Wesleyan's Department of Government is dedicated to exploring "who gets what, when, and how," as Harold Lasswell defined political science in 1935. The Department might well be called a department of political science or a department of politics; it is called a Department of Government for historical reasons. Department faculty today uphold a tradition, more than a century old, of distinction in scholarship and teaching.

Colby’s Government Department is known as one of the best at any liberal arts college in the country. Work with professors who are active in real-world political affairs—as consultants to governmental institutions—and whose insights appear regularly in national and international media outlets. Take courses on political theory, comparative politics (of Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, Africa, and Latin America), international relations, and American politics. You’ll think critically and work hard, and you’ll be exposed to a variety of perspectives on political and public-policy issues.

Upon entering the Specialization in Innovation and Quality Process Management, students will integrate concepts and practice to complement their professional life in two different ways.