Frequently Asked Questions

·         Who is my advisor (and other related advising questions)? Consult this link on advising. Your current advisor’s name and contact information are listed in your electronic portfolio. You may also call Ms. Janet DeMicco, the Administrative Assistant in the Government Department, at X2479.

·         How do I find out the office hours of faculty members? Faculty members typically list their office hours on their office doors and on the faculty page of the department web site. The department office also lists of office hours. Please do not call or email faculty members to find this information.

·         How can I find out specific information on major requirements, approval of credits from study abroad programs, transfer of credits from U.S. academic institutions, and other such issues? The department web site is your authoritative source. Follow the links. The web page on Forms and Regulations includes a comprehensive list of department policies, with downloadable application forms.

·         What is the difference between a department major and a certificate program? Completing an approved major is one of Wesleyan’s degree requirements. WesMaps includes the full set of approved departmental and interdepartmental majors. In contrast, a certificate is a complement to, rather than a substitute for, a major. A certificate is a set of courses from a number of departments and programs that, taken together, integrate knowledge from these disciplines on some topic. Currently, Wesleyan has five approved certificates. The Government Department supports and provides courses for two of these: The Certificate in International Relations and the Certificate in Environmental Studies. Government majors concentrating in international politics or comparative politics should consider completing the Certificate in International Relations. Majors in American politics and public policy should consider completing the Certificate in Environmental Studies.

·         When and how should I select a concentration within the Government major? And should I take the introductory course to more than one concentration? University regulations permit only one introductory course to count toward a major, although more than one may count toward the satisfaction of the 32 credits required for graduation.  Thus, while is perfectly appropriate to take more than one departmental introductory course, only one may count toward the nine courses required for the major. We strongly recommend that majors take the introductory course to the field in which they expect to concentrate, and some upper division courses in a concentration may require its introductory course. Therefore, most prospective majors settle on a intended concentration during their sophomore year, if not earlier.

·         What if I want to switch my field of concentration after I declare a major? This is possible. You may face the problem of not having taken the appropriate introductory course for the new concentration. Discuss options with your department adviser and make sure that you file a new senior concentration form, if your new concentration requires you to take different courses than you listed on your previous senior concentration form.

·         Should I double major? Majoring in more than one department or program is increasingly common in selective liberal arts colleges, including Wesleyan. Yet, no evidence exists that this practice has improved the educational experience of our students. Credentialism, rather than quality of educational experience, seems to be driving this trend. Completing the requirements for two different majors severely limits the number of courses students may take outside their majors and may compromise the goals of a liberal education. Nor do we know of any evidence that a double major actually enhances one’s post-graduation job prospects or acceptance into post-baccalaureate degree programs. Unless two majors truly reinforce one another, the Government department recommends that a student chose a single major and then select a set of courses outside this major that best complements it. For example, completing a Government major and a certificate program may provide a better education in our view than a double major. Taking courses within a designated “Course Cluster” is also a good strategy for enhancing the coherence of one’s courses.