Government Major/Minor Requirements

The two majors offered by the Government department - Government and International Relations (IR) - use the lens of political science to engage with our intensely political age and its intellectual challenges. Our main objective is to help students learn how to explain, interpret, and evaluate political institutions, conflicts, policies, behaviors, and beliefs. Students who major in Government or IR will learn how to employ a variety of methods to analyze political phenomena, as well as how to defend their analyses with rigorous, evidence-based argument.

The Government major includes all subfields of political science – American government, international relations, comparative politics, political theory, and public policy – and allows students to specialize in the area of their choice in upper-level courses.  The International Relations major focuses on issues of conflict, cooperation, and change among international actors, as well as topics from comparative politics.  IR is distinct from Global Studies because it is a social scientific field with distinct questions and methodologies, not an interdisciplinary approach that balances social science with cultural studies, humanities, art, and language.

Our introductory courses, GOVT 110 for the Government major and GOVT 140 for the IR major, provide entry points to understand central questions, theories and analytic tools of political science. Students proceeding further in either major will deepen their theoretical and methodological skills and apply those skills to substantive issues in American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory.

A major in Government or International Relations prepares students for success in a wide variety of careers including public office, law, diplomacy, business, policy analysis, political consulting, foreign service, education, non-profit work, global public health, and social work. Department alumni have also pursued advanced degrees in political science, business, law, international relations, public policy, history, medicine, education, urban planning, development studies, and many other fields.

Students who major in Government will learn how to explain, interpret, and evaluate political institutions, policies, behaviors and beliefs. They will do so by using discipline-appropriate methods to answer questions in all four subfields of political science: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory, and they will complete the major by undertaking a Senior Experience project in which they ask and answer a significant original research question concerning government, politics, law, or policy, in a subfield of their choice.  Note: Students majoring in Government may not also major in International Relations.

1. GOVT 110: Introduction to Political Science
2. GOVT 271: Research Methods in Political Science
3. One of the following courses in American politics:
   • GOVT 211: Flexibility and Freedom: American Federalism in Transition
   • GOVT 220: American Elections, Candidates, and Political Parties
   • GOVT 351: Broadsides to Blogs: Mass Media in American Politics
   • GOVT 360: The American Presidency
   • GOVT 370: Congressional Politics
   • GOVT 380: Introduction to Public Policy
4. One of the following courses in comparative politics:
   • GOVT 215: Democracy in Comparative Perspective
   • GOVT 245: Comparative Politics of Developing Countries
5. One of the following courses in international politics:
   • GOVT 140: Introduction to International Relations
   • GOVT 340: Theory of International Relations
6. One of the following courses in political theory:
   • GOVT 200: Politics and Human Nature
   • GOVT 315: Founding the Just Regime
   • GOVT 322: Liberty and Constitutional Democracy
   • GOVT 405: Individuality and Community
7. One six-unit course or two three-unit courses numbered GOVT 400 or above
8. Senior Experience: one six-unit course numbered GOVT 500 or above. Students may satisfy this requirement by completing a seminar, independent study, tutorial, directed study, or internship.
9. Three or more electives: Majors must complete 66 GOVT units (equivalent to eleven six-unit courses), including 54 GOVT units (equivalent to nine six-unit courses) at the 200-level or above. This typically comprises three six-unit elective courses plus those used to satisfy requirements 1-8 above. However, majors who complete two of those requirements with one course, complete more than twelve 100-level units, or  complete three-unit courses will need additional elective courses to satisfy the 66 GOVT unit requirement.

Students who major in International Relations will learn how to explain, interpret, and evaluate international conflict, cooperation, institutions, and behavior. Coursework will focus on the field of IR, with supplementary electives in comparative politics, American politics, and political theory. Students complete the major by undertaking a Senior Experience project in which they ask and answer a significant original research question concerning international politics, institutions, or theory.  Note: Students majoring in International Relations may not also major in Government.

1. GOVT 140: Introduction to International Relations
2. GOVT 340: Theory of International Relations
3. GOVT 271: Research Methods in Political Science
4. One of the following courses in comparative politics:
   • GOVT 215: Democracy in Comparative Perspective
   • GOVT 245: Comparative Politics of Developing Countries
5. One of the following courses in political theory:
   • GOVT 200: Politics and Human Nature
   • GOVT 315: Founding the Just Regime
6. One of the following courses in American politics:
   • GOVT 110: Introduction to Political Science
   • GOVT 211: Flexibility and Freedom: American Federalism in Transition
   • GOVT 220: American Elections, Candidates, and Political Parties
   • GOVT 351: Broadsides to Blogs: Mass Media in American Politics
   • GOVT 360: The American Presidency
   • GOVT 370: Congressional Politics
   • GOVT 380: Introduction to Public Policy
7. GOVT 440: Practice of International Relations (3 units)
8. One additional methods or experiential course of at least 3 units to complement the intended Senior Experience project and/or career. Acceptable courses include GOVT 475: Games & Strategy, GOVT 401: Field Experience, GOVT 446:  Topics: Analyzing Political Rhetoric, a study abroad experience, a traveling classroom course with associated travel component, a credit-bearing internship related to international relations, or additional research design courses that will be developed in the future. With advisor approval, students may substitute appropriate courses in statistics, economics, history, certain upper-level language courses, or other relevant methods courses from other departments.
9. Three additional 6-unit electives, two of which must be in International Relations or Comparative Politics and one of which must be at the 400-level or higher.
10. Senior Experience: GOVT 500: Senior Seminar in International Relations & Comparative Politics.  Students may also satisfy this requirement by completing a 500 or higher-level seminar, independent study, tutorial, or directed study.

The Senior Experience in both the government and international relations majors is to ask and answer an original research question using appropriate political science methodology, or other culminating work chosen in consultation with a student's faculty advisor and the department chair. Capstone research projects may be pursued through a senior seminar, in approved upper-level courses or independent studies, or through work toward an honors thesis.

1. GOVT 110: Introduction to Political Science
2. The following courses, three of which must be numbered 200 or above:
   1. One six-unit course in American politics
   2. One six-unit course in political theory
   3. Two six-unit courses from the fields of comparative politics and international relations
3. One six-unit course in government at the advanced level (numbered 400 or above), excluding tutorials and independent studies
4. A minimum of six six-unit courses in government.

Government majors can seek certification to teach social studies at the secondary level. Along with the major, students must take one course in each of history, economics, psychology, and anthropology or ethnic studies, and a second course in two of these fields. Students are urged to take courses in both U.S. history and global history. A course in environmental studies (such as ENST 151) is also required. Students who plan to seek teacher certification should review the requirements in the Education section of the catalog and meet with the director of teacher education, preferably before the end of the sophomore year.

Government and international relations majors have a wide range of study abroad options with many courses that will fulfill electives, and interested students should consult with their advisor and the Off-Campus Programs office. Government students with a focus on US politics are encouraged to consider the Washington Semester in the Off-Campus Programs section of the catalog.