POLS 4490/POLS 4491- Internship/Practicum

COURSE REQUIREMENT: Access to communication between the instructor and students
will require use of CSU email: The instructor will only respond to CSU email messages from students.
Go to: http://thehub.clayton.edu and click "Service" for information on configuring your laptop computer
to comply with CSU IT requirements. You MUST have your laptop computer configured to access
CSU email. You will need to take your laptop computer to The HUB, located on the ground level of the University
Center. You should have your computer configured and set up for CSU email BEFORE classes begin, or as soon
as possible there after. The HUB is located in the University Center, or contact the HUB at 678-466-4357.    

This syllabus will be updated each semester the course is offered.

Prof. J. S. Trachtenberg
Clayton State University
Three/Six Semester Credit Hours
Fall Semester 2009 & Spring Semester 2010

NOTE: This course uses GeorgiaView, accessible through the CSU Swan,
to view the course syllabus, scores and grades.

Political Science Internship Daily Journal Format
(Cut and Paste to you laptop.)
Add new daily entries and email entire document to Dr. Trachtenberg as an email attachment every Friday.

POLS 4490/POLS 4491 Class Meeting Dates

Internship Student Presentations:

Wednesday, December 2nd, Noon to 1:50 p.m.
Clayton Hall, Room 105A

Daily Journal Due Date:
(Each Friday during the internship email the instructor your journal as an attachment for a review of your progress.) 

Internship Student Presentations:

Wednesday, April 28th, Noon to 1:50 p.m.
Clayton Hall, Room 105A

Daily Journal Due Date:
(Each Friday during the internship email the instructor your journal as an attachment for a review of your progress.) 

It is your responsibility to find an appropriate internship before the semester begins. Please contact the instructor to discuss your ideas for one or contact Bridgette McDonald in CSU Career Services to make an appointment to discuss possible internship opportunities. Your internship MUST be approved by the instructor.

2008 Elections Information

Course Description:

POLS 4490 - Internship/Practicum (3-0-3) The Internship/Practicum will constitute an independent (individual or small group) political science project applying social sciences methodology, research and analysis to actual political environments. The student will prepare and submit a significant political science paper and or project. Requires the approval of the Political Science program coordinator, the Office of Experiential Learning and the Social Sciences Department Head.

POLS 4491 - Internship/Practicum in Political Science (6-0-6) The Internship/Practicum will constitute an independent (individual or small group) political science project applying social sciences methodology, research and analysis to actual political environments. The student will prepare and submit a significant political science paper and or project. Requires the approval of the Office of Experiential Learning and the Social Sciences Department Head. NOTE: This course is available primarily to students doing government internships.

Civic Engagement:
Civic Engagement at Clayton State University is defined as an intentional learning experience that contributes to a student’s understanding of social and civic responsibility, community leadership, and service to a diverse, democratic society. Civic Engagement outcomes are located at the Political Science Program website: http://a-s.clayton.edu/politicalscience/default.htm

Disruption of the Learning Environment:

Behavior which disrupts the teaching–learning process during class activities will not tolerated.  This includes belligerent, abusive, profane, and/or threatening behavior.  A student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding classroom behavior and/or behavior while participating in classroom activities may be dismissed from class.  A student who is dismissed is entitled to due process and will be afforded such rights as soon as possible following dismissal.  If found in violation, a student may be administratively withdrawn and may receive a grade of WF.

http://a-s.clayton.edu/DisruptiveClassroomBehavior.htm

Click on this link  to read the Clayton State University
Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities Statement.

The instructor and students will treat each other with the proper respect at all times.

Children are NOT permitted in any CSU classroom under any circumstances,
nor may they be left unattended anywhere on the campus.

PLEASE - THERE WILL BE NO USE OF CELL PHONES IN THE CLASSROOM - TURN YOUR PHONE TO "VIBRATE" OR OFF.

IF YOU COME INTO CLASS LATE, TAKE THE FIRST AVAILABLE SEAT AS YOU ENTER THE ROOM.

THERE WILL BE NO TALKING AMONG STUDENTS THAT DISTURBS THE INSTRUCTOR OR THE CLASS.

CHEATING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, AND WILL BE DEALT WITH IN KEEPING WITH THE CSU CONDUCT CODE
 

CHEATING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, AND WILL BE DEALT WITH IN KEEPING WITH THE CSU STUDENT HANDBOOK.

CSU Conduct Code and Judicial Procedures.

Do NOT take this class unless you have access to a laptop computer which is
CSU configured and which you will be able to bring to campus. 

Political Science Program website: http://a-s.clayton.edu/politicalscience/

One of the program requirements in the Political Science. major program is an Internship, which will be fulfilled by your participation in the Georgia Legislative Intern Program or the Governor's Intern Program. If you are a junior or a senior, that is, you have completed the Core Curriculum of Areas A-F, and you are in good academic standing, you are eligible to apply for a 2009 legislative or governor's internship. Information is available at the link below. Please discuss your internship plans with me; I will assist you in selecting and applying for an internship. Please do not contact internship programs.. 

Link to Political Science Internship webpage:

   http://a-s.clayton.edu/trachtenberg/political_science_internships.htm

To earn POLS 4490/4491 a passing letter grade as a participant in the Legislative Internship or Governor's Intern Program you will be expected to keep a daily journal/diary of your activities and observations, participate in four on-campus sessions with the instructor and present a Power Point report on your experience as an intern in class during the last four weeks of the semester. Your course grade will be based primarily on the quality of the journal, the Power Point internship report presented in class, and the evaluation provided by your internship supervisor. More details will be provided by the instructor.

Prerequisites: (1) Interns must have successfully completed POLS 1101; (2) Interns must have completed the CSU Core Curriculum and have attained Junior standing and approval of the POLS 4490/4491 instructor; (3) Interns must have attended CSU for one semester previous to the internship; and (4) Interns must have a CSU Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better.

Attendance: Attendance will be taken each class session.  

CSU Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend and participate in every class meeting. Instructors establish specific policies relating to absences in their courses and communicate these policies to the students through the course syllabi. Individual instructors, based upon the nature of the course, determine what effect excused and unexcused absences have in determining grades and upon students' ability to remain enrolled in their courses. The university reserves the right to determine that excessive absences, whether justified or not are sufficient cause for institutional withdrawals or failing grades.

Course Computer Usage:  Students will be required to use a CSU configured notebook computer for their internship Power Point presentation. Students also will be making almost daily use of the Internet to access the course website and make Daily Internship Journal entries. Be sure your laptop computer is CSU configured and that you have an active CSU email address, as we will communicate on a regular basis using individual email and the course email list serve.  

Required Computer Skills:

• Able to use the Windows operating system
• Able to use Microsoft Word word processing
• Able to send and receive CSU e-mail using Outlook or Outlook Express
• Able to attach and retrieve attached files via email
• Able to use a Web browser.

The Fall Semester 2009 deadline to withdraw from a Full Session course without possible academic accountability is Friday, October 9th.

The Spring Semester 2010 deadline to withdraw from a Full Session course without possible academic accountability is Friday, March 5th.

Disabilities: Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center 255, 678-466-5445, disabilityservices@mail.clayton.edu.

Regents Testing: The University System of Georgia requires that each student receiving a degree must have successfully demonstrated competence in reading comprehension and writing by passing two courses:  Regents Writing Skills RGTE 0199 and Regents’ Reading Skills RGTE 0198.  Students satisfy these course requirements through examination.  The University System of Georgia Regents Tests are administered each semester by the CSU Testing Center. Testing dates and registration procedures are listed each semester in the Class Schedule on the DUCK. Please contact your academic advisory or the Testing Center for more information. 

Political Science Degree Program Outcomes and Assessments:

  Outcomes: Graduating political science majors should

 

·       Apply concepts related to the structures and principles of the U.S. Constitution to historical and current politics.

 

·       Explain and criticize U.S. political institutions and processes.

 

·       Define and distinguish how aspects of the Georgia Constitution and government differ from the U.S. Constitution and government.

 

·       Assess and compare how other national political systems and   international political organizations differ from the U.S. political system and recognize the importance of political geography.

 

·       Research and compose a project report in a subfield of political science.

 

·       Successfully complete a political science related internship.

   

Assessments:

 

·       POLS 1101 pre and post assessment surveys & geography tests

 

·       POLS 4490/POLS 4491 Internship/Practicum Site Supervisor   Evaluation

 

·       POLS 4500 Senior Seminar research paper

 

·       POLS 4500 Senior Political Science Program Exit Survey

 

·       ETS Political Science Field Test taken by graduating seniors

Course Expectations:
1. Attend all on-campus course meetings (Twenty (20) points will be deducted for each unexcused absence.);
2. Comprehensive Internship Daily Journal;
3. Effective classroom internship Power Point presentation;
4. Positive internship site supervisor evaluation; 
5. Passing grade in the course. 

Class Attendance: The class will meet two times on campus for orientation and group discussions, and, during the last four weeks of the semester for Power Point presentations. ALL students are expected to attend each of these class meetings. Any student not attending without an excused absence provided by the instructor will have 20 points deducted from their total points for the course.

Internship Daily Journal: (250 possible points) Using the Word formatted POLS 4490/4491 Political Science Internship Daily Journal form. Each student will compose a detailed journal entry of their daily internship assigned activities and observations. Each Friday during the internship each student will email the instructor their journal as an attachment for a review of their progress. The submitted journal will contain a daily entry for each date of that week they have served as an intern. 

Internship Power Point Presentation: (100 possible points) Each student will prepare and present in class a Power Point illustrated report on their internship goals, accomplishments and impressions.  

CSU Internship Site Supervisor Evaluation: (150 possible points) At the conclusion of an internship, the intern's site supervisor will provide Career Services with a detailed evaluation of the intern's performance.

Grading: Course grades will be determined on the basis of a straight 500 point scale, with total points earned (NOT a percentage of points earned) on all three exams determining your course grade. For example, if you loose more than 45 points, you will be in the B range, or if you loose more than 90 points, you will be in the C range, etc. At the end of the class if you are within 3 points of a higher letter grade I will assign you that higher grade for the course.

Midterm Grades: A course midterm grade will be posted on the DUCK by midterm each semester. The midterm grade will only reflect work completed to the middle of the semester. More than half of the scored work in this course is completed after the midterm date. If you have questions please contact the instructor.

NOTE: Exam scores and course grades will be e mailed to all students using the class list serve.

A = 500 - 456 (45 point range)

B = 455 - 411 (45 point range)

C = 410 - 366 (45 point range)

D = 365 - 321 (45 point range)

F = 320 or fewer total points

Required Textbook: No textbook is required for this course.

NOTE: This syllabus is subject to revision where necessary to achieve course goals. If you have any questions regarding assignments, class sessions, tests or grading please speak with me, or Dr. Rafik Mohamed, Chair, Department of Social Sciences, Clayton Hall, Room 111, 678-466-4605.

Important Course Information

Dr. Joseph S. Trachtenberg,
Political Science Program Coordinator,
Professor of Political Science

POLS 4490/4491 Internship/Practicum

Office Telephone (voice mail): (678) 466-4810

joetrachtenberg@clayton.edu
(Private email intended only for the instructor.)

I prefer email to voice mail as you may provide me with a more detailed message;
I check my email regularly Monday through Friday.

Generally, I will respond to your message within 24 hours.

COURSE LIST SERVE ADDRESS:

Fall Semester 2009

pols4490-01fall09@lists.clayton.edu

POLS 4490: CRN 87393

pols4491-01fall09@lists.clayton.edu

POLS 4491: CRN 87394

(List serve addresses are activated the first day of each semester.)

Spring Semester 2010

pols4490-01spring2010@lists.clayton.edu

POLS 4490: CRN 23994

pols4491-01spring10@lists.clayton.edu

POLS 4491: CRN 23995

(List serve addresses are activated the first day of each semester.)

Class Meeting Room
POLS 4490 will meet in my office: Clayton Hall, Room 105A
 

OFFICE HOURS

Office: Clayton Hall, Room 105A

Fall Semester 2009

MTWR:11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.;
Online course meeting dates: Sat: 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. and following class; 
By prior appointment at other mutually convenient times.

Spring Semester 2010

M: 11:00 to Noon; TWR:11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.;
Online course meeting dates: Sat: 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. and following class; 
By prior appointment at other mutually convenient times.

For campus closing information due to weather or an electrical outage - tune to WSB AM 750.

Internship Student Presentations:

Wednesday, December 2nd, Noon to 1:50 p.m.
Clayton Hall, Room 105A

Daily Journal Due Date:
(Each Friday during the internship email the instructor your journal as an attachment for a review of your progress.) 

Internship Student Presentations:

Wednesday, April 28th, Noon to 1:50 p.m.
Clayton Hall, Room 105A

Daily Journal Due Date:
(Each Friday during the internship email the instructor your journal as an attachment for a review of your progress.)