INTERNSHIPS IN POLITICAL
SCIENCE
OVERVIEW OF INTERNSHIPS
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM I: SACRAMENTO
SEMESTER
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM II: CAL STATE DC
DR. RICH HAESLY, INTERNSHIP DIRECTOR,
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
OVERVIEW OF INTERNSHIPS
IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
POLITICAL SCIENCE, CSULB
•
3 Ways to Fulfill Practicum Requirement for POSC majors:
1) Internships (POSC 447/448/498) and Judicial Apprenticeship (POSC 418)
2) Moot Court (POSC 417) or Model UN (POSC 378)
3) Service Learning: Women in Political Theory (POSC 401) and
Comparative Political Movements (POSC 450)
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Not required for Minors, but Minors May Enroll in Any Practicum
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Up to 6 units of Internship toward POSC; up to 9 units for degree
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Internship courses are run as Independent Study
1) 120 hours of interning, verified by internship supervisor
2) Written Internship Journal
3) 12-15 Page Internship Analysis Paper
TIPS ON FINDING AN
INTERNSHIP
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Department Website has Useful Information about Internships:
http://www.csulb.edu/colleges/cla/departments/polisci/poscinternships/political-science-internships-at-csulb/
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Other Resources
Career Development Center (250 Brotman Hall) http://careers.csulb.edu/
Clearinghouse for internships advertised on campus
Workshops, Resume Tips, Interview Advice, etc.
Internship Essay Writing Contest
Idealist (Non-Profit Organizations): http://www.idealist.org/
APSA (American Political Science Association): http://apsanet.org/
•
Start Search Early. Find an internship that you want, not one you are
forced to do!
•
Contact Internship Director (Dr. Rich Haesly) before accepting an
internship to make sure it will work for our department requirements.
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM I:
SACRAMENTO SEMESTER
SACRAMENTO
SEMESTER: OVERVIEW
• Run by Dept. of Political Science at CSU, Sacramento
• Started in 1976
• Excellent Placement Opportunities: Legislative, Executive,
Judiciary, Media, Pressure Groups
• 30 interns/Spring Semester
• Last year, 10 of the 30 Participants Received Job Offers
• Exciting Time to be in Sacramento
• CA is Governable again: “California Sees Gridlock Ease in
Governing” New York Times (10/20/13):
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/19/us/california-upends-its-image-of-legislativedysfunction.html?_r=0
• 43 new members of the State Assembly and State Senate
SACRAMENTO
SEMESTER: BASICS
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Open to all students at any CSU campus. Open to all majors.
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Spring semester only
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Juniors, Seniors and Graduate Students (when enrolled in
program)
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3.0 GPA (or greater) preferred
•
12 unit course of study (can enroll in more courses at CSUS for
more units if you want)
•
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6 units internship (CR/NC): 25 hours/week
6 units of graded coursework: Count as Upper-Division, Law,
Politics and Policy Courses
SACRAMENTO
SEMESTER: COST OF
PROGRAM
• Enroll as a Visiting Student at CSU, Sacramento
• Fees are about the same as a full-time student at CSULB
• Student Aid (grants and loans) typically transferable
• Cost of living in Sacramento is lower than in Southern California
• 10 $4,000 Scholarships Are Available
• Competitive, but financial need is primary
• CSULB has a great track record winning full- and partialscholarhishps
SACRAMENTO
SEMESTER:
APPLICATION PROCESS
• Applications are due the first week of November (This year:
November 1, 2014)
• Two-page Application Form
• One-page Scholarship Form
• Waiver to Release Financial Aid Information to CSUS
• Writing Sample
• Application is Used to Find Internship Placement that Fits Your
Needs
• Campus Representative (Dr. Haesly) Writes a Letter of
Recommendation
• No other letters of recommendation are needed
• Worth coming to see me (review your application and to get to know
you better so I can write strong letter)
• Decisions: Acceptance (Early December); Scholarships (MidDecember)
SACRAMENTO
SEMESTER: FINDING OUT
MORE
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From Sacramento Semester
•
•
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Dr. Michael Wadlé, Director Sacramento Semester:
wadlem@csus.edu (916) 278-4012
http://www.csus.edu/GOVT/Department%20Programs/Sacrament
o%20Semester.html
At CSULB
•
Dr. Rich Haesly, Internship Advisor and Internship Director:
rich.haesly@csulb.edu (562) 985-4700
•
Email me with questions or to set up a meeting (for more
information, review your application, etc.)
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
II: CAL STATE DC
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
http://youtu.be/hml1-65P4og
Cal State DC Student Testimonials
CAL STATE DC:
OVERVIEW
•
Run by CSU, Fullerton
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Started in 2006
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Spring and Summer Programs (May add Fall semester soon)
•
Similar types of Placements as Sacramento Semester
(Legislative, Executive, Interest Groups, Media, Political
Parties)
•
You are interning in the nation’s capital!
•
Important Difference: For Cal State DC, you are responsible
(with their help) for finding your internship
•
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If you apply (resume, cover letter) for at least 5 internships,
you will be guaranteed an internship.
Semester prior to entering Cal State DC, you must attend a
handful of mandatory meetings at CSUF
CAL STATE DC:
BASICS
•
Open to select CSU campuses (CSULB were invited this year)
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Open to all majors. Juniors, Seniors and Graduate Students
•
3.0 GPA (or Better) Preferred
•
Spring Semester: 12-15 units
•
•
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6 units of internship
6-9 units of other courses (Taught by CSU faculty), not simply
POSC courses (e.g., Comm Studies, Creative Writing): Varies by
semester.
Summer Session: 6-9 units
•
•
6 units of internship
3 units of applied course (topics vary by session)
CAL STATE DC: COST
OF PROGRAM
•
CSUF Visitor (Spring); CSUF Extension (Summer)
•
Fees similar to CSULB
•
•
Remember, Summer courses are more expensive/unit (both at
CSULB and CSUF)
Financial Aid (Grants and Scholarships) Generally Transferable
•
Housing
•
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Excellent, Furnished Corporate Apartments near Union Station:
$4,000 (Spring), $3,000 (Summer)
• Can live with family or friends, or find own accommodations
Airfare to DC (approximately $400-$500)
•
Some Scholarship Are Available. Contact program for details.
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Fundraising Encouraged
CAL STATE DC:
APPLICATION PROCESS
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More extensive than Sacramento Semester
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Application
•
•
•
•
GPA, major, etc.
Extracurricular activities, relevant skills, previous internship
experience
• Essay: What personal qualities and skills would you bring to an
internship in Washington, DC? How does participation in such a
program into your academic and career goals?
• One letter of recommendation
• Sample resume and cover letter that you would send out to apply
for internships
Scholarship Application
Due Date: Rolling Admissions; Scholarship Consideration:
October 7 for Spring 2014 Program
CAL STATE DC:
FINDING OUT MORE
• From Cal State DC
• http://dcinterns.fullerton.edu/index.asp
• Dr. Sarah Hill (Director, Assistant Professor of Political
Science, CSUF, (657) 278-2504, shill@fullerton.edu
• At CSULB
•
Dr. Rich Haesly, Internship Advisor and Internship Director:
rich.haesly@csulb.edu (562) 985-4700
•
Email me with questions or to set up a meeting (for more
information, review your application, etc.)