Department of Government

If you come to the Government Undergraduate Program, any CA will be happy to help you with any questions you have, and CA's are especially interested in talking with first years about the concentration.

Can I double-count core & concentration requirements?
Yes. Any Core course taught by Government faculty will count for government credit. In addition, a number of core courses count as related field courses if they are cross-listed in that field's section of the catalogue (for instance, an Historical Studies course that is cross-listed in the History Department will count for related field credit). See the "Additional Government and Related Field Courses" and the "Core Courses for Gov Credit" lists for more information.

What courses can I take pass/fail?
For Class of 2004 and beyond (honors or non-honors), only one of the Government elective courses may be taken Pass/Fail. No introductory courses, no courses taken to fulfill distribution requirements, no seminars or tutorials (except Gov. 99, which is graded SAT/UNSAT), and no related-field courses may be taken Pass/Fail.

For students in classes prior to the Class of 2004 (honors or non-honors), only two of the Government elective courses may be taken Pass/Fail. Combined concentrators with Government as the secondary field may take only one Government elective Pass/Fail. No introductory courses, no courses taken to fulfill distribution requirements, no seminars or tutorials (except Gov. 99, which is graded SAT/UNSAT), and no related-field courses may be taken Pass/Fail.

How do I cross-register for a course at the Kennedy School, and does it count for Government Credit?
All Harvard undergraduates can cross-register for courses at other schools by filling out a cross-registration form, available at the registrar and your house office. The form must be signed by the instructor of the course, the DUS (if you are requesting concentration credit), and your Senior Tutor. While Government concentrators most frequently cross-register for courses at the Kennedy School of Government, those courses do not automatically count for concentration credit. If you are interested in receiving department credit for a Kennedy School Course, you will need to meet with the DUS, who will decide on a case-by-case basis.

Can I get credit for Government Courses taken at Harvard Summer School?
As a Harvard undergraduate, any course taken at Harvard Summer School will automatically appear on your transcript. If it is a Government course, it will count just as it would if taken during the year. For instance, if you take an American Politics course during the summer, that could count toward your American field requirement. Note: Although they do not have the same title, for the purposes of our requirements Government S-40 and Historical Studies A-12 are the same course and cannot both be taken for department credit.

Can I get credit for the AP Exam in political science?
No. However, Advanced Standing students who received a score of 5 on the AP examination in American or European history can receive credit for one half-course in History as a related field if they graduate in 3 years. If you choose to stay four years, your AP credit will not count and you must take a second history course.

What does it mean to be Honors?
Government concentrators are eligible for two types of honors degrees. The first type, cum laude from Harvard College (formerly called cum laude in General Studies), is open to all students, whether they are completing the honors requirements or the basic requirements. This form of honors degrees for students requires a College GPA of 3.00 or higher on the 4.00 scale for degrees awarded in March 2004 or thereafter; honors degrees for students graduating before June 2005 and for students graduating in June 2005 or after, is fully explained in the Harvard College Handbook for Students.

The second type of honors degree, Honors in Government, is open only to students who complete the Departmental honors requirements, including the thesis. This is also the only way to graduate magna cum laude or summa cum laude. In recent years about 40% of seniors have graduated with an honors degree in Government.

The question "Honors or Non-honors?" should be rephrased as "Honors in Government?" This question in turn comes down to "thesis or no thesis?" Almost all students start out as honors candidates, and the vast majority continue on the honors "track" through their junior year. At the end of that year between 40 and 50% decide to write a thesis; the rest complete the basic requirements.

The decision whether or not to write a senior thesis and pursue an honors degree in Government will have important consequences for your final year at Harvard. Writing a thesis may be quite different from anything that you have done in the past, and therefore previous experience provides little guidance. You may well be wondering whether you will be able to write a thesis, or whether writing a thesis is the best way for you to culminate your program at Harvard.

These are very real questions that have to be decided for each individual. Students should not feel compelled to take the honors route; many students of exceptional caliber spend a productive senior year pursuing independent studies, taking graduate level courses, or throwing themselves into extracurricular pursuits. The decision to write a thesis should not be taken lightly, as it requires serious effort for eight months. The Department encourages students to take the route - either honors or non-honors - that best satisfies each student's academic and nonacademic needs. For more information about thesis writing and the honors process, see the Senior Year Section in this Handbook.