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INTERNSHIP
FAQ’S
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1.
I want to
do an internship, but I don’t even know where to start. How can I find
out about internship opportunities?
Students interested in enrolling in the PLSC department’s internship
program should talk with
Dr. Tim Boylan as soon as
possible. In addition, links to various internships with elected
officials and government agencies are available on the
internship website page.
2.
Do I have
to find my own internship?
Students are strongly encouraged to make their own internship
arrangements whenever possible.
TheDepartment 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. The
Career Development Office can help arrange co-operative
opportunities and give advice on job-seeking, interviewing and resume
writing. The Department of Political Science has standing internship
arrangements with the City of Rock Hill, the Town of Chester, York
County government and the Rock Hill district office of Representative
John Spratt (D-SC). In the latter case, first preference goes to
residents of the Fifth Congressional District, and second preference to
South Carolina residents.
3.
How do I
register for PLSC 471, 472 or 473?
Dr. Tim
Boylan is responsible for the administration of academic internships.
Students who wish to enroll in PLSC 471, 472, or 473 must meet with Dr.
Boylan to discuss their internship assignments and receive his signature
to enroll in the course. The student must then go directly to the
Records and Registration office in 102 Tillman to register for the
class.
For the vast majority of internships, Dr. Boylan will design the
assignments and assign the students’ grades. In some cases, when
students arrange internships outside of Dr. Boylan’s areas of expertise,
students will be directed to another member of the faculty who will
design reading lists and assign grades as appropriate.
4.
What is
the difference between a Co-Op and an internship?
A co-op
is arranged and managed by the Office of Career Development. The contact
person for College of Arts and Science students is
Laura Foster. She can help you find a job in a related field as
well as provide help with resume writing and interview techniques.
While the Department of Political Science does not have a designator for
co-op credit, it may be possible to apply it to another subject,
depending on the type of job. An internship is handled through the
individual departments. It has its own course number and each
department has adopted unique policies on the expectations of the
students enrolled.
5.
How far
in advance should I start preparing for my internship?
You
should start thinking about doing an internship for PLSC credit as early
as the start of your sophomore year, especially if you are a Public
Policy and Public Administration concentration major. It can take up to
six months to decide on the area in which you want to pursue a specific
job, meet with the internship coordinator, decide when to register for
the course and finalize the details with your new employer. The earlier
the better! Anyone interested in International internship possibilities
or jobs with the CIA, FBI, State Department of the United Nations needs
to start applying at least a year in advance. All of the
government agencies require background checks and must issue credentials
before employment can begin.
6.
Can I
work a summer job/internship but apply for the credit in the Fall?
Whenever
possible, we encourage students to complete the internship concurrent
with the semester in which they are enrolled. We understand that some
students may be on scholarships or financial aid that do not cover
summer school expenses. When extenuating circumstances exist, please
contact Dr. Boylan.
7.
Can I get
credit for an internship with a law firm?
PPAD
Concentration majors CANNOT receive credit for an internship with
a law firm. Other students MAY receive credit, depending upon their
internship responsibilities. We will not award internship credit for
placements in law firms where the students’ responsibilities are
strictly administrative or real estate title searching. Students must
have assignments related to the firm’s law practice and must be approved
by Dr. Boylan.
8.
What if I
don’t want to do an internship in Rock Hill?
We
encourage students to complete internship anywhere!! While the
department has standing agreements with some local agencies, students
may complete internships in the district offices of members of the South
Carolina congressional delegation; with state agencies in Columbia or
with local governments anywhere. In addition, students may look to
internships in Washington, DC. For several possibilities, look on the
internship website page.
9.
I have
been accepted into the Washington Semester Honors Program through the
University of South Carolina, Columbia. Who do I talk to about credit?
Since
this program involves transferring credit hours from USC, please see the
department chair, Dr. Karen Kedrowski.
10.
Can I do
more than one internship?
We
encourage students to complete as many internships as they desire.
However, students may receive Political
Science academic credit only once.
This means that you cannot receive credit for 473 twice. It also means
that you cannot receive credit for both 471 and 473, for example.
(Students enrolled in the PPAD concentration must register for 473.) It
may be possible to receive academic credit for additional internships
through the Honors program or another department, depending upon the
placement. We stress, however, that internships are valuable for a
variety of reasons, even if one does not receive academic credit.
11.
What if I
fail to complete the requirements for the course (i.e., the paper,
journal, and/or project)?
If any
of the components for internship credit are not completed, a grade of
“F” will be given. If you do not fulfill the requirements for the
course or withdraw, you receive the grade of “F”. If you re-register to
take the class over to replace the grade, you must complete another
internship project.
12. What is the PPAD major you keep talking about?
The
Concentration in Public Policy and Administration (PPAD) is one of three
major options offered by the Political Science department. The PPAD is
designed for students interested in careers in local government. The
major requires several courses in the public policy and administration
subfield, and requires a three-hour internship. For more information,
see Dr. Tim Boylan, Coordinator for the Public Policy and Administration
Concentration.
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