Two-letter course code: GO

Chair, Professor L. Sandy Maisel

Professors Maisel, G. Calvin Mackenzie, Kenneth Rodman, and Anthony Corrado; Associate Professors Guilain Denoeux and Suisheng Zhao; Assistant Professors Jennifer Yoder, Joseph Reisert, and Ariel Armony; Visiting Assistant Professors Richard Marcus and Nancy Quirk; Faculty Fellow Mark Brewer

The Department of Government offers a wide range of courses in American government and politics, comparative government and politics, international politics, political theory, and research methods and quantitative analysis. The departmental goals include exposing students to a variety of forms of governments and intergovernmental activities and to the means for studying these governments and their actions.

Requirements for the Major in Government
Fulfillment of the government major requires successful completion of 10 courses in government, including Government 111, 131, 151, and 171; a 400-level senior seminar; at least five other government courses; and a writing project meeting the department's guidelines. Government majors should complete all four of the 100-level courses by the end of their sophomore year.

Among the courses counted toward the government major, the four 100-level courses, the 400-level course, and the writing assignment must be taken at Colby, and at least three 200- or 300-level courses (not internships and independent studies) must be taken at Colby or be taught by Colby, Bates, or Bowdoin faculty in CBB programs abroad. Courses transferred from other institutions and/or field experience courses can count (up to a maximum of two) in the 10-course requirement. For transfer students, the department will count up to five courses from the previous institution with the permission of the department chair, excluding the seminar and writing assignment. Students taking government courses abroad must secure provisional approval for each course prior to leaving; upon return to Colby, brief descriptions of work completed must be submitted to the department for final approval. No government major may take any government course satisfactory/unsatisfactory. No requirement for the government major may be waivedófor completion of an Advanced Placement course or examination or any other reasonówithout written permission of the department chair.

Honors in Government
For those students who intend to pursue the study of government in more depth, the department offers an honors program that emphasizes substantial independent research under the close guidance of one or two members of the faculty. Students majoring in government may apply during their junior year for admission to the honors program. To be eligible for honors, students need a 3.5 GPA in the major or permission of the department. Eligible students must have completed Government 281 prior to the senior year. Successful completion of this program and of the major will result in the degree being awarded "With Honors in Government."

Government 100- and 200-level courses are normally limited to 45 students; 300-level courses are normally limited to 30 students, 400-level courses to 12 students.

Internships are encouraged so that students can experience the practical as well as the more theoretical aspects of the field. Attention is called especially to Colby's Washington Semester Program.