To more accurately reflect and market its curriculum, Notre Dame's Department of Government and International Studies is changing its name the Department of Political Science next fall.

"The universal topics that we are interested in are mainly political issues — issues that are not sufficiently covered by the term `government,'" said department head Michael Zuckert. "For example, we offer courses on political parties, which are not specifically a part of government and the area of international studies also fits better under the term political science."

Yearly evaluations also motivated the name change, said Zuckert. Every academic department is annually evaluated by outside reviewers to ensure maintenance of the University's academic standards and to ensure that the department is making the best choices in terms of course offerings and topics covered within each specific major. Although the government program received high marks in all areas, the reviewers suggested the name change to more accurately reflect the ideals of the department.

This sentiment was echoed by letters from prospective students wishing to study political science at Notre Dame, but confused as to whether or not the major was offered.

Since the department is affiliated with the American Political Science Association, and the new name is more common in universities across the country, the change will allow the department to "stop sending misleading messages" to its students — current and prospective, said Zuckert.

Lizzette Butkiewicz, a junior government major, agreed and said that as long as the ideals of the major were not altered, the change in name was fine with her.

Zuckert maintains that the curriculum and the varied approaches to its subjects used by the major will not be altered in conjunction with the change. Moreover, current seniors will still graduate with majors in government and international relations on their transcript. Anyone graduating in 2003 and beyond will graduate with a degree bearing the amended name.

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