Courses offered within the Department of Government and Politics are designed to provide students with the analytical skills necessary to evaluate political issues and to function effectively in a political environment. The Department's specific objectives include preparing students for careers in the civil or foreign service, for positions of political or administrative responsibility in the public or private sectors, for careers in the field of education, or for further study as graduate or law students.

The Department's undergraduate curriculum meets these objectives, offering a variety of courses divided into four subfields:

  • American Government, with an emphasis on political institutions and public law
     
  • International Relations and Comparative Politics, with an emphasis on area studies
     
  • Political Theory, with offerings in classical, modern, and contemporary thought; and  
     
  • Public Administration and Public Service. The curriculum includes research methods and quantitative analysis courses. In addition, undergraduate senior seminars (required of all our majors) involve students in semester-long research projects

Department Contact

Fred P. Cocozzelli, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Chair
St. John Hall, Room 234 L
718-990-5267
[email protected]

Government and Politics Minors

For all students, except Public Administration and Public Service majors, the minor in Government and Politics requires the successful completion of 18 credits in Government and Politics coursework. 

For Public Administration and Public Service majors, the minor requires the successful completion of 18 credits in Government and Politics coursework not utilized for the major. 

For students in The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, the minor requires the successful completion of 18 credits including:

  • GOV 1030, ECO 1326, or MGT 3301
  • One course in American Government chosen from:
    • GOV 2400
    • GOV 2470
    • GOV 2480
    • GOV 2500
    • GOV 2510
    • GOV 2950
    • GOV 2955
    • GOV 3450
    • GOV 3460
    • GOV 3580
    • GOV 3590
  • One course in International Relations chosen from:
    • GOV 1610
    • GOV 2640
    • GOV 2810
    • GOV 3340
    • GOV 3620
    • GOV 3630
    • GOV 3670
  • One course in Comparative Government chosen from:
    • GOV 1700
    • GOV 2650
    • GOV 2660
    • GOV 2690
    • GOV 2730
    • GOV 2750
    • GOV 3680
    • GOV 3710
    • GOV 3720
    • GOV 3820
  • One course in Political Theory chosen from:
    • GOV 1250
    • GOV 1260
    • GOV 1270
    • GOV 1280

For all students, except Government and Politics majors, the minor in Law and Government requires the successful completion of 21 credits including:

  • GOV 1010
  • GOV 1030
  • Any five of the following courses:
    • GOV 2400
    • GOV 2490
    • GOV 2500
    • GOV 2580
    • GOV 2600
    • GOV 3450
    • GOV 3460
    • GOV 3570
    • GOV 3620
    • HIS 3725
    • PHI 3420
    • PHI 3650
    • RCT 2020
    • RCT 3180
    • SOC 2360

For Government and Politics majors, see the chair for advisement.

For all students, except Government and Politics majors, the minor in Public Administration and Public Service requires the successful completion of 15 credits including:

  • GOV 1030
  • GOV 1530
  • Three of the following:
    • GOV 2400
    • GOV 2470
    • GOV 2480
    • GOV 2500
    • GOV 2995
    • GOV 3450
    • GOV 3460
    • GOV 3540
    • GOV 4913

For Government and Politics majors, the minor requires the successful completion of 15 credits including:

  • GOV 1530
  • GOV 3540
  • Three of the following:
    • GOV 2400
    • GOV 2470
    • GOV 2480
    • GOV 2500
    • GOV 2955
    • GOV 3450
    • GOV 3460
    • GOV 4923

Please note that none of the Government and Politics courses may be used for both the major and minor sequences.