Overview of Undergraduate Internship Guidelines
October 2003

I. Purpose of Internships

     Internships are designed to enhance a student’s knowledge in a particular academic field and body of literature through first-hand experience, personal reflection and specialized academic work.  In addition, internships provide valuable experience and contacts in a real career situation where the student is likely to gain insight into the advantages and disadvantages of that career.  This is because, while an internship is a temporary job, often involving lots of rather routine work, it is also more than just a temporary job, because as a condition of the internship the placement supervisor provides opportunities to the student to ask questions about and observe the overall aspects of the organization and the career.  To these ends, the Department of Political Science offers undergraduate students two different options to pursue experiential learning.  It is important to emphasize that the process for option #1 and #2 are the same, however, option #1 is self-contained while option #2 is not. As well, all documents that are referenced hereafter are available from the Internship Coordinator in room 440 Gladfelter Hall. 

II. Option #1- Experiential Learning Course (6 credits)

A. Overview: Regularly, the department offers students the opportunity to earn six credits (3 academic credits and 3 internship credits [371,372 or 373]) in an experiential learning course each semester.  Past courses have covered topics such as law, campaigns, poverty and international organization.  Typically one such course is offered each semester. 

B. Workload: Although the workload for each class differs, students should minimally expect the following requirements for each part of the 6-credit course. 

• 1. For PS 371/372 or 373 (only one course number is offered per semester): Cooperative Education Project (3 credits)

• The student will be required to work between 8 and 10 hours a week in an organization that is set up by the internship coordinator in consultation with the student and the organization.  The placement will be in an organization that will give the student an opportunity to learn about a career in the area of the course topic.  The student should know, however, that most of the time, the work of an internship may be routine, though the placement supervisor is expected to give the student opportunities to gain a greater understanding into the work of the organization and a career in that area. 
• In addition to the above workload, a weekly journal and a research project will be required of each student. 

•  2. Academic Course: (3 credits)
• Attendance and participation in a weekly seminar
• Weekly readings
•  Exam covering the readings/discussion material 

C. Process for Interested Students: Students who are interested in participating in an experiential learning course should follow the below guidelines.

• 1. Look for flyers announcing the class before registration begins each semester.
• 2. Get an application from room 440 Gladfelter Hall while being cognizant of any application deadlines.  DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS, STUDENTS MUST FILL OUT AN APPLICATION AND BE ACCEPTED IN ORDER TO REGISTER FOR OR PARTICIPATE IN THE COURSE. 
• 3. Follow the directions on the application, and submit the application as the instructions indicate. 
• 4. You will be contacted regardless if you are accepted or not.  If accepted you will receive further instructions about the registration process. 

III. Option #2: Independent Internship (3 credits [PS 371/372 or 373])

A. Overview:  An independent internship differs from option #1 in several respects.  First, an independent internship is a 3-credit course, not 6-credits.  Second, the student actively pursues these internships; the department does not typically advertise them.  Third, an independent internship allows a student flexibility and specialization in an area of political science that might not be offered otherwise.  More importantly, an independent internship requires coordination between the student, internship coordinator, faculty member and placement site- it is not self contained like option #1

B. Workload: Any student interested in obtaining an independent internship will be expected to fulfill the following requirements (these requirements are flexible and negotiated between the student and the supervising faculty member).

• 1. Work requirement at internship:
• a.) Summer Internship: 
•  Work 30 hours/week for 6 weeks or 
•  Work 15 hours/week for 12 weeks. 
•   b.) Semester Long Internship (Spring or Fall):
•  Work 8-10 hours/week for an entire semester.
• 2. Keep and submit a journal. Each time you go into your internship, you should enter the time and day worked, what you did, what you learned, did not learn, your thoughts, etc.  This will be submitted to and graded by the Internship Coordinator on a mutually agreed upon time (typically submitted every week.)
• 3. Work with your supervising faculty member (mediated by the internship coordinator). The supervising faculty member will assign approximately three books for you to read. 
• 4. Complete summaries of the books you read. 
• 5. Complete a 10-page research paper, which combines your internship experiences with the required readings. The research paper topic is negotiated between the student and supervising faculty member. 

C. Groups Involved in an Independent Internship: Four different people/groups are essential to an independent internship: the student, the internship coordinator, the faculty member and an internship site.  The role of each group will be explained here. 

• The Student: The primary role of the student is to initiate the internship and complete the requirements asked of them.  Students should follow the below guidelines in order to begin the process of setting up an independent internship. 
•   1. Contact Internship Coordinator- Room 440- to set up an initial meeting.
•   2. The student should bring the following items to the first meeting (approximately 1 –2 pages)
• Resume
• Statement of intent that includes the following information (approximately 1 page).
• Previous political science courses taken.
• Future goals.
• Why/how an internship will enhance your academic experience.
• What type of internship you would prefer, and what body of literature (subject) you would like to study.
• A list of 2-3 professors that you would like to work with (faculty members will supervise the academic component of your internship).
• Potential placement sites.
• 3. Complete the “ College of Liberal Arts Internship Learning Plan” AND the “Course Appraisal Form for Internship Courses” WITH the sponsoring faculty member.  The student must also READ, and if acceptable, sign the “Student Waiver” form (available from the Internship Coordinator).
• 4. Once the internship is approved, it is the student's responsibility to obtain the necessary forms to register for the course.  The student should contact the internship coordinator to get information about the registration forms. 
• 5. Fully complete the requirements of the course (ie: work hours, readings, etc.)

• Internship Coordinator (Room 440 Gladfelter Hall): The internship coordinator is responsible to complete the following duties
• 1. Meet with students to determine an appropriate internship site and a body of literature the student would like to focus on.
• 2. Make initial contact with both potential placement sites and supervising professors to discuss the feasibility of an independent internship
• 3. If the internship is feasible, the internship coordinator should contact the student and arrange an initial meeting between the coordinator, student and supervising faculty member.
•  4. Complete required documents including:
•  “Placement Site Agreement.”
•  Institutional Review Board waiver (if necessary).
• 5. Ensure all other documents are completed by the student and/or faculty member, including, the “Mid-semester Feedback” report and the “Final Evaluation” report.
• 6. Grade each weekly journal and any other assignment determined between the coordinator and the supervising faculty member.
• Faculty Member: The faculty member is an integral part of the internship- responsibilities include:
• 1. Completing the “ College of Liberal Arts Internship Learning Plan” AND the “Course Appraisal Form for Internship Courses” WITH the student (form is available from the internship coordinator) and submitting it to the internship coordinator
• 2. Working with the student to set up appropriate reading, workload and grading guidelines (general requirements listed above should be consulted).
• 3. Grading academic work (some may be graded by the internship coordinator).
• 4. Meeting with the student to discuss readings/internship.

•  Placement Site:  The placement site provides a unique opportunity for Temple interns.  The responsibilities of the placement site are:
•   1. Meet/interview potential interns.
•   2. Offer the student(s) “as many and varied opportunities for learning that will enhance the intern’s educational process.”
•   3. Provide students 8-10 hours of work a week.
•   4. Complete the following forms (provided by Internship Coordinator)
•  “Placement Site Agreement” 
•  “Intern Acceptance Form”
•  “Work Plan” (with the student)
•  “Mid-Semester Feedback Report”
•  “Final Evaluation”

D. Process: If a student is interested in pursuing an independent internship, the following guidelines should be followed in order to expedite the process.  Please be aware that it may take a couple of months to complete the entire process- so foresight is essential. 

• At least two months prior to the desired starting date of the internship (the beginning of the internship should be in tandem with the beginning of an academic semester)
• Student contacts internship coordinator- follow above guidelines.
• Internship coordinator contacts potential placement site and supervising faculty member.
• Internship coordinator determines feasibility of the internship and if viable contacts all the participants to set up an initial meeting.
• Internship coordinator sends out the following documents.
• “Placement Site Agreement” (to the placement site).
• “Intern Acceptance Form” (to the placement site).
• “ College of Liberal Arts Internship Learning Plan” AND the “Course Appraisal Form for Internship Courses” (to faculty member).
• Faculty member, student and internship coordinator meet to complete the “ College of Liberal Arts Internship Learning Plan” AND the “Course Appraisal Form for Internship Courses” 
• Student registers for PS 371, 372 or 373.  The student must contact the internship coordinator to receive the necessary registration forms.

•  Before the internship begins
• “Student Waiver” MUST be signed by the student (obtained from internship coordinator).
• The student should obtain the following documents from the internship coordinator and submit them to the supervising faculty member AND internship coordinator within the first two weeks of the internship.
• “Internship Goals and Objectives”
• “Work Plan”

• During the Internship:
• The student and faculty member should fulfill their duties that were determined before the internship began (meetings, assignments, etc.) 
• The internship coordinator must send out the following forms to the placement site
• “Mid-semester Report”
• “Final Evaluation Report”
• The Student must complete the following form
• Mid-semester Report for Interns