James Henson

Prerequisites

GOV 310L & 312; six additional hours of Government coursework completed by Spring 2013, and consent of the instructor via application process.  Applications available at

Course Description 

The Government Department internship program provides students an opportunity to combine work experience in government and politics with intellectual reflection on their experience.  Making the most of the course requires interns to work as diligent part-time employees in their positions while reflecting thoughtfully and analytically on their experience in the organizations in which they work.

The academic objectives of the internship course are:

1. To provide students with first-hand experience working in government and politics;
2. To incorporate this experience into the contexts of their intellectual education at the university and of public expectations of politics and government;
3. To use interns’ experiences to think about the dynamics of politics and government as features of contemporary society; and
4. To use interns’ experience to think about the practice of politics as a profession.

Most of students’ time and energy will be directed toward performing the duties of their internships in a manner that reflects positively on them and on The University of Texas at Austin.  A solid performance as an intern provides a rich learning experience, the possibility of future intellectual and professional opportunities, and also reflects well on the program, paving the way for future students to have the same opportunities current interns enjoy.

However, interns should be clear about the nature of this course.  Students are not receiving credit from the Government Department primarily for fulfilling their internships.  Students receive grades and credit for completing the internships in conjunction with guided course work.  Supervisor evaluations are taken into account in assigning grades, but the primary consideration in assigning grades is the quality of academic work completed for the course.  

Grading Policy

Writing assignment #1

20%

Writing assignment #2

20%

Writing assignment #3

25%

Mid term supervisor evaluation

10%

Final supervisor evaluation

15%

Exit interview

10%

Grade scale:

A  94-100

A- 90-93

B+ 87-89

B  84-86

B- 80-83

C+ 77-79

C  74-76

C- 70-73

D+ 67-69

D  64-66

D- 60-63

F  59 and below

Students must complete all of the assignments in order to receive a passing grade for the course.  Sign up sheets from events and meetings will be considered in borderline cases.

*Texts

Max Weber, “Politics as a Vocation” (http://www2.selu.edu/Academics/Faculty/jbell/weber.pdf), or in print in H.H. Gerth and C. Wright Mills (Translated and edited), From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology, pp. 77-128, New York: Oxford University Press.) 

Karen Olsson, Waterloo.  New York:  Picador, 2006.  (Available in paperback and is discounted at Amazon.com.  If you order ahead from one of their associated vendors, you can get a real deal on a used copy. There are also usually copies in used bookstores around Austin.)

Prerequisites: 

GOV 310L & 312; six additional hours of Government coursework completed by Spring 2013, and consent of the instructor via application process.  Applications available at

Course Description

The Government Department internship program provides students an opportunity to combine work experience in government and politics with intellectual reflection on their experience.  Making the most of the course requires interns to work as diligent part-time employees in their positions while reflecting thoughtfully and analytically on their experience in the organizations in which they work.

The academic objectives of the internship course are:

1. To provide students with first-hand experience working in government and politics;
2. To incorporate this experience into the contexts of their intellectual education at the university and of public expectations of politics and government;
3. To use interns’ experiences to think about the dynamics of politics and government as features of contemporary society; and
4. To use interns’ experience to think about the practice of politics as a profession.

Most of students’ time and energy will be directed toward performing the duties of their internships in a manner that reflects positively on them and on The University of Texas at Austin.  A solid performance as an intern provides a rich learning experience, the possibility of future intellectual and professional opportunities, and also reflects well on the program, paving the way for future students to have the same opportunities current interns enjoy.

However, interns should be clear about the nature of this course.  Students are not receiving credit from the Government Department primarily for fulfilling their internships.  Students receive grades and credit for completing the internships in conjunction with guided course work.  Supervisor evaluations are taken into account in assigning grades, but the primary consideration in assigning grades is the quality of academic work completed for the course. 

Grading Policy

Writing assignment #1

20%

Writing assignment #2

20%

Writing assignment #3

25%

Mid term supervisor evaluation

10%

Final supervisor evaluation

15%

Exit interview

10%

Grade scale:

A  94-100

A- 90-93

B+ 87-89

B  84-86

B- 80-83

C+ 77-79

C  74-76

C- 70-73

D+ 67-69

D  64-66

D- 60-63

F  59 and below

Students must complete all of the assignments in order to receive a passing grade for the course.  Sign up sheets from events and meetings will be considered in borderline cases. 

Texts

Max Weber, “Politics as a Vocation” (http://www2.selu.edu/Academics/Faculty/jbell/weber.pdf), or in print in H.H. Gerth and C. Wright Mills (Translated and edited), From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology, pp. 77-128, New York: Oxford University Press.)

Karen Olsson, Waterloo.  New York:  Picador, 2006.  (Available in paperback and is discounted at Amazon.com.  If you order ahead from one of their associated vendors, you can get a real deal on a used copy. There are also usually copies in used bookstores around Austin.)

Prerequisites

Gov 310 & 312 or equivalent; consent of instructor via application.  Application available at:  http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/government/internship/prospective-interns/applications.php 

Description

The Government Department internship program provides students an opportunity to combine work experience in government and politics with intellectual reflection on their experience.  Making the most of the course requires interns to work as diligent part-time employees in their positions while reflecting thoughtfully and analytically on their experience in the organizations in which they work. 

The academic objectives of the internship course are:

To provide students with first-hand experience working in government and politics;

To incorporate this experience into the contexts of their intellectual education at the university and of public expectations of politics and government;

To use interns’ experiences to think about the dynamics of politics and government as features of contemporary society; and

To use interns’ experience to think about the practice of politics as a profession. Most of students’ time and energy will be directed toward performing the duties of their internships in a manner that reflects positively on them and on The University of Texas at Austin.  A solid performance as an intern provides a rich learning experience, the possibility of future intellectual and professional opportunities, and also reflects well on the program, paving the way for future students to have the same opportunities current interns enjoy.

However, interns should be clear about the nature of this course. Students are not receiving credit from the Government Department primarily for fulfilling their internships.  Students receive grades and credit for completing the internships in conjunction with guided course work.  Supervisor evaluations are taken into account in assigning grades, but the primary consideration in assigning grades is the quality of academic work completed for the course.

Grading Policy

Course Requirements: 

4 mandatory group meetings

3 papers

Work hours:  9-12 hours per week, beginning first day of semester, concluding the last regular day of the semester. 

The minimum total hours worked should 150 hours.  How you track this is up to you and your supervisor/employer, but it should be verifiable if necessary.

Two evaluations by internship supervisor

One video taped exit interview (about 15-30 minutes)

4 Texas Politics Speaker Series attendance (see below, plus times & dates TBA)`

Respond to readings on email list as directed

NOTE:  all requirements must be fulfilled to receive credit for the course.

Grade Calculation:

Writing assignment #1   20%

Writing assignment #2   20%

Writing assignment #3   25%

Mid term supervisor evaluation  10%

Final supervisor evaluation      15%

Exit interview    10%

Grade scale:

A  94-100

A- 90-93

B+ 87-89

B  84-86

B- 80-83

C+ 77-79

C  74-76

C- 70-73

D+ 67-69

D  64-66

D- 60-63

Texts

Max Weber, “Politics as a Vocation” (http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Politics_as_a_Vocation, or in print in H.H. Gerth and C. Wright Mills (Translated and edited), From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology, pp. 77-128, New York: Oxford University Press.) Karen Olsson, Waterloo.  New York:  Picador, 2006.  (Available in paperback and is discounted at Amazon.com.  If you order ahead from one of their associated vendors, you can get a real deal on a used copy. There are also usually copies in used bookstores around Austin.)

The Government Department internship program provides students an opportunity to combine work experience in government and politics with intellectual reflection on their experience.  Making the most of the course requires interns to work as diligent part-time employees in their positions while reflecting thoughtfully and analytically on their experience in the organizations in which they work.

The academic objectives of the internship course are:

To provide students with first-hand experience working in government and politics;

To incorporate this experience into the contexts of their intellectual education at the university and of public expectations of politics and government;

To use interns’ experiences to think about the dynamics of politics and government as features of contemporary society; and

To use interns’ experience to think about the practice of politics as a profession. Most of students’ time and energy will be directed toward performing the duties of their internships in a manner that reflects positively on them and on The University of Texas at Austin.  A solid performance as an intern provides a rich learning experience, the possibility of future intellectual and professional opportunities, and also reflects well on the program, paving the way for future students to have the same opportunities current interns enjoy.

However, interns should be clear about the nature of this course. Students are not receiving credit from the Government Department primarily for fulfilling their internships.  Students receive grades and credit for completing the internships inconjunction with guided course work.  Supervisor evaluations are taken into account in assigning grades, but the primary consideration in assigning grades is the quality of academic work completed for the course.

ON THE WEB   http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/government/internship/home.php

READING MATERIAL

Max Weber, “Politics as a Vocation” (http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Politics_as_a_Vocation, or in print in H.H. Gerth and C. Wright Mills (Translated and edited), From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology, pp. 77-128, New York: Oxford University Press.) Karen Olsson, Waterloo.  New York:  Picador, 2006.  (Available in paperback and is discounted at Amazon.com.  If you order ahead from one of their associated vendors, you can get a real deal on a used copy. There are also usually copies in used bookstores around Austin.)

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

4 mandatory group meetings

3 papers

Work hours:  9-12 hours per week, beginning first day of semester, concluding the last regular day of the semester. 

The minimum total hours worked should 150 hours.  How you track this is up to you and your supervisor/employer, but it should be verifiable if necessary.

Two evaluations by internship supervisor

One video taped exit interview (about 15-30 minutes)

4 Texas Politics Speaker Series attendance (see below, plus times & dates TBA)`

Respond to readings on email list as directed

NOTE:  all requirements must be fulfilled to receive credit for the course.

 GRADE CALCULATION

Writing assignment #1   20%

Writing assignment #2   20%

Writing assignment #3   25%

Mid term supervisor evaluation  10%

Final supervisor evaluation      15%

Exit interview    10%

 Grade scale:

A  94-100

A- 90-93

B+ 87-89

B  84-86

B- 80-83

C+ 77-79

C  74-76

C- 70-73

D+ 67-69

D  64-66

D- 60-63

F  59 and below

see syllabus

The Government Department internship program provides students an opportunity to combine work experience in government and politics with intellectual reflection on their experience.  Making the most of the course requires interns to work as diligent part-time employees in their positions while reflecting thoughtfully and analytically on their experience in the organizations in which they work.The general objectives of the internship program are:1.    To provide students with first-hand experience working in government and politics;2.    To incorporate this experience into the contexts of their intellectual education at the university and of public expectations of politics and government; 3.    To use interns’ experiences to think about the dynamics of politics and government as features of contemporary society; and4.    To use interns’ experience to think about the practice of politics as a profession.Most of students’ time and energy will be directed toward performing the duties of their internships in a manner that reflects positively on them and on The University of Texas at Austin.  A solid performance as an intern provides a rich learning experience, the possibility of future intellectual and professional opportunities, and also reflects well on the program, paving the way for future students to have the same opportunities current interns enjoy.However, interns should be clear about the nature of this course.  Students are not receiving credit from the Government Department primarily for fulfilling their internships.  Students receive grades and credit for completing the internships in conjunction with guided course work.  Supervisor evaluations are taken into account in assigning grades, but the primary consideration in assigning grades is the quality of academic work completed for the course.  

Description: The Government Department internship program provides students an opportunity to combine work experience in government and politics with intellectual reflection on their experience.  Making the most of the course requires interns to work as diligent part-time employees in their positions while reflecting thoughtfully and analytically on the practical and ethical implications of the professional practice of politics.
 
Most of students’ time and energy will be directed toward performing the duties of their internships in a manner that reflects positively on them and on The University of Texas at Austin.  A solid performance as an intern provides a rich learning experience, the possibility of future intellectual and professional opportunities, and also reflects well on the program, paving the way for future students to have the same opportunities current interns enjoy.  However, interns should be clear about the nature of this course.  Students are not receiving credit from the Government Department primarily for fulfilling their internships.  Students receive grades and credit for completing the internships in conjunction with guided course work.  Supervisor evaluations are taken into account in assigning grades, but the primary consideration in assigning grades is the quality of academic work completed for the course.  

Grading Policy
Students must complete all assigned work in order to receive a passing grade.