PSCI 5100 - Senior Practicum

Goals: To enable senior majors to explore connections between theory and practice in Political Science by combining academic analysis and learning with field experience.

Content: Seniors taking this course will be expected to obtain a semester internship in the Twin Cities (120 hours of work) with either a governmental agency, non-profit, international NGO, political organization, or business. The course will be the “academic” portion of the internship. Each week students will be reading current articles in political science and discussing them in light of their internships. Students will engage in applied research on a topic related to their internship and be responsible for completing a substantial research paper by the end of the semester. The writing process will include creating a research proposal, outline, and drafts of the project. Other assignments will include a weekly internship journal and oral presentation of the research project at the end of the semester. Upon successful completion, the * in the course title will include the actual Internship title on the official transcript of the student.

Taught: Annually, in spring term

Prerequisites: PSCI 3540 and instructor permission

Credits: 4