Undergraduate

The Department of Government—like political science—is an umbrella for a remarkable range of political subjects and approaches to studying them. It stands at the crossroads of history, law, economics, sociology, philosophy, and ethics, borrowing from these disciplines as well as constructing theories and methods of its own.  

Students who choose to concentrate in Government are inspired by many things. Some are passionate about contemporary American politics; some are fascinated by models that explain, measure, or predict political outcomes; some are interested in the civic philosophy of the ancient Greeks, some in the moral challenges of contemporary global citizenship; some focus on the political culture of a particular region of the world; some want to grasp the more general interrelationships of ethnicity and civil war, or human rights and emerging democracy 

Long recognized as a world leader in the study and scholarship in political science, our programs of study represent a broad and changing spectrum of interests and approaches. We combine innovation and excellence in teaching and research to deliver an intellectually robust, diverse, and flexible political studies program that enable scholars of all backgrounds and interests to thrive. Graduates of the department go on jobs at leading academic institutions, companies, government agencies, and non-profits. 

Advising Appointments

To make an appointment to speak with an academic adviser in the Government undergraduate program, please visit https://calendly.com/gov-undergrad. (Please note that these appointments are only for current Harvard undergraduates.) For current Government concentrators, please talk to your Concentration Adviser before using this appointment link, since they will often be able to help you.