Find the right UMGC degree, specialization, or certificate for your professional and educational goals. Use the compare option to decide between multiple programs of interest.
Political Science
Bachelor of ScienceThese program requirements are for students who enroll in the 2024-2025 academic year.
Program Highlights
- Learn concepts: Identify the characteristics of political science and distinguish between major concepts, theories, and research methods.
- Study key systems: Explain key domestic and international systems, institutions, and organizations, including their purposes, functions, and impacts on domestic and global politics and policies.
- Research political ethics: Describe ethical issues in political science that inform a commitment to integrity in personal, professional, and political practice.
- Promote diversity: Explain the importance of diversity, equity, and identity within sociopolitical, economic, and cultural contexts, both domestically and internationally.
- Apply new info: Apply new information, terminology, and research in political science and other relevant fields.
- Analyze reports: Analyze qualitatively and quantitatively based reports and articles for validity, methodology, applicability, and conclusions.
- Produce research: Produce research within the major theoretical/conceptual frameworks of political science, using appropriate research skills, including statistical methods as needed.
- Communicate effectively: Express yourself clearly, accurately, logically, cohesively, and critically about international and domestic political issues using strong critical thinking and analytical writing skills.
Required Courses
- (3 Credits, GVPT 100)
- (3 Credits, GVPT 101)
- (3 Credits, GVPT 170) or (3 Credits, GVPT 200)
- (3 Credits, GVPT 210)
- (3 Credits, GVPT 280)
- (3 Credits, GVPT 306)
- (3 Credits, GVPT 403) or any upper-level GVPT course
- (3 Credits, GVPT 406)
- (3 Credits, GVPT 457) or any upper-level GVPT course
- (3 Credits, GVPT 495)
Career Preparation
This online political science program may help prepare you for a variety of careers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Potential job titles in these areas include political scientist, information analyst, intelligence analyst, research scientist, lobbyist, or community outreach specialist.
Please note: Higher advancement in political science careers may require further education, such as a master's degree.
Experience Recommended for Success in the Program
No previous experience is needed.
Total Program Credits
120
Transfer Credits
Up to 90
Format
- All courses available online
- Select hybrid courses available
Tuition Per Credit
- $324 per credit (in-state)
- $499 per credit (out-of-state)
- $250 per credit (military)
- Other fees may apply
Admission Requirements
This program follows standard UMGC admission requirements.
Military-Specific Details
This program does not have military restrictions. It is available to all eligible civilian and military-affiliated students.
State-Specific Details
This program does not have state-specific restrictions.
Criminal Justice
Bachelor of ScienceThese program requirements are for students who enroll in the 2024-2025 academic year.
Program Highlights
- Understand the system: Understand the roles and responsibilities of police, courts, and corrections within the American criminal justice system. Â
- Evaluate policies: Develop an understanding of criminal justice policies and procedures and explore how they affect diverse social groups. Â
- Develop knowledge: Develop high-level ethical reasoning, analytical skills, research skills, and professional knowledge. Â
- Analyze law: Understand substantive, procedural, and evidentiary law in theory and in practice.Â
Required Courses
- (3 Credits, CCJS 100)
- (3 Credits, CCJS 230)
- (3 Credits, CCJS 340)
- (3 Credits, CCJS 345)
- (3 Credits, CCJS 350) or any upper-level CCJS course
- (3 Credits, CCJS 360) or any upper-level CCJS course
- (3 Credits, CCJS 380)
- (3 Credits, CCJS 341)
- (3 Credits, CCJS 352) or any upper-level CCJS course
- (3 Credits, CCJS 497)
- (3 Credits, CCJS 495)
Career Preparation
This program is designed to help you obtain the skills you need to succeed in local/state law enforcement, federal law enforcement, criminal justice administration, or private safety and security roles. For example, graduates might take on positions such as police officer, criminal investigator, forensic investigator, crime intelligence analyst, case manager, correctional officer, and more. Please note that many law enforcement roles require successful graduation from a police academy.Â
Experience Recommended for Success in the Program
No previous experience is needed.
Total Program Credits
120
Transfer Credits
Up to 90
Format
- All courses available online
- Select hybrid courses available
Tuition Per Credit
- $324 per credit (in-state)
- $499 per credit (out-of-state)
- $250 per credit (military)
- Other fees may apply
Admission Requirements
This program follows standard UMGC admission requirements.
Military-Specific Details
This program does not have military restrictions. It is available to all eligible civilian and military-affiliated students.
State-Specific Details
This program does not have state-specific restrictions.
Social Science
Bachelor of ScienceThese program requirements are for students who enroll in the 2024-2025 academic year.
Program Highlights
- Analyze data: Analyze how quantitative and qualitative methods are used in social science research.
- Communicate concepts: Communicate social science concepts and research findings to a variety of audiences.
- Study communities: Examine how micro- and macro-level factors are linked in the lives of individuals and communities.
- Analyze complex issues: Analyze complex social issues using theoretical approaches, critical thinking skills, and technology.
- Evaluate research: Evaluate social science research using ethical principles and standards for professional conduct.
- Examine real problems: Apply concepts of diversity and global multicultural perspectives to examine practical problems.
Required Courses
- 6 credits of introductory (100-level) social science coursework, chosen from the following:
- (3 Credits, ANTH 102)
- (3 Credits, GERO 100)
- (3 Credits, PSYC 100)
- (3 Credits, SOCY 100)
- (3 Credits, BEHS 210)
- (3 Credits, BEHS 220) or (3 Credits, BEHS 250)
- (3 Credits, BEHS 300)
- (3 Credits, BEHS 495)
- Upper-level ANTH, BEHS, GERO, PSYC, or SOCY courses (12 credits): Focused study in anthropology, gerontology, psychology, or sociology recommended
Related Required Course
The following may be applied to general education requirements:
- (3 Credits, STAT 200)
Degree Focus
To align with the 12-credit upper-level requirement listed above, we recommend you choose from one of the following groups of classes below to align with your career interests:
Anthropology Focus
- (3 Credits, ANTH 345)
- (3 Credits, ANTH 346)
- (3 Credits, ANTH 350)
- (3 Credits, ANTH 351)
Gerontology Focus
- (3 Credits, GERO 302)
- (3 Credits, GERO 311)
- (3 Credits, GERO 427)
- (3 Credits, GERO 320)
Psychology Focus
- (3 Credits, PSYC 338)
- (3 Credits, PSYC 354)
- (3 Credits, PSYC 386)
- (3 Credits, PSYC 437)
Sociology Focus
- (3 Credits, SOCY 313)
- (3 Credits, SOCY 325)
- (3 Credits, SOCY 423)
- (3 Credits, SOCY 350)
Career Preparation
This program is designed to prepare you to pursue careers as social researchers, policy analysts, community service managers, elder care workers, social workers, human resources specialists, teachers, or urban planners.
Please note: Pursing a Master of Arts in Teaching through our accelerated pathway may better prepare you for the teaching careers represented here.
Experience Recommended for Success in the Program
No previous experience is needed.
Total Program Credits
120
Transfer Credits
Up to 90
Format
- All courses available online
- Select hybrid courses available
Tuition Per Credit
- $324 per credit (in-state)
- $499 per credit (out-of-state)
- $250 per credit (military)
- Other fees may apply
Admission Requirements
This program follows standard UMGC admission requirements.
Military-Specific Details
This program does not have military restrictions. It is available to all eligible civilian and military-affiliated students.
State-Specific Details
This program does not have state-specific restrictions.