ERIC Number: EJ1410844
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1551-2169
EISSN: EISSN-1551-2177
Internships for Credit: Linking Work Experience to Political Science Learning Objectives
Kevin Edward Lucas
Journal of Political Science Education, v20 n1 p90-100 2024
Responding to student concerns about the market value of an undergraduate degree in Political Science, many departments offer students the opportunity to earn credits toward their degree by completing relevant internships. This raises two important questions: what sort of internship experiences should qualify as a Political Science internship and how can faculty ensure that internships contribute to students' professional and academic development? I contend that the criteria for granting Political Science credits for an internship experience should emphasize the likelihood that the internship experience will help the student achieve some of the specific learning objectives that Political Science departments typically set forth for their students rather than focusing on the nature of the organization where they complete their internship. I also argue that designing complementary academic assignments that require students to utilize the research, analytic, and communication skills we expect our students to develop during their undergraduate career is the best way we can ensure that a Political Science internship not only enhances our students' marketability but also contributes to students' achievement of discipline-specific learning objectives.
Descriptors: Internship Programs, College Credits, Outcomes of Education, Employment Potential, Undergraduate Students, Student Attitudes, Political Science, Behavioral Objectives, Experiential Learning, Work Experience, Course Content, Cost Effectiveness
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A