Government
Major and minor offered

The government department at St. Lawrence University introduces students to a broad range of political values, theories, practices and institutions. Its focus is on issues of power and justice, and how these two elements complement and confront each other. The department engages students with these issues by encouraging them to examine their own political attitudes and beliefs, and to take an active interest in political life.

Courses in the department develop students’ ability to express themselves clearly and concisely; to formulate and interrogate an argument; to reflect critically on the soundness of their own and others’ points of view; to appreciate the variety of approaches that inform the discipline; and to acquire expertise and research literacy in its study. Ultimately, the department seeks to promote in students the habits of intellectual curiosity, self-reflection and open-mindedness that are the hallmarks of lifelong learning.
The curriculum of the department is designed to educate students to be informed and inquisitive citizens and to be conscious of their rights and responsibilities within local, national and global communities. To accomplish these goals, students take courses in four sub-fields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Politics and Political Theory. Qualified students who wish to deepen and expand their government experience may undertake internships, community-based learning programs and independent or self-directed study.

Students may complete the government major or elect a combined major of government courses and African studies, Asian studies, Canadian studies or environmental studies. Students may also choose to combine government courses with a minor program in African studies, Asian studies, Canadian studies, Caribbean and Latin American studies, European studies or gender studies. For further information on these options, see the sections on Combined Majors and Program Minors in the Catalog.

Government majors are encouraged to participate in American University’s semester program in Washington, with which St. Lawrence is affiliated, and/or St. Lawrence’s programs in Austria, Canada, Costa Rica, Denmark, England, France, India, Japan, Kenya or Spain. For further information on these and related off-campus programs, see International and Intercultural Studies in the Catalog.

The department maintains close student-faculty relationships through independent study projects, an honors program and a student preceptor program. Student preceptors work directly with the faculty and with underclass students in tutorial and seminar groups. A major in government provides career opportunities in public service, law, teaching, business, journalism and many other fields. Students considering a government major are strongly advised to elect Government 103 and 105 in their first year. The department also offers a minor.

Major Requirements

Government majors must complete Government 103, 105, 290, one course in political theory, one course in international politics and four other courses. A major may elect no more than four out of nine courses in any given sub-field of the discipline (American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Politics and Political Theory).

Government 103, 105, 290, one theory course and one international relations course must be taken in residence on the St. Lawrence campus. The above requirements can be satisfied only through regularly scheduled government courses. Government 290 should be taken in the sophomore or junior year. Students must also complete a departmental writing intensive course, from among the introductory courses (103, 105, 108 or 206). This should be taken prior to enrolling in 290, the research seminar, which is also a writing-intensive course. Students may count one internship or one independent study among the first nine courses for the major. No fewer than seven government courses must be taken on campus. The academic work of transfer students in political -science is evaluated upon entry into the department for determination of credit. In no case may a transfer student majoring in government take fewer than five government courses at St. Lawrence.

Minor Requirements

Government minors must complete two lower-level courses in government (103, 105, 108, 206), a research seminar (290) and two upper-level courses in government (300 or 400 level). The department will credit one upper-level government course taken in a St. Lawrence-sponsored off-campus program; otherwise, all other courses must be taken on campus. Internships in government do not count as courses -toward the minor.

Honors

Departmental honors are awarded at graduation to majors who have achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.5 in government courses and who have also received an “honors” designation on the senior thesis. (See Honors in the Curriculum chapter of this Catalog)

Certification to Teach Social Studies

Students seeking initial certification as a 7-12 social studies teacher in New York can major in government. In addition to completing the certification minor in education, students majoring in government must also take one economics course (Economics 100 Introduction to Economics is recommended if only one course is taken); History 101 (The Rise of Europe), 102 (The 20th-Century World), 103 (Development of the United States, 1607 to 1877) and 104 (Development of the United States, 1878 to Present); Global Studies 102 (Introduction to GS II: Race, Culture and Identity); and at least one specified course in the major that illuminates U.S. and /or world history and geography. Students are also encouraged to take courses in other social sciences and area studies to round out their preparation for teaching social studies.

Government majors intending to complete student teaching in the University's Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program after graduation must complete the educational studies minor in education (or its equivalent) as undergraduates and all the social science requirements listed above (or their equivalents). Consult the education section of this Catalog and/or speak to the coordinator of the teacher education program in the education department as early as possible.

Faculty

Alan Lloyd Draper, B.A., Wisconsin; M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D., Columbia
Professor of Government and Chair of Department

Calvin Fred Exoo, A.B., Calvin; M.A., Ph.D., Wisconsin
Professor of Government

Sandra Kuracina Hinchman, A.B., Vassar; M.A., Ph.D., Cornell
Professor of Government

Joseph M. Kling, B.A., M.S.W., Rutgers; Ph.D., CUNY
Professor of Government

Valerie Doris Lehr, B.A., South Florida; M.A., Ph.D., Maryland
Vice President of the University, Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Government and Gender Studies

Assis Malaquias, B.A., Winnipeg; M.A., Ph.D., Dalhousie ( Canada)
Associate Professor of Government

Karl Schonberg, B.A., Colgate; M.A., Ph.D., Virginia
Associate Professor of Government

Grace Huang, A.B., Brown; M.A., Ph.D., Chicago
Assistant Professor of Government

Darby Ann Morrisroe, B.A., California/Davis; M.A., Ph.D., Virginia
Assistant Professor of Government

Michael J. Popovic, B.A., Tübingen (Germany); M.A., Washington
Visiting Instructor of Government