Make the most of your time at George Mason University with the Schar School of Policy and Government's newest residential learning community, the Upper-Level Democracy Lab. Earn academic credit, expand your network, and create lasting memories.
Welcome to the Democracy Lab!
The Schar School’s Upper-Level Democracy Lab provides a community of students with the opportunity to engage with faculty, university leaders, and experts from around the country on how to build effective policies and improve trust in democratic institutions. The community focuses on understanding the benefits and drawbacks of different electoral reforms and the obstacles in their implementation. Students will attend regular programming, augmented by access to a wide range of support, mentorship, and opportunities.
"Joining the first-year Democracy Lab was one of the best decisions I made coming to George Mason. I met so many talented friends and individuals with a passion for public service who’ve helped me become a better one myself. The community, the professors, and the opportunities were all outstanding, which are some of the main reasons I’m excited to return to DemLab in my senior year."
Scott Tatum
B.A. Government and International Politics '25
What to Know
-
Any upper-level students living on campus may apply to join
-
Upper-Level Democracy Lab students will live in the Blue Ridge residence hall
-
The First-Year Democracy Lab is not a prerequisite for joining
-
Priority will be given to Schar School students
A Unique Curriculum
Upper-Level Democracy Lab students will enroll in a 1-credit course during the fall semester and a 3-credit research-based course in the spring.
The fall semester course is GOVT 319: Election Rules and Electoral Reform. The topics covered in the course center on electoral system designs, electoral behavior, party behavior, and campaign finance. The main focus of the course is on the American context, but it will also incorporate a comparative perspective.
The spring semester course is GOVT 496: Election Reform Research Practicum. In this course, students will work on research projects that either study the impacts of an existing electoral reform or propose a reform aimed at resolving a specific issue in the ways elections work.
Meet the Upper-Level Democracy Lab Learning Community Director
"I'm particularly excited about the projects that Upper-Level Democracy Lab students will have the opportunity to create during the spring semester. There is a lot of energy around issues of representation, and I’m looking forward to engaging with students' ideas within our learning community and beyond.”
Lucas Nuñez