Alumna earned congressional arguing chops on campus
Rep. Beth Van Duyne ’95, who represents Texas’ 24th Congressional District, recently won re-election to her third term.
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As a government major, you’ll learn how to think and write rigorously and creatively about issues of public life. You’ll have the choice of courses in four subfields: American politics (the political behavior, policies and institutions of the U.S.), comparative politics (the institutions and political processes of other nations), political theory and philosophy (normative theories of politics and history of political thought) and international relations (transactions between states, international organizations and transnational actors).
Academic Resources
A wide array of opportunities
Undergraduate Program
Course offerings reflect the breadth of faculty expertise in this exciting and growing discipline, and the study of Government at Cornell trains students with skills that are in high demand in public service, business, law, the non-profit sector, and many other professions. Our introductory courses in American politics, comparative politics, political theory, and international relations introduce students to the major tools and approaches to the study of politics. From there, students apply these tools to understand the many facets of public life, from contemporary political thought to campaigns and elections, public policy, conflict and peace, and beyond. The Department of Government not only offers a major program, but also an honors program and two minors.
Graduate Program
The graduate program in Government at Cornell prepares students for academic and research careers in political science. All students admitted to the program are expected to earn a doctoral degree. Completion of the Ph.D. program normally requires two-to-three years of full-time course work at Cornell and several additional years of dissertation research and writing.
Government News
Our foreign students are terrified, and they’re right to be
In a New York Times op-ed, Rachel Beatty Riedl, professor of government (A&S) and at the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy writes that international students have felt increasingly unwelcome in this country.
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In ‘Silence’ spring conference, Fellows ‘attend to what is not there’
On April 25, seven Society for the Humanities’ Fellows will present their projects in progress during the annual Spring Fellows’ conference, highlighting the various ways that the theme of silence has been explored –
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Cornellian selected for Gaither Fellows Program
A&S senior Rafaela Uzan is one of just 16 selected for the James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
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Study of democracy’s decline offers roadmap for fighting back 
The study of pathways to democratic backsliding provides clear examples of the risks currently posed to the U.S. system of government.
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National security journalist to discuss ‘New Cold Wars’
A public conversation with journalist David Sanger about his recent book, “New Cold Wars: China's Rise, Russia's Invasion, and America's Struggle to Defend the West,” will highlight his April 21-22 visit.
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Booker’s speech: A retreat from the ‘acquiescent liberal elite’ and an embrace of ‘good trouble’
Prof. Alexander Livingston comments on Senator Corey Booker's historic 25-hour speech.
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Engaged Opportunity Grants fuel community-engaged learning for students
Seven projects are receiving a boost from the latest round of Engaged Opportunity Grants, awarded two times a year by the Einhorn Center for Community Engagement to teams of faculty or staff and their community partners.
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