An important note...
Students selected as interns enter into their positions as representatives of Portland State University and of the Politics and Global Affairs Department. It is very important to us that the students selected to participate reflect favorably on the department so that future students can continue to have the same opportunity. Internships are not only beneficial to students, but to the sponsoring organization as well. If a student proves incapable of performing his/her/their job at a certain level of competence and in a professional manner, it could lead to a situation in which the sponsoring organization refuses to accept future interns from the Political Science Department. For these reasons, the department has instituted some restrictions on who is eligible to enter the internship program. This section explains the department’s policies on eligibility and course credit.
Prescreening process
The Political Science Internship Program is open to students in all departments and majors across the university, however, participating students must complete one of the following Political Science courses: PS 101, PS 102, PS 103, PS 200, or PS 204. For Political Science graduate students, you'll need a referral from your faculty advisor. On occasion, the Internship Coordinator or the supervising faculty member may require additional class work. Sponsoring organizations may have other requirements as well. Intern applicants need to demonstrate their ability to benefit from the program.
Before accepting an internship, students must obtain permission from either the Internship Coordinator or a regular faculty member of Political Science. Students who do not obtain pre-approval may face renunciation of course credits.
Course Credits
Students may earn up to 12 units of credit in PS 404 from their internship. Of these 12 units, no more than eight may be for graded credit and four for P/NP credit. The total number of graded credits allowed is determined by the amount of time a student works in the internship. The department policy is that a student must put in 20 hours of work per week for 10 weeks to receive the full 12 credits. If a student works fewer hours, the number of credits reduces accordingly. In general, most students are required to write an academic paper related to their internship in order to receive graded credit. In some cases, additional academic work may be required.
For students who are pursuing the standard major in Political Science, the graded credits may fulfill upper division elective requirements. For students who are pursuing the Public Service track in Political Science, the graded credits can fulfill the internship requirement. P/NP credits do not fulfill major requirements, though they count as upper division Social Science credit. Non-majors should check with their department to find out how the credits are treated.
For graduate students, consult with your faculty advisor or the Internship Coordinator to find out how the PS 504 internship credits apply to your graduate program.
Acceptable Internships
Students may obtain course credit only for work that is relevant to political science. Among other implications, this means that students must perform a meaningful task for the sponsoring organization. Typically, students perform some type of project, research, or administrative task that relates to the political science curriculum. Clerical and secretarial positions are examples of unacceptable work. The Politics and Global Affairs department retains the right to determine the suitability of internship positions for course credit. Most sponsoring organizations do not pay interns, but a few do. The department’s policies are the same for all students, regardless if they receive pay or not.
The 3 different ways to find an internship
Through the Department
If you are interested in becoming an intern but have no idea how to find one, you should talk to Professor Richard Clucas. The department maintains a list of potential positions for which students can apply. While students have served in these positions before, there is no guarantee that your application will be accepted. The decision to take on an intern is solely the prerogative of the sponsoring organization. However, the coordinator will try to help all interested students in placement with an appropriate position.
On Your Own
Students who are interested in pursuing an internship in an organization or office with which they are familiar, are welcome to do so. One of the key points of the internship is to get students into positions that are appropriate for their particular needs or interests. Unfortunately, the department’s list of internships is limited, which means that many students will want to pursue positions on their own. There are countless types of positions available to students who are willing to put in a little effort to find them. The Internship Coordinator can provide suggestions on where to pursue specific types of positions that are not available through the department.
Other Sources
The PSU Career Center maintains a list of internships available locally and around the world. This list is updated weekly. The State of Oregon and the City of Portland maintain their own list of internships on their own websites. Other sources for internship information include government personnel offices and non-profit organizations.
Examples of Past Placements
PSU Political Science students have worked as interns in a variety of organizations and positions. Here is a partial listing of some organizations and offices that have accepted interns from the department within the past few years:
- Members of the Oregon Congressional Delegation
- Oregon House of Representatives
- Oregon Senate
- Governor’s Office
- Portland Mayor’s Office
- Members of the Portland City Council
- National Coalition for the Homeless
- AFL-CIO summer intern program
- Campaigns for candidates at all levels of government
- The Veterans Administration
- Oregon Assembly for Black Affairs
- U.S. Humane Society
- Multnomah County Commission on Children, Families, and Community
- Portland Development Commission
- Oregon Latino Health Coalition
- Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon
- Planned Parenthood
- NARAL
- Scottish Parliament
- State Department Mission at the United Nations
Legislative Intern Program
One of the most popular placements for PSU students has been in the State Legislative Intern Program. The Legislative Intern Program was created in 1976 to provide Oregon college students with an opportunity to work within the state legislature, learning leadership responsibilities as well as developing familiarity with the legislative process. Since the Oregon legislature has fewer professional staff members than many states, the student interns can play an important role in a variety of activities related to the legislative process. As a result, this program can be a very valuable and exciting experience. Some of the positions open to students include Legislative Office Assistant, Legislative Committee Assistant, Legislative Counsel Assistant, Information Systems Computer Assistant, and Media Production Assistant. The recommended prerequisite for the Legislative Intern Program is PS 312: Legislative Process, or PS 431: State and Local Politics. Contact Professor Richard Clucas for more information.
Selecting an Instructor
In order to receive university credit, students must identify a faculty member as the instructor of their PS 404 or PS 504 course. In most cases, the Internship Coordinator serves as the instructor. In other cases, however, the student may wish to work with a faculty member who has particular expertise related to the internship. In either case, the faculty acts as a guide in teaching the students about the significance of their internship from an academic perspective. This person will direct the students toward the literature that is appropriate for their specific placement. In addition, they oversee the students' formal course requirements and determines their final grade.
In selecting a faculty member other than the Internship Coordinator, students should consider two factors. First, students should look for a faculty member who specializes in an area related to their internships. Second, students should also consider finding an instructor with whom they feel comfortable. This second factor is important to keep in mind because the type of instruction that takes place in an internship can be more intimate than the traditional classroom method.
While students are free to ask any faculty member they wish to oversee their internships, it is up to the individual faculty member to decide if he or she wants to accept the students’ requests.
Role of Supervisor
The Job Supervisor is a member of the sponsoring organization who is responsible for supervising an intern's work. They provide the intern with day-to-day direction on the task that the intern must perform for the organization, and evaluates the intern's work.
At the beginning of the semester, the Job Supervisor must complete an Internship Agreement that describes the nature of work to be completed by the student. As described above, only work that has some relationship to political science is acceptable for the internship. At the end of the semester, the Supervisor must complete a second form, evaluating the student's work for the organization.
Appropriate Behavior
Students must conduct themselves in a professional manner in their internship. This means that they arrive at their work when scheduled, they dress appropriately, they follow directions, and they interact with others in a positive manner. Moreover, students must abide at all times by the ethical standards of the university and the sponsoring organization. Students who conduct themselves in an unprofessional or unethical manner face a failing grade and/or appropriate disciplinary action.
Grading Policies
The faculty member who oversees a student’s internship determines the student’s final grade. Grades are contingent on the student’s performance in the internship and on the assignments made by the supervising instructor. While the job supervisor provides an evaluation of the student’s work, they do not determine the student’s final grade. Students must take responsibility for ensuring expectations are clear.