Government Major

1. Introduction to American Politics (1 course)

• GOVT 020 CM - Introduction to American Politics

2. Introduction to Political Philosophy (1 course)

• GOVT 080 CM - Introduction to Political Philosophy

3. Introduction to Comparative Government or International Politics (1 course)

One course chosen from:

• GOVT 060 CM - Introduction to Comparative Government
• GOVT 070 CM - Introduction to International Politics

4. Intermediate Courses (2 courses)

Two intermediate courses from 2 additional subfields:

• American Government and Policy  
• Public Policy and Organization  
• Public Law  

Students who complete both GOVT 060 CM  and GOVT 070 CM  need only one intermediate course from one of these subfields.

5. Electives (4 courses)

At least 4 elective courses in government.

Two or more must be advanced courses (numbered 100 and above).

Notes:

• GOVT 020 CM - Introduction to American Politics  is a prerequisite for all other CMC government courses.
• Normally not more than one course taken at another college, including study abroad or the other Claremont Colleges, may be counted toward the major.
• Courses offered by members of other departments and cross-listed as government courses may be counted as elective courses but not as core requirements.

Suggestions for Concentrations

Students should consult with one or more department members to choose their electives coherently and with a view to their goals after graduation. The following concentrations illustrate several coherent options for students majoring in government:

• Public Policy and Organization: core courses plus 2 courses in public policy ; 2 more electives. This program is useful for future administrators, policy makers, and policy analysts.
• American Government: core courses plus 2 courses in American government ; 2 more electives. This option is useful for students of politics and public policy.
• Foreign Affairs and International Relations: core courses plus 2 courses in comparative politics  or international relations ; 2 more electives (often taken in area studies). This combination serves the needs of students interested in foreign policy, relations among other countries, and fundamental issues of development.
• Public Law: core courses plus 2 courses in constitutional law or legal studies ; 2 more electives. This concentration is attractive to students preparing for legal or paralegal careers.
• Political Philosophy: core courses plus 2 courses in political philosophy ; 2 more electives. This option is useful for students especially interested in the great issues and traditions of politics.
• Public Affairs: core courses plus 2 courses in American government  and public policy ; 2 more electives during a semester on the Washington, D.C. Internship Semester . This focus is designed for students interested in government work and practical field experience.

Dual Major

The dual major in government requires a minimum of 7 courses, distributed as follows:

Honors in Government

Each year the Government department conducts a Government-International Relations senior honors program. Students are eligible for honors if they:

• Attain a grade point average of 10.50 or better in the major at time of graduation,
• Satisfactorily participate in a series of non-credit, co-curricular thesis preparation programs conducted by the department of government,
• Complete a 2-semester, 2-unit thesis in government with a grade of A- (11.00) or better, and
• Complete a thesis defense and attend a specified number of government-international relations thesis defenses.

Dual majors are eligible for honors in government if they:

• Have completed all requirements for a full major in government and are granted honors, or
• Qualify and receive honors in both disciplines of their dual major. See Academic Honors at Graduation  for details.

For additional information on the honors program, contact the chair of the government department.

Learning Goals

The learning goals of the Government major are :

1. To place students in the midst of controversy over the great issues of politics and the differing understandings of those issues;
2. To equip them to deal rationally and prudently with these issues; and
3. To assist them to communicate effectively.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students in government are taught with the goal of enabling them

1. To demonstrate an understanding of and the ability to apply the literature and methods of ancient, modern, and contemporary students of politics and government to these issues, be those issues domestic or international.
2. To substantiate their arguments soberly and logically.
3. To inform their arguments with philosophic, theoretic, and constitutional principles and with an in-depth knowledge of relevant political institutions and public policies.
4. To employ quantitative and qualitative evidence where appropriate.
5. To express themselves effectively orally and in writing.

The Government Department faculty has agreed to assess their students every year. Assessment includes a careful assessment of senior theses. To assure consistency and objectivity, faculty will assess senior theses using a rubric (online at the Government department website) to determine students’ levels of understanding and mastery of these objectives.