The Political Science Department encourages students studying Political Science to do internships and allows students to receive academic credit for internships. Students may receive one hour of academic credit for PLSC 471; two hours of academic credit for PLSC 472 and three hours of academic credit for PLSC 473.
Internships are available with local and state governments, as well as other organizations with a political or policy emphasis. Winthrop students have participated in internships with the Charlotte, North Carolina Metrolina Council of Governments; York County Government, South Carolina; and the Rock Hill City manager's office, South Carolina.
The following outlines the requirements to receive academic credit in the Political
Science Department at Winthrop University. All students seeking academic credit for
their internships are asked to keep track of their hours. The students also must be
evaluated by their on-site supervisors as a part of the final grade for the internship.
PLSC 473: To receive three hours of academic credit, students will complete one of the following assignments in addition to the minimum of 150-160 hours spent working on the internship.
PLSC 472: To receive two hours of academic credit, students will be required to complete a shorter version of the above options for three hours of academic credit. Specific requirements may be negotiated with Dr. Holder (or another faculty member as appropriate). The student must maintain a journal that contains a weekly entry about the internship experience and details about specific activities, frustrations, etc. that the student may encounter. These weekly entries must be submitted to Dr. Holder via e-mail each week as well as assembled together to turn in as part of the final paper. The student is also required to work on-site a minimum of 100 hours as well as complete a 7 - 8 page reflective paper.
PLSC 471: To receive one hour of academic credit, students will be required to keep a journal and write a short reflective paper (five -six pages) on the nature of their internship assignment. Students are also required to work a minimum of 60 hours on-site. No additional outside reading is required.
Basis of the Grade: In any case, students' work will be evaluated on the basis of insight, intellectual merit and fluency of their writing. Students are strongly encouraged to submit drafts and/or consult the Writing Center. Poorly written papers, no matter how insightful, will receive a poor grade. Unless they specify an S/U grade when they register for the course, students will receive a letter grade for their academic internship.
Students may receive academic credit for a total of three hours of internship credit, so that the student might enroll in PLSC 471 and then 472 later, or conversely a full three hour 473. Students are encouraged to participate in additional internship opportunities even if they do not receive academic credit. Under special circumstances, students may receive credit for independent research (PLSC 498) as part of an internship assignment, with permission of the Chair.
Students may choose to complete their internships during the summer months but must be enrolled in the most appropriate summer school session commensurate with their internship. If an internship overlaps into the next semester, such as summer into fall, students will take an incomplete for the initial course and then will receive a final grade when they complete the final section of their internship in the subsequent semester. Under normal circumstances, however, students should enroll in the internship concurrently with the internship assignment. State insurance regulations specify that students must be enrolled in a formal internship course to receive protection under workman's compensation.
Students may receive credit for both paid and unpaid internships, however the state does not provide workman's compensation coverage for paid internships.
Dr. Holder is responsible for the administration of academic internships. Students who wish to enroll in PLSC 471, 472, or 473 must meet with Dr. Holder to discuss their internship assignments and receive his signature to enroll in the course. For the vast majority of internships, Dr. Holder will design the assignments and assign the students' grades.
In some cases, when students arrange internships outside of Dr. Holder's areas of expertise, students will be directed to another member of the faculty who will design reading lists and assign grades as appropriate.
Placements with the following agencies or organizations appropriate to receive credit from the Political Science Department:
Please note: This list is incomplete. Other appropriate internships exist, and students may negotiate those as appropriate.
The special case of law firms: A students may receive Political Science credit for internships with law firms if
his/her internship assignment has some relevance to Political Science per se. For
example, students involved in routine clerical work or real estate title searches
cannot receive academic credit. Students may receive academic credit if they are conducting
legal research for a significant court case, or engaging in lobbying activities of
behalf of the firm's clients. In any case, students who wish to receive academic credit
for internships with law firms should consult Dr. Holder.
In any case, students who are interested in attending law school are encouraged to
seek internships with law firms even if they cannot receive academic credit for this
experience.
The Department of Political Science will assist students seeking academic internships,
but does not guarantee that we will find placements. The Department gives first priority
to students enrolled in the Concentration in Public Policy and Public Administration.
Other students will be accommodated on a first-come, first served basis.
In addition, the Career Services Office can help arrange co-operative opportunities and give advice on job seeking, interviewing
and resume writing.
The Department of Political Science has had longstanding internship arrangements with
the City of Rock Hill, the Town of Chester, and York County Government. Students are strongly encouraged to make their own internship arrangements whenever
possible.
There are several organizations that specialize in helping students arrange internships
in Washington, DC. The Washington Center and Georgetown University have two of the
best programs. They will assist students with finding an internship placement, transferring
credit back to their home institutions and even with finding housing. In addition,
the University of South Carolina also offers a competitive Washington internship program
for honors students, which is open to honors students statewide. Students wishing
to participate in any of these programs please see Dr. Holder for details and be sure
to see Dr. Jennifer Disney, Chair of the PLSC department, for specifics on transfer
credits.
Adopted August 15, 2001. Updated December 15, 2016.
