Professors: Richard W. Boyd, Barbara H. Craig, Martha Crenshaw, Marc Eisner (Chair), John E. Finn,

J. Donald Moon, Russell D. Murphy, Peter Rutland, Nancy L. Schwartz, David A. Titus

Associate Professors: Giulio M. Gallarotti, James McGuire

Assistant Professor: Douglas Foyle

Instructor: Arash Abizadeh

Adjunct Lecturer: Louise Brown (Associate Dean of the College)

Visiting Assistant Professor: Cynthia Horan

Departmental Advising Experts (2000-2001): Marc Eisner

The Government Department offers courses in four different fields of study within political science: American politics and public policy, comparative politics, international politics, and political theory. We offer general introductory courses (numbered between 151 and 159), a range of upper-division courses, and research seminars. In addition, we offer courses in research methods in political science, tutorials, and education in the field. Courses numbered 200 and above are ordered according to field of study, not level of difficulty.

Admission to the major requires that students have completed at least one government course (preferably at the 100 level) with a grade of C+ or better. Sophomores currently enrolled in a government course at the time of declaring the major must have an average of C+ or better in that course. To complete the major, a student must take a minimum of nine approved courses, of which eight must be upper division (200 level or higher). Students must have a B- average in the upper-division courses that are counted toward the major on the senior concentration form. At least six (6) of the eight (8) upper level courses required for the major must be taken at Wesleyan. Teaching assistantships (a limit of 1) and tutorials, as well as one of the thesis tutorials, may be counted among the six required credits taken at Wesleyan; education in the field cannot count as one of the six, though it may count as one of the two allowed to be taken off-campus. [Note: The department will treat transfer students on a case-by-case basis depending on when they transfer.] Students may count only one transfer credit resulting from a leave of absence or summer study at another four-year college or university in the United States. Advance approval from the department chair is required. No more than two credits may be counted from the education-in-the-field programs or from nonthesis tutorials, including teaching apprenticeships (GOVT401, 402, 465, 466, 491, 492). Only one thesis tutorial credit counts toward the major.

Majors must complete a concentration program within the major. Each concentration has different requirements for the major. The different concentrations are described below.

American politics: GOVT151, 201-253, 371-379. A merging of American politics and public policy, this concentration includes the introductory course (GOVT151), four sophomore-level survey courses (GOVT201-204), upper-division courses (GOVT215-253), and seminars and tutorials (GOVT371-379, 401-411). The concentration requires GOVT151 and four 200-level courses. At least one of the four courses must be in the 201-204 range and at least one must be in the seminar range, 371-379, 401-411. Students writing honors theses may count one senior thesis credit toward the concentration. Public Opinion and Foreign Policy (GOVT314) may be credited toward the concentration.

Ideally, prospective majors in American politics and public policy should take GOVT151 in their first year. One or more of the sophomore-level courses, GOVT201-204, should be taken next. The courses require either GOVT151 or sophomore standing. First-year students may take these courses if they have scored a four or five on the American Government Advanced Placement test. It is strongly recommended that majors take (GOVT 204) Policy Analysis: A Quantitative Approach, preferably in the sophomore year. It is also strongly recommended that concentrators take at least one course each in American history and in economics.

Comparative politics: GOVT157, 271-309, and 384, 385. The comparative politics concentration consists of an introductory course (GOVT157), survey courses (GOVT271, 274, 284, 298), intermediate courses, and seminars (GOVT384 and 385). A concentration in comparative politics requires GOVT157 and at least four upper-division courses in comparative politics. Students are encouraged to design a program that will provide depth in a particular subfield: modern liberal democracies, one-party socialist regimes with developed economies, or Third World developing societies. Courses for the concentration should include one or two survey courses and two or more intermediate courses and seminars. In the department, GOVT327 and one senior thesis tutorial credit may be counted toward the comparative concentration. In addition, one upper-division course from outside the department, relevant to the concentration, may be counted for the concentration and the major with the permission in advance of the student’s advisor.

International politics: GOVT155, 311-333, and 386-390. A concentration in international politics requires four upper-division courses dealing with problems of international politics and foreign policy in addition to the introductory course, GOVT155. In the department, GOVT271 and one senior thesis tutorial credit may also be counted toward the major. In addition, one upper-division course from outside the department, relevant to the concentration, may be counted for the concentration and the major with the permission in advance of the student’s advisor. Outside courses that are appropriate include ECON244 and HIST233. Students are encouraged to distribute other department courses required for the major among the other concentrations. They should also consider the Certificate in International Relations awarded by the Public Affairs Center.

Political theory: GOVT159, 337-359, and 391-398. A concentration in political theory requires four upper-division political-theory courses; two of these should be drawn from the GOVT337, 338, 339 sequence, which provides a survey of major political theorists in the Western tradition. One of these may be a course in political or ethical theory in the Philosophy Department and will count toward the major as well as the concentration. One senior thesis tutorial credit may also be counted. In addition, GOVT159 is strongly recommended.

Honors program: Students may receive honors in government if they meet the following requirements: (1) completion of a major in government with a grade-point average in all government courses at Wesleyan of 88.3; (2) completion of Stages 1 and 2 General Education Expectations; and (3) completion of an original research and writing project, culminating in a thesis, that is judged to be of honors quality. Only one tutorial credit the student receives for work on the project may be counted toward the required courses for the major.

Department activities: The Department of Government conducts, sponsors, or facilitates a number of activities to supplement its curriculum. Department majors ordinarily have first call, but all interested students may obtain details of these possibilities at the Government Department office. Among these are (1) education in the field, (2) faculty-supervised study trips, (3) Washington Semester Program: American University, (4) West Point and Naval Academy Conferences, (5) Connecticut State Legislative Internships, (6) Teaching Apprentice Program, (7) University of Rochester Internship Programs in Europe.

Information on transfer credits, advanced placement credit, internships, and the honors program is available in the department office and on its home page <http://www.wesleyan.edu/gov/>. The home page also describes faculty and courses.