Aug 25, 2025  
2025-2026 Franklin & Marshall College Catalog 
  
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2025-2026 Franklin & Marshall College Catalog

Government Major

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Government majors study power, politics, justice, equity, and political change using theoretical and empirical lenses. We prepare students for careers and graduate study in political science and related fields, such as government, public policy, business, law, international service, education, and the media. Students take courses that introduce them to the field of political science and political analysis as well as more advanced courses on: American political institutions; the comparative study of politics in Asia, Latin America, and Africa; political theory; international relations; political psychology; human rights; political economy; and democracy. The major also includes a capstone seminar with a substantial research component. As a complement to coursework in the major, students will take a series of courses that demonstrate additional training through a Cognate.

The Government major is designed to prepare and enrich students for their professional lives and their roles as active citizens and leaders. 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, off-campus study and community-based learning.

Government Department Faculty

Professor David Ciuk, Chair

Stephanie L. McNulty
The Honorable and Mrs. John C. Kunkel Professor of Government

Stephen K. Medvic
The Honorable and Mrs. John C. Kunkel Professor of Government

Susan Dicklitch-Nelson
Professor of Government

Jennifer D. Kibbe
Professor of Government

Matthew M. Schousen
Professor of Government

David Ciuk
Associate Professor of Government

Biko Koenig
Associate Professor of Government

Jennifer Meyer
Associate Professor of Government and Public Health

Elspeth Wilson
Assistant Professor of Government

Prithviraj Datta
Assistant Professor of Government

Dana Stuster-Kim
Assistant Professor of Government

Hollie Tripp
Assistant Professor of Government and Public Health

David Debole
Adjunct Instructor of Government

Major Requirements:

A major in Government consists of ten courses in Government and a Cognate. At least nine (9) of the Government courses, including the 400-level seminar, must be completed at Franklin & Marshall College.

GOV 101, Power and Politics:

A course in Political Theory:

GOV 250, Political Research:

Six electives, of which at least 3 must be at the 300 level or above:

One 400-level Government Seminar:

Required Cognate:

Also required is the completion of one of the following Cognates:

  • an additional minor chosen by the student,
  • the completion of a F&M certificate,
  • off-campus study (an accredited summer or semester program),
  • a double or joint major, or
  • advanced foreign language study (at least 3 courses in one language).

Note:

*For students with AP credits, no more than one 100-level AP Government credit can count toward an elective. For students who have two AP credits, it is most probable that they would receive a 100-level elective and credit for 101.

Note:

Prospective majors are encouraged to begin planning for the major by the first semester of their sophomore year. We encourage students to take GOV 250 no later than the first semester of the Junior year.

Students intending to major in both Public Health and Government may not apply more than three Government courses toward the second major.

To be considered for honors in Government, students must have a major GPA of at least 3.50 at the end of their seventh semester, complete a two-semester Independent Study project and defend it in an oral exam. The project must include an original argument that is placed in the context of other scholarship. An award of honors will be made by the committee for projects that demonstrate originality, intellectual engagement and depth of understanding of the topic.

Off-Campus Study:

Students considering off campus study should contact the Office of International Programs at least one year before their intended program.

Majors in Government have participated in the following off campus study programs in recent years: Washington semester, American University, Washington, D.C.; Butler University and other programs in London and Oxford, UK; Parliamentary Internship program at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland; International Education of Students (IES) in Barcelona, Spain and Buenos Aires, Argentina; School for International Training (SIT) in Amsterdam, Jordan, Kenya, and Australia. See the International Programs section of the Catalog for further information.

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