Majors
THE GOVERNMENT MAJOR: Requirements for a major in government are a minimum of nine courses and thirty credit hours (classes prior to 2012), or ten courses and thirty-three credit hours (Class of 2012 and beyond). These courses include:

1. GO101, 102, and 103 (GO102 is required for Class of 2012 and after.)
   
   
2. At least one course in each of the following four areas:
   
   
   1. American Government: GO211, 222, 223, 224, 231, 251C, 252, 305, 311, 312, 313, 314, 316, 331, 332, 333, 334, 352, 353, 362, 367, GH322
      
      
   2. Comparative Government: GO203, 209, 213, 225, 227, 239, 240, 241, 251A, 327, 328, 344, 355, 358, 365
      
      
   3. International Relations: GO201H, 219, 225, 228, 229, 251B, 301, 309, 319, 338, 339, 340, GO341, 356, 357, 366
      
      
   4. Political Theory: GO236, 242, 251D, 303, 304H, 308; GO323; GO341, GO351, 354
      
      
3. Three additional government courses totaling at least 9 credits, or GO383 or GO384.
   

Note: To fulfill college maturity-level requirements, at least six credits of 300-level government course must be taken in the senior year.

GOVERNMENT WRITING IN THE MAJOR REQUIREMENT: The Government Department at Skidmore College is committed to helping its students become skilled writers. Recognizing that an important part of learning to write well in political science and government is learning to write well overall, the Government Department places considerable emphasis on both quantity and quality of writing opportunities in our courses and has adopted a wide-reaching and thorough set of Standards and Expectations for Written Assignments in Government and a Uniform Code of Notation for Providing Feedback on Written Work. Students in Government Department classes expect to be held to the expectations and standards established in these documents. Thus, by successfully completing the requirements for the Government Major, students fulfill the Writing Requirement in Government.

INTERDEPARTMENTAL MAJORS: In conjunction with the relevant departments, the Government Department offers majors in political economy, government-history, government-philosophy, government-sociology, business-government, government-French, government-German, and government-Spanish. See Interdepartmental Majors. The department participates in the international affairs minor.

HONORS: To be recommended for honors in government, students must meet the college requirements of a GPA of 3.0 overall and 3.5 in the major. Students must also receive at least an A- on a senior thesis in government. Specific requirements for the senior thesis are established by the department. A senior thesis in government is also required for interdepartmental majors.