Department of Government

The Government major at Georgetown is robust and offers students the opportunity to take courses in all four of the major disciplinary fields.  These fields are:

American Government
Field Chair - Professor Michele L. Swers

Comparative Government
Field Chair - Professor Harley Balzer

    International Relations
Field Chair - Professor Erik Voeten

    Political Theory
Field Chair -  Professor R. Bruce Douglass

The Department of Government and Department of Economics also co-sponsor a major in Political Economy, coordinated by Michael Bailey.

Government majors are required to take ten courses in their major: four introductory courses and six electives. The required introductory courses are:
    International Relations (GOVT-006)
    U.S. Political Systems (GOVT-008)
    Elements of Political Theory (GOVT-117)
    Comparative Political Systems (GOVT-121) 
Students may take no more than four of the six electives in any one of the four subfields and must include at least on in political theory. During the junior or senior year, students are required to take one Department Seminar, which will count as one of the six electives.

For more information about the requirements for a major or minor in Government, please see the Undergraduate Program Handbook.

Click here for course scheduling information for undergraduate and graduate courses. Undergraduates should select "Government," "Political Economy," "International Affairs" or "All."  You may also sort courses by Professor or type.

Still have questions?  Need a signature for your major declaration, study abroad, or transfer credit forms?  Please talk to either of our Directors of Undergraduate Studies - Professor Mark Rom and Professor Thane Gustafson.