| Concentrations GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT |
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The Program
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The department offers concentrations in Government, World Politics and Public Policy as follows: Government A concentration in Government consists of ten courses: 116, 117, and either 112 or 114, with at least one of these being writing-intensive, and seven additional courses at the 200 level or above, with at least two courses in International Relations/Comparative Politics and two courses in American Politics. Government concentrators must take at least one course at the 300 level and complete the senior project (550). A minor in Government consists of five courses, with at least two of these at the 200 level or above. World Politics The World Politics major involves the study of politics on a global scale, including both international relations and politics within nations. In order to understand the complex interplay of international and national politics, all World Politics majors study the philosophical and moral bases of various political systems; the history of the modern international system; the political economy of global power and wealth; and the key issues for U.S. foreign policy. To achieve this understanding, all World Politics majors are required to take the following core courses: Government 112, 114, 117 (one of which must be writing-intensive) Government 290 and 291 Government 550 With this background, students will be prepared to delve more deeply into some particular aspect of World Politics that intrigues them. Students complete the major by focusing either on a particular region of the world (Africa, Asia, Latin America, Middle East, Russia and Eastern Europe, Western Europe) or a thematic topic (Poverty and Inequality in World Politics, Democratization, International Law and Organization, International Security, Politics of the Global Economy, Nationalism and Identity in Global Politics). In consultation with their advisor, students will select five related courses in their area or theme, from a variety of departments. One of these must be at the 300-level in Government. For students focusing on a region of the world, one of the five courses must be in an appropriate language at the fourth-semester level or above. Students may also design their own thematic track with the advice and consent of their advisor. The advisor will approve each student's course list after the major is declared. Honors. To be considered for honors in Government of World Politics, a student must have a 90 average in department courses and have completed, with distinction, 550. The student may then, with the consent of the faculty, enroll in 551 and submit a senior thesis. The award of honors is conferred by a committee of three faculty members, including at least two members of the department. Public Policy The Public Policy Program is administered through the departments of Economics, Government and Philosophy. A concentration in Public Policy consists of 251, 382 and the Senior Project; Economics 101, 102 and 275; Government 116, 230 (or Economics 265) and 338; and courses chosen from the following options: one of the following four courses: Government 117 Introduction to Political Theory Philosophy 111 Contemporary Moral Issues Philosophy 271 Ethics of Professions and Practices Philosophy 380 Philosophy of Law one of the following two courses: Philosophy 450 Seminar in Ethics: Ethical Theory Philosophy 460 Seminar in Ethics: Contemporary Theories of Justice and one of the following nine "issue areas" courses: Economics 316 Globalization and Gender Economics 346 Monetary Policy Economics 350 Economics of Poverty and Income Distribution Economics 380 Environmental Economics Government 275 Public Education: Policy, Politics and Ideology Government 335 The Criminal Justice System Sociology 202 Sociology of Education Sociology 258 Poverty, Law and the Welfare State Sociology 260 Racial and Ethnic Groups: The Sociology of Race and Ethnicity in America The Senior Project may be completed in one semester (500) or two semesters (500-501). Concentrators must complete the following courses by the end of the junior year: 382; Economics 275; Government 116 and 230; one of the required courses in Philosophy; and one of the "issue areas" courses listed above. No student may declare a concentration in Public Policy without either completing or being enrolled in 251. Students are strongly encouraged to take Government 230 (or Economics 265) by the end of the sophomore year. Credit from the Term in Washington Program may be substituted for up to two of the courses required for a concentration, with the approval of the program director. Students interested in pursuing graduate study in policy analysis or public management are encouraged to take additional courses in substantive areas of public policy and in mathematics and statistics. To qualify for honors in Public Policy, a student must submit a distinguished record in the concentration and perform with distinction in the Senior Project. A complete description of the Senior Project is available in Kirner-Johnson 217. A minor in Public Policy consists of 251, Economics 101 and 275, Government 230 and Philosophy 111 (222). If the student's concentration is in Economics, Government or Philosophy, these courses cannot count in both the student's concentration and the minor. Instead, courses that are required for both the concentration and the minor will be used to satisfy concentration requirements, and they will be replaced by alternative courses in the minor requirements. These alternative courses will be chosen by the program director in consultation with the chair of the student's concentration department. In addition to the required courses, there are many other courses in the College curriculum that will be of interest to Public Policy concentrators. Students interested in the concentration should consult as early as possible with Professor Wyckoff. For a full description, see "Public Policy." |