Earning your Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government and Politics at St. John’s will prepare you for these opportunities. Offered by St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the 120-credit program provides students with the analytical skills necessary to evaluate political issues and function effectively in political environments. Students also gain the writing and communications skills needed for success in any field.
Students majoring in government and politics are adept at navigating the political landscape and possess extensive knowledge in the various areas of government, through courses in:
Department Chair
For more information about admission to this and other undergraduate programs at St. John’s University, please visit Undergraduate Admission online.
To earn the Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics, students complete 120 credits in core, major-sequence, and elective requirements. The major sequence and elective requirements are outlined below.
| Course | Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| GOV | 1050 | Research Methods for Government and Politics | 3 |
| GOV | 1030 | American Government | 3 |
International Relations
| Course | Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| GOV | 1610 | International Relations | 3 |
| GOV | 2640 | Foreign Policy of the United States | 3 |
| GOV | 2810 | The Politics of War | 3 |
| GOV | 3620 | International Law | 3 |
| GOV | 3630 | Foreign Policy of Major Powers | 3 |
| GOV | 3670 | International Political Economy | 3 |
Comparative Government
| Course | Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| GOV | 1700 | Comparative Political Systems | 3 |
| GOV | 2650 | Government and Politics of Western Europe | 3 |
| GOV | 2660 | Government and Politics of Eastern Europe | 3 |
| GOV | 2690 | Government and Politics of Latin America | 3 |
| GOV | 2730 | Russia and CIS Republics | 3 |
| GOV | 2750 | The Politics of the Caribbean Sea | 3 |
| GOV | 3580 | The Politics of Inequality in the United States | 3 |
| GOV | 3680 | Politics of Africa | 3 |
| GOV | 3710 | Governments and Politics of the Far East | 3 |
| GOV | 3720 | Governments and Politics of South and Southeast Asia | 3 |
| GOV | 3820 | Politics of the Middle East | 3 |
Political Theory
| Course | Course # | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| GOV | 1250 | Western Political Though I: Classical and Medieval | 3 |
| GOV | 1265 | Western Political Thought II: Early Modern | 3 |
| GOV | 1270 | Western Political Thought III: Recent and Contemporary | 3 |
In addition, government and politics majors must complete ONE SENIOR SEMINAR + 15 elective hours in GOV courses. Students are also permitted a maximum of 6 hours in fieldwork courses and eligible seniors may choose six elective hours from 100-level courses.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, opportunities for graduates with backgrounds in government and politics are expected to grow at a rapid rate, with an overall 21 percent increase in job opportunities by the year 2018.
All students take advantage of St. John’s location in dynamic New York City. Our faculty and Career Services have strong ties to employers and other professional and educational resources throughout the New York area. Students make New York their classroom through innovative courses like Discover New York.
Students also benefit from St. John's focus on international academic experiences. The University offers extensive study abroad opportunities, from our nationally unique Global Passport program for first-year students, to short-term and semester opportunities throughout your academic year. The Department of Government and Politics offers a fall semester program in Rome tailored specifically to the academic needs of our majors, offering students with advanced standing the opportunity to blend undergraduate coursework for the major with a graduate course selected from our M.A. program in Rome. For more information on all our study abroad programs including global and virtual internships in Rome and Paris, please visit the Office of International Education.
Students majoring in Government and Politics at St. John's gain a solid foundation in political theory and its application in our society. Students also acquire an in-depth understanding of the role that history and social demographics play in shaping today's political processes.
Guiding and mentoring students are St. John's enormously gifted, internationally known faculty of scholar-teachers who care about each student's progress.
Students develop a strong academic and professional edge by joining any of St. John's more than 180 student clubs and organizations. Clubs and honor societies of particular interest to Government and Politics majors include these:
The Skull and Circle Honor Society and the Pi Sigma Alpa -- Government and Politics Honor Society annually select students from St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences who combine scholarship, integrity and dedicated service to the St. John's community.
Every student at St. John's benefits from outstanding University-wide facilities and resources including high-tech classrooms, laboratories and our 1.7 million-volume University Library. Our new D’Angelo Center is a five-story, 127,000-square-foot University and Student Center with classrooms, lecture halls, a Starbucks Café and a full-service food court.
Donya Nasser ’15C said recently about her work as a US Public Delegate to the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
St. John's College of Liberal Arts and SciencesExplore opportunities at St. John's with our pathway generator.
The Office of Student Financial Services is committed to providing students and their families with the information they need to navigate and understand the financial aid and payment process.
St. John’s offers a free online application for all 100+ undergraduate programs, and graduate applications carry a low cost for most programs.
