    • Pursue on-campus student employment to develop career-aligned skills, a sense of belonging, and contribute to academic success.
    • Advocate for causes and/or organizations that you care about and make an impact.
    Engage Globally for Post-Graduate Success
    • Enroll in a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) class.
    • Enroll in an international summer class.
    • Consider Study Away programs, either nationally or internationally.
    • Advocate for international causes and/or organizations that you care about and make an impact.
    • Enroll in a COIL class.
    • Enroll in an international summer class.

    Athenian Advisory Team

    Advising and support resources across each year.
    Role
    First Year
    Second Year
    Third Year
    Last Year
    Faculty Advisor
    • Mandatory Fall/Spring advisement
    • Major and minor exploration
    • Research and interdisciplinary opportunities
    • Mandatory Fall/Spring advisement
    • Major and minor exploration
    • Research and interdisciplinary opportunities
    • Mandatory Fall/Spring advisement
    • Major and minor exploration
    • Research and interdisciplinary opportunities
    • Graduate school/career preparation
    • Mandatory Fall/Spring advisement
    • Major and minor exploration
    • Research and interdisciplinary opportunities
    • Graduate school/career preparation
    (M)POWER Academic Advisor & Success Coach
    • Mandatory Fall/Spring academic advisement and success coaching.
    • Learn how to navigate myMSMU-Student Planning, Athenian Advisory Team, university processes, and Mount resources to support your success and well-being.
    • Clarify curriculum, catalog policies, LACE general education requirements, and how AP, CLEP, IB, and transfer work can be applied towards your degree.
    • Attend individualized unique coaching sessions to strengthen time management, goal setting, major/minor exploration, and optimizing academic opportunities.
    • Collaborate to explore Mount experiences, such as Study Away, in alignment with academic and career goals.
    • Support with clearance to ensure registration readiness each semester.
    • Optional Fall/Spring academic advisement and coaching.
    • Attend individualized unique coaching sessions to strengthen time management, goal setting, and optimizing academic opportunities.
    • Learn how to bolster your academic interests and pursuits in alignment with LACE general education requirements.
    • Collaborate to explore Mount experiences, such as Study Away, in alignment with academic and career goals.
    • Support with clearance to ensure registration readiness each semester.
    • Optional Fall/Spring academic advisement and coaching.
    • Attend individualized unique coaching sessions to strengthen time management, goal setting, and optimizing academic opportunities.
    • Support you in building and bolstering your academic interests and pursuits in alignment with LACE general education requirements.
    • Collaborate to explore Mount experiences, such as Study Away, in alignment with academic and career goals.
    • Guidance on navigating academic preparation with your Athenian Advisory Team for post graduate planning.
    • Support with clearance to ensure registration readiness each semester.
    • Optional Fall/Spring academic advisement and coaching.
    • Attend individualized unique coaching sessions to strengthen time management, goal setting, and optimizing academic opportunities.
    • Guidance on navigating your Athenian Advisory Team for post graduate planning.
    Career Specialist
    • Learn how to transform experiences into career, calling, vocation.
    • Discern your values, talents, strengths, and goals; shape your early career story.
    • Explore career pathways and make a plan.
    • Reflect on career conversations with alumni and industry professionals.
    • Develop an early résumé and interviewing practice.
    • Strengthen your growth mindset.
    • Learn how to transform experiences into career, calling, vocation.
    • Discern your values, talents, strengths, and goals; shape your early career story.
    • Explore career pathways and make a plan.
    • Reflect on career conversations with alumni and industry professionals.
    • Develop an early résumé and interviewing practice.
    • Strengthen your growth mindset.
    • Clarify career goals and take next steps.
    • Build and strengthen networking relationships with intention.
    • Prepare tailored versions of your résumé and cover letter for specific opportunities or job types.
    • Sharpen effective delivery of your personal career narrative and interviewing skills.
    • Explore, consider, and prepare for graduate school.
    • Clarify career goals and take next steps.
    • Build and strengthen networking relationships with intention.
    • Prepare tailored versions of your résumé and cover letter for specific opportunities or job types.
    • Sharpen effective delivery of your personal career narrative and interviewing skills.
    • Explore, consider, and prepare for graduate school.
    Financial Aid Counselor
    • Review annual financial aid award.
    • Review annual financial aid award.
    • Review annual financial aid award.
    • Review annual financial aid award.
    Peer Mentor
    • Tips and tricks for success.
    • Life at the Mount.
    • How to meet people and get involved.
    • Tips and tricks for success.
    • Life at the Mount.
    • How to meet people and get involved.
    • Tips and tricks for success.
    • Life at the Mount.
    • How to meet people and get involved.
    • Tips and tricks for success.
    • Life at the Mount.
    • How to meet people and get involved.

    Wellness & Well-being

    Students are encouraged to build sustainable habits that support academic success, personal wellness, resilience, and balance throughout each year of the Political Science pathway.
    • Explore a Wellness Fair.
    • Build self-awareness around the dimension of wellness.
    • Try a new sport or continue your choice of movement.
    • Attend a GroupX fitness class.
    • Consult with a Peer Wellness Advocate to determine CalFresh eligibility and apply.
    • Consider applying to be a Facilities Attendant at the Wellness Pavilion or Doheny Wellness Center.
    • Develop healthy habits, understand and strive for self-improvement.
    • Learn positive coping and relationship skills through workshops by Peer Wellness Advocates, Counseling and Psychological Services, Residence Life, and others.
    • Take advantage of outdoor pursuit trips designed to nurture appreciation of the outdoors, environmental stewardship, social and cultural inclusivity, and risk management.
    • Consider applying to be a Peer Wellness Advocate (Y1+).
    • Utilize Produce Pick-Up for access to fresh fruit and vegetables (Y1+).
    • Commit to and prioritize your ritual for movement, healthy habits, positive self-concept, and mental resilience; model and encourage others to do the same.
    • Lead a GroupX fitness class.
    • Consider applying to be a Student Manager at the Wellness Pavilion or Doheny Wellness Center.

    Post-Graduate Outcomes

    Career pathways, transferable strengths, and outcomes supported by the Political Science major.
    Area
    Details
    What skills do employers want?
    • Clear communication and strong writing.
    • Active listening and empathy in diverse settings.
    • Quantitative reasoning and data interpretation.
    • Problem solving grounded in psychological theory.
    • Professionalism, reliability, and ethical judgment.
    • Adaptability across human service roles.
    • Teamwork, facilitation, and collaborative leadership.
    This major equips me to
    • Think critically about behavior, mental processes, and social contexts.
    • Write, speak, and present findings clearly.
    • Engage diverse communities respectfully.
    • Reflect on personal strengths and growth.
    • Support peers through collaboration.
    • Apply psychology to real-world problems.
    What careers can I pursue?
    • Case management, behavioral health support, or applied behavior analysis.
    • Community mental health and social service roles.
    • Program coordination or client intake in clinics or nonprofits.
    • Human services, advocacy, or community outreach positions.
    • Graduate study in counseling, social work, clinical psychology, and related fields.
    • Research assistantships and entry-level data-informed service roles.