Government & International Affairs (Political Science)

Why study government & international affairs?

Government & international affairs students will gain a deeper understanding of political life in the United States and internationally, tools of inquiry and critical judgment, as well as rights and obligations of responsible citizenship.

At Augustana, political science is also known as government & international affairs to convey the belief that the proper analysis of politics includes — but goes well beyond — the “scientific” approach.
The knowledgeable professors in the government & international affairs department hold students to a high standard as future leaders.
This major promotes opportunities for internship experiences and emphasizes advising regarding post-graduate and professional opportunities.

Government & International Affairs at AU

Contacts

Department Chair of Government & International Affairs Dr. Emily Wanless | emily.wanless@augie.edu | 605.274.4622

Latest News

AU Professor of Government & International Affairs Presents Research at Yale

In late March, Dr. Joel Johnson, Sanford Health Peter Schotten Distinguished Professor of Government & International Affairs and Augustana University’s soon-to-be interim provost, was one of only a few Americans asked to serve as a panelist at a Humboldt-Kolleg workshop at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

Beyond the Books at AU: Government and Sociology Double Major Learns Valuable Lesson in Health Care Through Internship in Michigan

Augustana University student Tsegab Arega ‘23, of Sioux Falls, is a government & international affairs and sociology double major. As a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) John R. Lewis Undergraduate Public Health Scholar, Arega was an intern this past summer at the University of Michigan Future Public Health Leaders Program (Michigan FPHLP) in Ann Arbor.

Beyond the Books at AU: Finance and Government & International Affairs Major Has Eyes Set on Business Development While Interning for Marsh McLennan Agency

Augustana student Henry Sule ‘24, of Jos, Nigeria, is double majoring in finance and government & international affairs with minors in business administration and computer information systems. Sule is interning this summer at Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA), located at Cherapa Place in downtown Sioux Falls.

Highlights

Careers

Graduates secure careers as foreign service officers, legislators, journalists, lawyers, policy analysts and nonprofit administrators.

Hands-On Learning

The department has built strong relationships with local and state political leaders, businesses and national organizations to establish high-impact learning experiences. Students work on issues important to them and cultivate contacts that often turn into full-time jobs.

Internship opportunities include:

Foreign embassies and the White House
Congressional and law offices
Nonprofit associations, including the Childrens’ Defense Fund, ONE Campaign and Jubilee USA Network
U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. State Department
South Dakota Bureau of Personnel

Government & international affairs students study away in:

Washington, D.C. — with the Lutheran College Washington Semester (LCWS)
London, England; Paris, France; and Oslo, Norway — focusing on sustainable business with AU faculty
Higher Education Consortium on Urban Affairs (HECUA) Twin Cities Semester
Chicago Semester
Peace Scholars summer travel seminar, which deepens understanding of issues related to peace, justice, democracy and human rights

Courses & Organizations

Students study these areas:

Law
American systems
International relations
Political theory
World comparisons

Government & international affairs students often participate in:

Augustana Student Association (ASA)
Government Club
Augustana Democrats
Augustana Republicans
Augie Green