The Government and History Department offers a major in history and a major and a minor in government with a general government focus.  The department also offers a graduate certificate in Deaf History and courses in the Masters of International Development Program.

What is a major in Government or History?

Government and history studies cover a broad range of topics. Maybe you're interested in culture, politics, international affairs, governmental institutions, human and civil rights, health care, or even the environment? If so, a major in either history or government is for you.

What's the study of Government?
Government or political science is the study of governments, public policies, and political behavior. As a government major, you'll learn about how government structures have influenced culture and societies. You'll study American governmental structure including political parties, the legislature, political theory, the presidency, and interest groups. You'll also study the governments of other countries, international relations, and American foreign policy. Additionally, with a government major you'll learn about current government programs set up for deaf people and also learn how to effectively influence those programs.

Why should I study History?
The study of history helps us discover and interpret the complex past of our culturally diverse world. As a history major, you'll study the history of the world from ancient and medieval periods to the present day, with concentrations of specific regions and historical periods. You'll be able to discuss issues such as how countries confront periods of economic boom and bust, how culture and religion affect society, and how societies respond to issues of race, class, gender, and sexual differences.

Mission Statements

Government:

The faculty and staff of the Government major are committed to serving the diverse population of our university in ways appropriate to all members of the community. To do so we offer: courses satisfying general education requirements that include substantive knowledge of American government and which encourage critical reasoning, writing and communication skills; elective courses which appeal to a wide variety of interests and help students gain liberal arts skills and knowledge; a major curriculum with either an American or international track that cover the important topics of the fields of political science and prepares students for graduate study or employment in government, business, non-profit organizations, law, political staff, community and public service, public affairs, education and; and a graduate curriculum that prepare students to serve the broader community as professionals.

In addition, faculty of the major are committed to participation in activities which enrich students' understanding of current political topics and their ability to connect with the wider deaf and hearing world through sponsorship of programs and activities both on and off campus. The faculty is also committed to supporting research and education that reflect this mission.

History:

The faculty and staff of the History major offer students, through the study of history, a fundamental understanding of the world in which they live and of the diverse forces that have shaped both past and present. Further, it seeks to help students to know themselves, appreciate societies that are different from their own, and place contemporary issues and problems within a broad historical perspective. The Department also seeks to enhance the critical thinking and communication skills that are at the core of a liberal arts education. The Department also offers courses which teach and promote Deaf history, cover a wide range of themes and geographic areas, and allow students to utilize a variety of social sciences and humanities methods of inquiry. The Department is committed to exposing students to diversity, both in the United States and globally. To that end, we offer courses or units in courses whose foci include but are not limited to Deaf history, women's history, GLBT history, Latino/Latina history, disability history, and African history.

History majors who fulfill the department's academic requirements begin to acquire substantive knowledge of the past, and of history as a scholarly discipline. They practice utilizing the skills necessary for independent historical research, in particular critical thinking and communication skills. They begin to develop an understanding of the world that incorporates a historical perspective. The training that students receive as History majors prepares them for graduate study in History and other professional programs, or for careers in business, education, socially oriented vocations, public history, and government service, or indeed any career requiring strong research, analytical, and communication skills.

Women's Studies

The Women's Studies Program at Gallaudet University endeavors to explore, from an interdisciplinary perspective, the full impact of gender in the experiences of women and men in the United States and around the world. This perspective assumes that race, class, ethnicity, sexuality, age, and constructions of disability and deafness are integral to our understanding of gender and creation of knowledge. Women's Studies envisions alternatives for deaf, hard of hearing and hearing students by interrogating existing social structures, institutions, and ideologies and their impact upon women's and men's lives. Emphasizing the connections between theory and practice, Women's Studies encourages applied learning through internships, community service projects, and research. The Women's Studies Program thus aims to effectively promote the concept of an inclusive university with a curriculum that encourages a commitment to social justice and equality, and respect for human diversity. A focus on gender in relation to race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, age, and disability and deafness fosters the use a critical lens and openness of mind that is necessary for men and women to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

The Women's Studies program prepares students for many employment opportunities and for professional and graduate education in several fields. Students with a minor in Women's Studies possess tools including knowledge, self-awareness, critical thinking and writing skills and breadth of perspective that graduate schools, government, public service, media, and private industry desire and seek.

The Department of Government and History offers the following undergraduate programs:

• B.A. in Government
• B.A. in History
• Minor in Government
• Minor in History

The Department of Government and History offers the following graduate programs:

• Graduate Certificate in Deaf History