The department has a long tradition of encouraging its majors to think conceptually about politics and to immerse themselves in their political environment through internships, civic activism, study abroad and service learning.

Students in Government study the processes by which societies make collective decisions, explore the theoretical and ethical foundations of political action, raise critical questions about the nature and use of power, and examine how societies and international systems attempt to address basic problems of liberty, equality and order. As a complement to coursework in the major, students develop skills in language, economics, mathematics or philosophy.