In Fall 2026, the Augustana University Government & International Affairs Department expanded its degree program offerings to include more specialized majors — giving students focused pathways aligned with their interests, workforce demands and graduate school preparation.
“We’ve noticed over time that when current and prospective students are trying to figure out where they want to go in their careers, they want more tailored or specific focus points for their major,” said Dr. Jennapher Lunde Seefeldt, associate professor of government & international affairs. “They want to focus on something they are particularly curious about.”
Previously, the government & international affairs department consisted of one major — government & international affairs — which often required extensive advising and course substitutions. The major has transitioned to a political science major, covering a broad spectrum of fundamental concepts in the study of politics and political institutions. Three other majors have been added to the department’s offerings — each exploring distinct aspects of politics at the local, national and international levels.
The American politics & policy major will teach students to analyze the functions and outputs of U.S. political institutions and behavior, as well as examine the policymaking process, whereas the global politics major will help students understand the political systems of other countries and the relationships between nations. The legal studies major will prepare students for law school by helping them understand and analyze the American legal system. Each pathway is designed to prepare students for careers aligned with their interests, including work in international organizations, diplomacy, local or state government, global non-governmental organizations (NGOs), policy analysis or law.
The new structure creates more defined academic tracks and introduces new courses, such as Political Ideologies, Introduction to Legal Studies and Introduction to Public Policy.
“We could tell the trends and student interests were changing. Last year, we started the bones of the plan and looked around at other universities and what they offer,” she said.
Still, many of the majors provide an overlap in the core courses — helping to create a curriculum that “equips students to be effective agents of change.”
“We want people across the four majors to have a similar foundation,” said Lunde Seefeldt. “It was really a team effort on our part, too, because we all have specializations. We have the expertise to clarify which courses are needed across these new majors.”
Beyond creating more specialized tracks, the redesign will also help students connect government studies with other disciplines, such as business, philosophy or environmental studies.
“I think there’s always been a drive for interdisciplinary coordination and sharing students — getting them out of their comfort zone to get them exposed to other faculty and learn the background of other disciplines,” said Lunde Seefeldt. “That increased engagement of government students with Augustana’s broader course offerings is what we’re anticipating and what we’re hoping for.”
As part of these majors, students have opportunities to complete an internship, either in Sioux Falls, Washington, D.C. or globally.
“We’re getting students exposed to after-college life, but also engaged in the community so people say, ‘Wow, look at the great quality of AU students who have interned here with us,’” she said.
And Lunde Seefeldt believes that they’ll begin to see students grow even more after the transition, especially through a senior capstone course that’s required as part of every major.
“We want to notice a difference between the first-year student who comes in — who’s timid and shy — and the senior who leaves with a toolkit of skills. We want to see them grow and thrive throughout the course of whatever major they choose,” she said.
To learn more about the Augustana Government & International Affairs Department, visit augie.edu/GIA.