The Humanities Department has three sections: English, Law, and Government/History/Ethics/Foreign Language; in concert, they offer cadets a major in Government. Part of the mission of the Department is to ground all cadets in the liberal arts. Additionally, government majors take a multidisciplinary collation of courses leading to either of two tracks: International Affairs or Public Policy. With these twin missions, Humanities offers more core courses than any other department.

Seven out of twenty-four core curriculum courses are offered through the Humanities Department: English Composition, Literature, US History, Morals and Ethics, American Government, Criminal Justice, and Maritime Law Enforcement. In addition, the department offers over forty courses for government majors, which cadets from other majors may take as electives. Advanced students may pursue tutorial and research opportunities in the specialties represented by a faculty of over twenty.

Twenty to thirty percent of all cadets typically choose the Government major. After graduation, Government majors find themselves well-suited for almost any career path in the Coast Guard. Government majors are to be found commanding cutters or shore stations, heading policy offices, negotiating treaties on behalf of the US government, leading regulatory projects, flying aircraft, and much more, reflecting the maxim that a liberal undergraduate education recognizes no limits. Many Government majors go on to pursue graduate education through the Coast Guard after their first tours afloat.