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Home / Academics / Academic Majors / Government

Government

The Government major develops leaders who think critically about political systems and understand their cultural, historical, theoretical and legal underpinnings. The degree prepares graduates to lead key domestic and international programs of the U.S. government. Graduates are particularly valuable to the Coast Guard in the areas of public policy, budget analysis, resource management and international relations and law.

  • Students have the opportunity to study Western and non-Western history and political institutions and processes.
  • Through directed studies, advanced students may individually tailor research opportunities with a faculty mentor.
  • Opportunities such as the Mock Trial and United Nations Teams enhance and reinforce the knowledge and skills the government course of study develops.

Areas of Concentration

The Government major is a multidisciplinary program, blending political science, history, ethics, world languages, literature, and law. Students majoring in Government can choose from three concentrations:

  • Policy and Law
  • International Affairs
  • Intel and Security

Resources

Government majors have access to exceptional resources, including our “SIPRnet classroom,” which enables instructors to incorporate classified information into teaching; an advanced foreign language lab; and an ongoing series of guest speakers that have included: Justices of the Supreme Court, U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives, the Director of the FBI, several Directors of National Intelligence, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and other distinguished officials.

FACTS AND FIGURES
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Percent of cadets that choose
the Government major

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Percent of Government majors who undertake their own original academic research
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Percent of Government majors who participate in co-curricular field trips, internships, or competitions
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Number of first assignment options closed to Government majors

Featured Cadets

W. Boardman

William (Bill) Boardman
Woodstock, Georgia
Class of 2019

C. Jenkins

Caroline Jenkins
Baltimore, Maryland
Class of 2019

Taylor Holland
Heber Springs, Arkansas
Class of 2018

Featured Graduates

Victoria M. Gurtler

Victoria M. Gurtler
Class of 2015
B.S., Government, USCGA

Andre Jones-Butler

Andre Jones-Butler
Class of 2014
B.S., Governent, USCGA

Kristen Bradley

Kristen Bradley
Class of 2012
B.S., Government, USCGA

Contact Information

School of Math, Science, and Humanities
Dr. Evan Haglund
Program Chair
Evan.T.Haglund@uscga.edu
(860) 444-8356

Sponsor Family Application

Thank you for submitting your application to be part of the Sponsor Family Program. Your application will be processed in the upcoming week. Coast Guard Academy’s policy on background screening now requires all adults (everyone 18 and older living in the home) who volunteer to mentor, teach, coach or sponsor cadets, whether on or off Coast Guard Academy grounds, to be screened every 5 years. They are required to provide personal information (name, birth date and social security number) for the purpose of conducting a criminal background check.

The Security Officer at the Coast Guard Academy, CWO2 Gina Polkowski, is overseeing this process. Her email is: Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.

Sponsor Family designations fall into several different categories. Below are the guidelines to help you determine how best to meet the background screening requirement:

  1. If you are Coast Guard active duty you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
  2. If you are a Civilian working for the Coast Guard you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
  3. If you are non-Coast Guard Active Duty, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at  Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
  4. If you are non-Coast Guard civilian who has a current security clearance or National Agency check, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at  Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
  5. All civilians in the families who are 18 years or older and do not have a security clearance or a National Agency Check are required to be vetted through Mind Your Business, the third party vendor hired by the Coast Guard Academy for the vetting process.

After you complete your application, please e-mail the Sponsor Family Program Coordinator at CadetFamilySponsorProgram@uscga.edu. In your e-mail, you must include the e-mail address and phone number of every adult living in the home. The Sponsor Family Coordinator will then initiate the background check process and you will receive an email with further instructions.

Important things to note:

There is a Sponsor Family Training that is a one-hour training which we ask sponsors to attend once every four years. This training is designed to give you an overview of the program, what is expected of you as a sponsor, and what you can expect from your cadets. This training will also help familiarize you with the cadet regulations onboard CGA. You will be notified via e-mail once the training is scheduled.

The matching process of swabs to families will occur during July and August. Please bear with us and remain flexible through this process. There will be a meet and greet scheduled on Campus, typically in late August. This will give families an opportunity to formally meet their cadet if they have not already done so. Details on this will also be via email.

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