PSCI 490 – POLITICAL SCIENCE INTERNSHIP

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND LIBERAL ARTS

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-TEXARKANA

Professor: Gary Bugh Course Number: PSCI 490

Office: 125 University Center Semester: Spring 2011

Office Hours: Sun–Mon & Wed, 3–6PM;

Tue, 3–4PM; and by appointment Internship: ____________________

Office Phone: 903-223-3127

Email: gary.bugh@tamut.edu Internship Phone: _____________________

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The political internship course is designed to offer students an opportunity to work in the offices of local, state, and federal governments. Students will learn the kinds of services provided by the offices, the expectations the electorate has of their public officials, and the kinds of activities that occur in these offices. Students will be engaged in meaningful assignments that contribute to their understanding of democratic government.

PREREQUISITES

Students should have a grade point average of 2.75 or higher and complete the student application process. Only currently enrolled students who are seeking a degree at A&M-Texarkana may apply for the internship. The student should also have taken PSCI 331 (Introduction to Public Administration and Leadership), PSCI 428 (Intergovernmental Politics), or PSCI 427 (Public Law Federal and State).

STUDENT APPLICATION PROCESS

Students must apply for an internship during the fall semester, by November 30. An application form is available online at http://www.tamut.edu/academics/gbugh/PoliticalScience/ContentsPagePSCI490Web.htm, from the professor, or from the College of Education and Liberal Arts office. Admission to the internship program includes an application review conducted by university faculty.

ASSIGNED READINGS

(The professor will provide students a photocopy of the required readings.)

Cammarano, Joseph. 2002. “How to Read Your Internship.” In The Insider’s Guide to Political Internships, ed. Grant Reeher and Mack Mariani. Cambridge, MA: Westview Press.

Madison, James. 1787. “Federalists No. 10.” The Federalists Papers.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS & MEANS OF EVALUATION

This course may be taken for either three or six credits. The three-credit option requires the student work 9 to 17 hours per week for a government office and complete a portfolio of the experience. The six-credit option requires the student to work at least 18 hours a week at the internship and complete a portfolio of the experience. The course also requires an evaluation by the internship mentor during the semester, and a 3–5 page essay as part of the internship portfolio.

9-17 or 18+ Hours a Week 55%

Mentor Evaluation 20%

Portfolio 15%

Essay 10%

INTERNSHIP PORTFOLIO

Your internship includes a portfolio in which you describe and reflect upon your experiences as an intern. Your portfolio is due to the professor or the Dean’s office by the last official class day at the end of the semester. It is useful to view the portfolio as evidence of your internship, a document that you could use during a future job interview in order to elaborate some of your experiences and skills. Your portfolio should be typed, have a table of contents, placed in a three-ring binder, and include materials that you worked on or produced during your internship, such as brochures, photographs, and databases. It also needs to contain a 3–5 page essay on Madison’s views in relation to your internship (see below).

The core of your portfolio should describe what you did during your internship. You might find it helpful to maintain a logbook throughout the semester in which you regularly write about your internship. For example, you should record activities such as conducting research, attending a meeting, working on a brochure, or building database. It is useful to organize your portfolio by having a section for each of your responsibilities. Each of these parts should describe your assignments and provide reflection, perhaps by discussing new skills acquired, professional growth, or anticipated benefits for your career plans. Include the short essay described below in your portfolio. You may pick up your portfolio from the professor a few weeks after the end of the semester.

ESSAY

Your essay for this course is a reflection piece on political internships and American politics. The essay should be 3–5 pages long, typed, and cite all sources. Include this essay in your portfolio. In your essay, you should discuss your internship in reference to the political theory in James Madison’s “Federalist No. 10.” Incorporate insights, experiences, and observations from your internship throughout your essay. You may find it valuable to read Joseph Cammarano’s “How to Read your Internship” and Madison’s “Federalist No. 10” at the beginning of the semester and again at the end of your internship. The Cammarano essay provides further information about this assignment.

UNIVERSITY STATEMENTS

Disability Accommodations: Students with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations through the A&M-Texarkana Disability Services Office by calling 903-223-3062.

Academic Integrity: Academic honesty is expected of students enrolled in this course. Cheating on examinations, unauthorized collaboration, falsification of research data, plagiarism, and undocumented use of materials from any source constitute academic dishonesty and may be grounds for a grade of ‘F’ in the course and/or disciplinary actions. For additional information, see the university catalog.

A&M-Texarkana Email Address: Upon application to Texas A&M University-Texarkana an individual will be assigned an A&M-Texarkana email account. This email account will be used to deliver official university correspondence. Each individual is responsible for information sent and received via the university email account and is expected to check the official A&M-Texarkana email account on a frequent and consistent basis. Faculty and students are required to utilize the university email account when communicating about coursework.