Helms School of Government
Be a Leader in Your Chosen Field with a Degree from Helms School of Government
We seek to develop leaders who are guided by duty, honor, and morality. As our school’s namesake, Senator Jesse Helms, once said: “I have tried at every point to seek God’s wisdom on the decisions I made, and I made it my business to speak up on behalf of the things God tells us are important to him.”
Develop your critical thinking skills and open the door to a variety of careers, including politics, the legal field, law enforcement, and foreign service. You can select from our programs in criminal justice, government, public policy, homeland security, international relations, pre-law, or public administration, and then tailor your choice to match your career goals. We also have a number of certificates and minors that can help you target your degree to your passions and interests.
All of our courses are taught from a conservative Christian perspective. We provide the guidance and mentorship that you need to enter your chosen field with the same conviction and strength of purpose as Senator Helms.
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#4 Best College Campus in America
At Liberty, you’ll find an affordable, high-quality education designed to help equip students like you for the real world. Our commitment to excellence has earned us recognition as the #4 Best College Campus in America by Niche.com.
Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with state-of-the-art resources like ours can help set you apart from your peers.
Why Liberty?
Why Choose Liberty’s Helms School of Government for Your Degree?
Study Under Faculty with Real-World Experience
At Liberty University’s Helms School of Government, you’ll study under professors who bring more than just textbook knowledge to the classroom. Many of our faculty members have firsthand experience working in law enforcement and government agencies, including Homeland Security, the FBI, and the Virginia Beach Police Department.
These professors are not only highly trained professionals — they’re also committed Christians who are passionate about mentoring the next generation of leaders. You’ll benefit from their real-world insight, personal guidance, and a learning environment that integrates faith and service.
Launch Your Career with High-Impact Internships
Getting practical experience is a crucial part of your education, and at Liberty, you’ll have access to meaningful internship opportunities that can set you apart in the job market. Our Washington Fellowship is a standout experience that lets you live and work in the nation’s capital while gaining hands-on training in your field.
Whether you’re interested in criminal justice, intelligence, or public policy, these opportunities allow you to apply what you’re studying in real-time, and build a network that could open doors after graduation.
Connect with Peers Who Share Your Passion
If you’re looking to grow outside the classroom, Liberty’s student organizations offer the perfect place to network and sharpen your skills. One example is the Strategic Intelligence Society, a club that can help you prepare for careers in the intelligence community.
Through this society, you can study how to think critically about current events and analyze developments in politics, economics, military affairs, and more. It’s a great space to build connections, discuss ideas, and explore the real-world application of your degree — all alongside other students who share your commitment to justice, leadership, and faith.
Take the first step on your Liberty journey
Program Information
School of Government Associations
Strategic Intelligence Society
Prepare for employment within the intelligence community. The Strategic Intelligence Society encourages critical thinking that leads to the analysis of current events. Discern intelligence from information within the fields of politics, technology, transnational issues, economics, and military policy.
Alpha Phi Sigma
Our national criminal justice honor society, Alpha Phi Sigma, offers you opportunities for scholarship and career advancement as you connect with the criminal justice arena. Likewise, our Criminal Justice Club also hosts many events and offers opportunities for you to network and advance in a criminal justice career.
Criminal Justice Club
Our Criminal Justice Club hosts many events and opportunities for you to network and advance in a criminal justice career.
Pi Sigma Alpha
You have the opportunity to join the only honor society for college and university government students in the United States. Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies.
Pre-Law Society
For those students planning to attend law school, Pre-Law Society members enjoy the benefit of being selected first to join the pre-law teams and publish in the Journal.
