ERIC Number: EJ1459109
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1551-2169
EISSN: EISSN-1551-2177
A Roadmap for Establishing a Successful Internship Program in State Capitals and Beyond
Marty P. Jordan; Charles S. Matzke
Journal of Political Science Education, v21 n1 p84-104 2025
Public service internships are an established pedagogical tool in political science. Decades of scholarship on teaching and learning highlight how hands-on practicums can enhance students' substantive learning, professional development, civic values, and multicultural tolerance. Despite the proliferation of research on the student benefits of internships, faculty have received much less information on structuring and administering a successful internship program. We profile a public service internship program we have coordinated for over a decade on behalf of a public university in a state capital. We provide a roadmap for others looking to inaugurate or fortify their internship offerings in their state capital or local epicenter of government. We share our program's goals, student composition, academic curricula, sample syllabi and assignments, and other pragmatic considerations. Alumni survey results underscore how the program fosters innumerable expressive and instrumental benefits to students' civic values and professional preparation. By sharing this template, we aim to facilitate the implementation of impactful internship programs in state capitals and beyond, promoting experiential learning and place-based pedagogy in political science education.
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, Political Science, Civics, Public Service, Government School Relationship, Internship Programs, Experiential Learning, State Government, Professional Development, Cultural Awareness, Public Colleges, Program Design, Program Guides
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A