Politics & Values Program

Politics & Values (P&V) is a highly selective program for first-year students interested in the philosophical basis and political significance of values such as liberty, justice, and equality.

The core of P&V is an intensive class covering political theory, American politics, international relations and comparative politics. Over the course of the year, P&V students are introduced both to classics of political thought and to recent innovations of modern social science. This innovative course sequence allows students to accelerate their progress in many majors. 

In addition to their unique academic program, P&V members participate in a close-knit social group. They develop close relationships with faculty, play laser tag, do escape rooms, watch movies, and other fun activities, and eat, cook, and explore Washington together.

How to Apply

Interested students should indicate their interest in Politics & Values when applying to GW. Exceptional students will be admitted by the GW Admissions Office during the GW application process. If you have questions about this unique program, please contact ericgryngwu [dot] edu (Professor Eric Grynaviski).

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Course Details

Structure

The program provides an accelerated curriculum for students with exceptional academic ability. Rather than sitting in large lectures and reading textbooks, students focus on reading classic works in political science and international affairs, engaging in debate, discussion, and pursuing independent undergraduate research. The small class size and close connections to faculty mentors provides a unique experience at GW, created for exceptional students as they begin their academic careers.  

Curriculum

Fall Semester

This class operates as a seminar, focusing on discussions in a small group format.

Students focus on the founding of the United States. It first moves backward from the founding, examining the important classic texts that the founders read and influenced the development of the U.S. Constitution (e.g., Aristotle). It then focuses how these ideas influenced the debates in the Federalist Papers, and the gulf between their ideals and the reality of slavery. It then moves into more contemporary discussions, examining how these ideas changed over the course of the nineteenth century.  

Spring Semester

This class operates as a research-based course, providing individualized mentorship as students develop their first independent research projects.

Students focus on core problems in global politics. Students debate the cases of war and peace, learn about different political systems, and closely examine different traditions in the study of American foreign policy. Students also undertake their first research projects, for example by conducting public opinion research through survey experiments. Many students present these projects to audiences at the George Washington University and beyond.

Writing Requirements

Politics & Values is writing intensive, in part to fulfill the Writing in the Disciplines (WID) requirements of the spring portion of the course. Participating students complete writing assignments appropriate to this requirement.

Earning Credit

Politics & Values (PSC 1011 and 1012W) satisfies all three prerequisites for a Political Science major in the Columbian College (PSC 1001, 1002 and 1003), as well as fulfilling a political theory requirement and a WID requirement. For the PSC minor, P&V fulfills 12 of 18 required credits, including the intro (1000 level course) and Group E requirement.

For students in the Elliott School of International Affairs, Politics & Values will fulfill all the introductory Political Science courses (PSC 1001, 1002, and 1003), the "One Additional Humanities or Creative Arts" requirement, and a WID. As the course fulfills PSC 1003 (International Relations), students are exempt from taking Introduction to International Affairs. The P&V professor will remain in contact with your Elliott advisor and can be available to help answer questions regarding Elliott School requirements. 

Our Community

The transition to college can sometimes be a struggle for students academically and socially. P&V prides itself on being an extended family. Living together, spending time in class together, and having fun together makes the transition to college easier, more fun, and ultimately makes students more successful. To support this, P&V students have special access to social and community building events, entirely paid for by alumni support. 

• Community events: P&V students are invited to special, P&V only events such as ice cream parties, boat tours of the Potomac, escape room nights, laser tag on the Vern, and more.
• Dinners: P&V students often eat with the faculty, with special themed dinners that focus on advising, hacking class registration, and overcoming freshmen challenges.
• Watch parties: P&V students watch movies, play bingo while watching live political debates, and attend shows and other performances.

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Networking and Professional Development

• Alumni speaker events: Students meet visiting alumni who come to share their experiences and advice.
• Washington policy community contacts: In the past, students have heard scholars from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum speak about modern genocides, talked with high-level staffers from Congress about the educational preparation needed for a career on the Hill, visited sessions of the U.S. Supreme Court and toured the capital’s monuments to learn about the ideology behind the architecture.

• Department research opportunities: P&V students also have access to research opportunities within the Political Science Department.

   

Internships

P&V students often win prestigious internships in politics and government service, law, and business and finance, providing them with an advantage after graduation as they start their careers or go on for graduation education or law school. Below is a partial selection of internships from two cohorts of P&V students.