Government
About Government
Our Program and Courses
F&M鈥檚 Department of Government has earned a reputation as one of the finest in the country. You may either major in government or create a joint major by combining the field with public health or public policy. You鈥檒l 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, equity and order.
Your learning won鈥檛 take place solely in the classroom; you鈥檒l have the opportunity to immerse yourself directly in the political environment through internships, civic activism, off-campus study, and service-learning. Through independent and collaborative learning, you鈥檒l develop skills in language, economics, mathematics and philosophy 鈥 all while developing skills of sound research, rigorous analysis, and clear and effective argumentation.
By the time you graduate, you will:
- Effectively describe, critique and apply various theories for understanding political processes and outcomes in a domestic, comparative and international context.
- Be able to critically connect political events with course material.
- Think conceptually about politics and immerse yourself in your political environment through internships, civic activism, off-campus study and service-learning.
Curious what government classes are like? Take a look at our course catalog to see the depth and breadth of what鈥檚 available to you.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
The Department of Government has a long tradition of encouraging students鈥 intellectual growth through internships, networking, off-campus study, independent research and more. Our goal is to provide close supervision and mentoring to you in the classroom and around the world.
Research Opportunities
Do you want to dive into a U.S. Supreme Court case? Or compare American and international
approaches to cybersecurity? You can at F&M. As you explore all that a government
major has to offer, you鈥檒l discover areas or ideas you want to further explore. The
good news? You won鈥檛 have to wait until graduate school to launch your investigation.
Explore research at F&M
Internships
Internships allow you to explore fields and job functions of interest, building your portfolio while shaping and inspiring your path in both expected and unexpected ways. Recent government majors have secured internships with:
- Members of Congress
- The White House
- The Federal Reserve
- Local and state governments
- The U.S. Department of State
- Television and print media outlets
- Policy institutes
In November, current government students can also apply for a Sidney Wise Public Service
Internship, which provides paid internships through a competitive selection process.
Explore internships at F&M
Off-Campus Study
At F&M, government majors have extraordinary opportunities to study in the U.S. and
abroad. In recent years, students have completed internship programs at American University
in Washington, D.C. and in London, and Bath, England; conducted research on migration
and borders in southern Mexico; and taken politics and international relations courses
in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Denmark, Ecuador, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Netherlands,
Peru, South Korea, Spain, and at various universities in the United Kingdom, including
the prestigious University of St. Andrews. You, too, can make study abroad integral
to your experiences and research.
Explore off-campus study at F&M
The Franklin & Marshall Global Barometers
The Franklin & Marshall Global Barometers comprises the F&M Global Barometer of Gay Rights (GBGR (R)), the Global Barometer of Transgender Rights (GBTR (TM)) and the F&M Global Barometers LGBTQI+ Perception Index (GBPI). Together, these barometers provide groundbreaking research on the state of LGBT+ human rights in 204 countries and territories. Founded in 2010 by government professor, Dr. Susan Dicklitch-Nelson, the barometers generate annual report cards detailing the state-and societal-level protection or persecution of LGBT+ minorities worldwide.
Success Beyond F&M
By majoring in government at F&M, you鈥檒l gain a holistic outlook that provides a strong background in critical thinking, analysis, writing, and public presentation 鈥 skills in high demand in any post-graduate pursuit.
Graduate School
Many of our majors choose to pursue graduate school after F&M, with a significant number enrolling in law school. Our graduates have completed their advanced degrees at the best universities, including:
- Harvard University
- Johns Hopkins University
- Yale University
- Columbia University
- Georgetown University
- New York University
- University of Pennsylvania
- Villanova University
- American University
Career Paths
Government graduates build an invaluable foundation for an eclectic range of careers. They find success in education, law, government, marketing, and more, and hold positions such as:
- Attorney
- College Professor
- Deputy Attorney General
- Foreign Service Diplomat
- Government Official
- Journalist
- Judge
- Law Clerk
- Marketing Manager
- Nonprofit Executive
- Publisher
- Research Analyst
- Social Worker
Alumni Spotlight
鈥淐oming from a first-generation background and having parents that are immigrants, I鈥檝e thought a lot about diplomacy and the impact of aid 鈥 specifically international aid.鈥
Munahil 鈥淢una鈥 Sultana 鈥24, a joint major in government and international studies, was named a recipient of the prestigious Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program. The fellowship is a competitive award that prepares outstanding young people for foreign service careers in the U.S. Department of State. 鈥淚 heard about the Pickering Fellowship when I was a sophomore in high school. At the time, I was an Alexander Hamilton Scholar. I got paired with a mentor who was a Pickering Fellow,鈥 Sultana said. 鈥淐oming from a first-generation background and having parents that are immigrants, I've thought a lot about diplomacy and the impact of aid 鈥 specifically international aid 鈥 and my parents' journey to come to the U.S. and their visa process. My mentor told me about the U.S. Foreign Service Internship Program. I remember being a sophomore in high school knowing that this is what I want to do. When I applied to F&M, I wrote about it in my application!鈥 As a student at F&M, Sultana spent a semester in Amman, Jordan with the School of International Training (SIT) Jordan Geopolitics, International Relations and the Future of the Middle East program.Read More 禄
Alumni Spotlight
F&M in Harrisburg Offers Firsthand Look at Careers in Government
Jennifer Leigh 鈥24, a government and history major, was one of several F&M students who gained hands-on experience in public affairs through internships in Harrisburg, Pa. The F&M in Harrisburg Practicum matched students like Leigh with internship opportunities to provide a deeper understanding of the complexities of government bureaucracy. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one thing to understand the academic perspective and the theories about how the government is supposed to operate, and it鈥檚 another to see it firsthand,鈥 said Stephen Medvic, F&M Honorable and Mrs. John C. Kunkel Professor of Government. Leigh, who interned in the Governor鈥檚 Office of Communications, said seeing staff who have transitioned from campaign to government work helped her understand the variety of career paths available in politics. 鈥淚t opened my eyes to what鈥檚 possible,鈥 Leigh said.Read More 禄
Alumni Spotlight
鈥淭his is not your usual college class...they鈥檒l be doing law-school-level work.鈥
As an F&M student, Arielle Chapnick 鈥14 performed legal research for asylum-seeking cases in Professor of Government Susan Dicklitch-Nelson鈥檚 Human Rights-Human Wrongs class. Now an immigration law attorney, Chapnick recently returned to the class where her path began to offer the same opportunity to today鈥檚 students. 鈥淭his is something that most undergraduate students don鈥檛 get to do. I鈥檓 actually going to have students working on my cases just like I worked on cases when I was a Human Rights-Human Wrongs student,鈥 Chapnick said. 鈥淚 said to my boss, 鈥楲ook, this is not your usual college class. They are going to be learning things that normally someone would learn in law school; they鈥檒l be doing law-school-level work.鈥欌Read More 禄
Related Fields of Study
International Studies
International studies is an innovative program that combines off-campus study in a non-English-speaking location with on- and off-campus coursework. As a student of international studies at F&M, you will develop a global perspective and immerse yourself in the languages and cultures of non-English-speaking countries and regions.
Pre-Law
F&M鈥檚 pre-law program is offered through our Legal Professions Advising as a supplement to your chosen major. By engaging as a pre-law student and utilizing the skills gained from your F&M liberal arts education, you鈥檒l be distinctly prepared to navigate the legal profession and make a difference to the world around you.
Public Policy
Government, economy, and society are increasingly reliant upon one another for ensuring the well-being of a community. When you study public policy at F&M, you鈥檒l explore the methods and institutions through which governments, economies, and societies work together to support, regulate, protect, and communicate with diverse communities.
Government at F&M in Action
September 5, 2024
A Summer in D.C: Senior Eyes Career in Foreign Service
Senior Fatimata Ly spent six weeks in the nation鈥檚 capital as part of the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program. 鈥淎s an aspiring U.S. foreign service officer, this program offers an excellent opportunity to gain relevant experience and education in the field,鈥 Ly said.
August 15, 2024
F&M Poll: Harris Leads Trump in Pennsylvania
Democratic U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris leads Republican Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, 46% to 43%, according to the latest Franklin & 四虎影院 Poll.
July 12, 2024
Two Alumni Earn Prestigious Foreign Affairs Fellowship
Lam Tran 鈥21 and Munahil Sultana 鈥24 will begin their careers in global diplomacy this fall through the prestigious Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program.