<p>Hey, Im a senior in high school that is an applicant at Dartmouth and if admitted would likely focus on governmental studies.</p>
<p>if anyone has gone through the program or knows individuals who have,
what was your overall take?
what did you focus on?
is the workload manageable?
do undergrads get a lot of attention from most profs?</p>
<p>also, can you use ap scores to test out of basic level courses?</p>
<p>Yay for Govy majors!! I'm a sophomore at Dartmouth so while I haven't completed the major yet, I'll tell ya what I know. First, make sure to check out the Government Department website. <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/%7Egovt/%5B/url%5D">http://www.dartmouth.edu/~govt/</a> I bet you'll find a lot of useful info there. </p>
<p>First, I'm pretty sure that Dartmouth does not allow you to use AP credit for Govt courses.</p>
<p>Most courses in the department fall into 1 of 4 categories: American Govt, International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Political Theory. Each category has its own introductory course. </p>
<p>So far, I have taken 3 Govy courses -- 2 of which I very much enjoyed and 1 of which was ok. Intro to International Relations was AMAZING, my prof even made somewhat boring theory (realism, institutionalism, etc) interesting. Intro to American Govt had interesting material but was with a so-so prof (only because he was somewhat rambly and gave waaaay too much reading for my freshmen fall at Dartmouth). My other course was with an incredibly engaging and intelligent professor about recent civil wars. I enjoy international relations and American politics the most, so I'm planning on taking most of my courses from these two categories. Next term, I want to take a course on the making of American public policy...but I hear War and Peace in the 20th century is amazing so I don't quite know...</p>
<p>The workload is difficult, but is manageble. Much of it depends on the prof who is teaching the course. However, it is easy to judge your potential workload from Dartmouth's professor review site.</p>
<p>Dartmouth profs only teach undergrads -- and in the Govt department we are only taught by profs, no TAs. If you are in a small discussion class, you will definitely receive attention from your prof if you participate. In a large lecture course (large meaning 50-100), you have the opportunity to engage 1 on 1 with your prof during office hours. So far, all my profs have known my name. </p>
<p>All in all, Govt courses are relatively small, well-organized, and with well-credentialed profs. Don't be surprised if your prof uses the book he/she wrote in the course. If you or anyone else has more questions, I'll be happy to respond.</p>
<p>Thanks! </p>
<p>By chance, do you know Leah Williams, she is also concentrating in gov studies, and is a sophomore at Dartmouth?</p>
<p>I think we might have been in a class together once but I don't really know her...</p>
<p>Do those students go to graduate schools, law schools, or Walt Street?</p>
<p>I think many government/history majors do go down those paths while others take more unconventional ones. It's hard to characterize what a general career path looks like.</p>
<p>My old roommate is a history major and she is about to start an internship at a corporate law firm. </p>
<p>A lot of my government friends who are interested in international relations hope to work at international embassies, the UN, etc.</p>
<p>Many of my friends into American govt are getting swept up in politics and have interned with several presidential campaigns and at congressional offices.</p>
<p>As for me? I just completed an internship at an HIV/AIDS non-profit and plan to go into non-profits.</p>
<p>Hmm... colbertnation would be interested in this topic.</p>
<p>this was great to read. im pretty sure im going to major in govt if i end up at darmouth. jw- do you know any pre-med kids majoring in gov? hows thier courseload (not that it matters, i just feel like i should ask), and how does that work out with the D-plan and all?</p>
<p>govt is awesome at dartmouth</p>
<p>Hmm I can't think of any pre-med govy majors at Dartmouth that I know. I do have a friend who is pre-med and majoring in econ. She does have a bit heavier workload than most.</p>
<p>There aren't many prereqs/specific required classes for the govt major so that shouldn't be a limiting factor when figuring out your D-plan. There are specific pre-med classes though, so if you didn't get into o-chem one term and they are only offering it one more time that year, you might have to be on that term whether you like it or not. But I think many pre-meds do get the chance to do at least one study abroad if they choose to. Or a lot of people will choose to stay on during one of their off terms to do research with a prof or at the dmhc.</p>
<p>Also, in case anyone is looking for more info about the govt major, here's a previous post I made awhile ago:</p>
<p>Class sizes have been shrinking in the Government department. When I was a freshman, intro classes were capped at 100. Now, they're often capped at 50 or 25.</p>
<p>It isn't very hard to get into the major Govt intro courses. Most people get in on their second try at least. And if you patrol Bannerstudent, you can sign up as soon as someone drops during the first week of class.</p>
<p>I know the Govt department has been hiring a lot of new faculty. And some of these new profs are proving to be very popular among students.</p>
<p>Govt 10 is the only course required for the major and it is offered practically every term. I'm taking it now and there are students of all years in my class, including freshmen. There are 33 students enrolled now and the cap is at 35.</p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that we have the country's first primary and NH is a swing state.</p>
<p>any more input from anyone?</p>
<p>I declared physics for Dartmouth; however, I'd like a minor in politics if I can. Can anyone tell me how the physics and sciences department are like on a holistic basis?</p>
<p>If you do the washington FSP, you knock 3 courses off your major... or about 3/8.. and the median is an A... just a suggestion. </p>
<p>I'm taken my third gov class... first two were good (GOV 10 and 19), GOV 20 has not been great because of the prof and me not getting along. </p>
<p>But the govt department here is awesome. </p>
<p>And its really NOT hard to major... simply not. </p>
<p>just two intros, six additional (half go bye bye with the FSP), and a seminar + independent study/thesis/or another seminar, and the prereq. </p>
<p>By the end of this trimester (first year), I'll have two of the additonal and the prereq. By the end of next year, I hope to be done with the six additional, one intro, and the prereq. Leaving just the two upper levels and an intro. </p>
<p>Not hard. </p>
<p>The thing that is a little interesting is that you don't major in a subject field like US, International, comparative.... its a certain field like mine might be elections or political analysis or something like that (i'm not quite sure).</p>
<p>The reading is more in some courses than in others... i'm averaging about 150 pages per week (50 pages per class)... some are dense, some aren't. Some profs give good lectures, others don't. Read the SA reviews. </p>
<p>You might hear different advice, but in the US Gov: Lacy and Fowler are good. The prereq is better with Bafumi than with Herron (both nice guys). </p>
<p>There are really a lot of courses to choose from...</p>
<p>If you have any questions about the govt FSP in washington, then ask. I'm here now</p>
<p>what is the wash FSP?</p>
<p>2 classes, plus a fulltime intenship that counts for the third class (most are with members of congress). good times</p>
<p>I was admitted to Dartmouth and will likely major in government there; this thread has been very informative and helpful! :)</p>
<p>Earlier you mentioned a professor review site, would you mind posting the url?</p>
<p>where are the classes taken?</p>