Winthrop University

Department of Political Science

Academic Internship in Political Science

PLSC 471-001 (One credit hour)

PLSC 472-001 (Two credit hours)

PLSC 473-001 (Three credit hours)

Fall 2017 and Spring 2018

Dr. John Holder

340 Bancroft (mailing address 346 Bancroft)

(803) 323-4665

holderj@winthrop.edu

Office hours: MW 5:00-6:15, TR 2:00-3:15, or by appointment

Prerequisite: Permission of the Department Chair (Dr. Jennifer Disney, disneyj@winthrop.edu)

Course Goals:

In keeping with the Political Science Department’s commitment to civic engagement and experiential learning, we offer one-, two-, and three-credit internships.  Internships are designed to give students experience in their prospective or chosen career field and are an extension and application of their academic skills and course work at Winthrop. They involve hands-on experiential learning at a variety of venues. Ideally, internships are pre-professional and project-based experiences allowing students the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to the sponsoring organization. Students should be both challenged and encouraged to take initiative and develop life-long learning skills. Each intern works under an on-site supervisor at the host organization or institution. The role of the on-site supervisor is to oversee the student experience and provide structure and mentorship throughout the internship. All internships (and credit designation) must be approved by the internship coordinator prior to registration.  This course meets the experiential requirement in the Political Science major.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Students who successfully complete an internship should be able to:

•           Articulate the mission of the host organization

•           Observe and reflect on how the mission is carried out by people within the organization

•           Identify the skills and attributes needed for the potential career

•           Make a positive contribution to the work of the organization

•           Have a thorough understanding of potential and related career options

•           Work assigned hours and follow expectations similar to those of employees and/or other interns

•           Utilize ideas and concepts from their courses in political science

Requirements of Internships: Hours and Projects

Fifty hours of site work over the course of the semester is required for each hour of academic credit, up to 150 hours of work for three hours of credit.

Grading components:

Internships are graded S/U. Given that a grade below C- does not qualify for an S in a standard class, any student who does not satisfactorily complete at least 70% of the course requirements listed below will receive a U.

Weekly journal (submitted by e-mail)

Reflective paper, submitted at the end of the semester, on the nature of the internship assignment.

At a minimum, the journal entries and reflective paper should answer the following questions: What did you do? Why was this work significant? What did you learn? How does this experience relate to your academic preparation in the field of political science?

            PLSC 471: Five to six pages

            PLSC 472: Seven to eight pages

            PLSC 473: Nine to ten pages

Supervisor evaluations at midterm and at the end of the semester, including documentation that you have completed the required number of work hours (please have the supervisor contact me for details)

The instructor reserves the right to make changes in the deadlines or requirements to better meet the objectives of the internship program.

Working:  Professionalism on the Job

An internship is an academic course, but an internship is also employment, with a supervisor, a work schedule, and specific responsibilities.  Your dress, behavior, and effort can have a significant influence upon your future, as many former interns seek letters of reference from their internship sponsors.  While on the job, you will be representing Winthrop University, the Political Science Department, and yourself.  Consistent and professional behavior can go a long way in determining the success or failure or your internship.

Dropping the Course:  Winthrop’s “N” Grade Policy

University deadlines apply to internships as well as standard courses. October 23 (fall semester) and March 8 (spring semester) are the last days that you can withdraw from a full fall semester course with an automatic “N” grade.  Per university policy, students may not withdraw from a course after this date without “documented extenuating circumstances.” 

Academic Dishonesty

Winthrop University takes an extremely serious view of violations of academic integrity.  The Political Science Department’s policy is one of zero tolerance for any form of academic dishonesty.  In short, this means that a proven instance of plagiarism will result in a failing grade for the internship, and not solely for the assignment in question.  I will discuss this in detail during the intern’s orientation session.  However, it is your responsibility to talk with me if you have any questions about research, citations, Internet use, or paper composition.  Yes, it is possible to plagiarize a weekly journal entry and be subject to this policy!  See the Department’s policy at:

http://www.winthrop.edu/plsc/PLAGIARISM/%20AND%20MISCONDUCT.doc

Office Hours and Coordinator Availability         

Please contact me about your internship whenever you like. If you encounter a problem, it is much more likely to be solved the earlier we deal with it. If my scheduled office hours are not convenient for you, we can set up an appointment (including on Fridays).

Students with Disabilities/Need of Accommodations for Access:

Winthrop University is committed to providing access to education.  If you have a condition which may adversely impact your ability to access academics and/or campus life, and you require specific accommodations to complete this course, contact the Office of Accessibility (OA) at 803-323-3290, or, accessibility@winthrop.edu. Please inform me as early as possible, once you have your official notice of accommodations from the Office of Accessibility.

OA Staff:

Tina Vires – Program Director, extension 6174; virest@winthrop.edu

Shardae Nelson– Assistant Coordinator, extension 6188; nelsons@winthrop.edu

Hope Williams – Administrative Specialist, extension 3290; accessibility@winthrop.edu

Susan Sistar – Coordinator for Testing Program and the Test Center, extension 6173; sistars@winthrop.edu or testcenter@winthrop.edu

From off campus – 803/323-3290

Final Exam

There is no final exam in this course.   Remember however that your professional capabilities are tested every time you represent Winthrop to entities around the state and beyond!

Remember to fill out a course evaluation at the end of the semester!