Academic Opportunities

Several academic opportunities are available to majors and minors in Political Science. Internships, Directed Individual Study and the Honors Program allow students to obtain educational experience outside of traditional classes.

INTERNSHIPS

The Department has a program through which qualified students may receive up to 6 hours of academic credit toward the major for internships with various government related entities such as legislators or legislative committees, state or local government agencies, lobbying organizations, political parties, or election campaigns. Responsibility for finding an appropriate internship rests with the student, but the Department does have information on offices and agencies who historically have offered internship positions, and posts new information as it is received. The assignment must enable the student to learn about politics and government -- about decision-making, influencing public policy, government operations, public service, and the like. Interns are expected to do useful, professional staff work and are not to be used as clerks, runners, typists, etc. In an Internship, the student works 20 hours per week, writes a research paper, and attends periodic meetings with the course instructor. The internship is graded on an A-F scale.

A student's eligibility for an internship is determined by the Academic Coordinator, based on specific academic prerequisites and the appropriateness of the proposed position. Prerequisites include completion of at least 60 semester hours, satisfactory completion of 15 hours in political science including POS3713, and a 3.0 grade point average. Students can obtain the forms necessary to apply for academic credit related to an internship on the Department’s web site.

DIRECTED INDIVIDUAL STUDY (DIS)

Individual study is designed to provide a more in-depth study of a specific topic than is available in the classroom experience. A student identifies an area in which she wishes to undertake research and approaches a faculty member with expertise in that field to request a DIS. The content and requirements of the course are worked out between each instructor and student. Generally, students should not expect a faculty member to agree to a DIS unless they have had the student in a regular class.

The student and instructor complete DIS Form and submit it to the Academic Coordinator who establishes the course in the registration system.

HONORS PROGRAM

The Department participates in the Liberal Studies Honors Program by regularly offering seminars (ISS2937) as well as honors sections of our liberal studies courses.

The Department also offers honors in the major, consisting of a thesis project that the student completes over a period of two terms with the aid of a three-member faculty committee. Eligibility for honors in the major requires a minimum of 60 credit hours (at least 15 in political science), a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 (3.5 GPA in political science courses), and a grade of B or higher in POS3713. Students interested in pursuing the honors thesis must consult with the Department's Undergraduate Director, Dr. Christopher Reenock, for details. Completion of the thesis allows the notation "With Honors in Political Science" on the student's transcript and diploma. Additional information on the process of receiving approval to pursue an honors thesis can be found through the FSU Honors Program website. Once approval is received, students can submit the signed Honors Work/DIS form to Jerry Fisher in 535 Bellamy in order to be entered into Honors Hours.

Membership in the Political Science Honors Society, Pi Sigma Alpha, requires completion of at least 12 hours in political science with a 3.2 GPA in political science and a 3.0 overall. There is a one-time membership fee, most of which goes to the national organization. Application materials are available from the faculty liaison for the society, Dr. Robert Jackson.

Degrees of distinction are available to all FSU students and the accomplishment is noted on the student's transcript and diploma. Transfer students must complete 40 hours at FSU and attain the appropriate GPA on all coursework and on all coursework at FSU. The degrees of distinction are Cum Laude (3.50), Magna cum Laude (3.70), and Summa cum Laude (3.90).

THE WORLD AFFAIRS PROGRAM

Organizes Florida State's Model United Nations (UN) and Crisis Simulation Team at conferences across the country. WAP is open to all students at FSU and is funded by Student Government, the Office of Academic Affairs, and the College of Social Sciences.

Fields of Study
Major/Minor Requirements
Academic Advising
Undergraduate Internship


	Home News People -Faculty -Department Administration -Graduate Students -Ph.D. Alumni Research Graduate Programs -Prospective Students -Current Students Undergraduate Programs			Academic Opportunities Several academic opportunities are available to majors and minors in Political Science. Internships, Directed Individual Study and the Honors Program allow students to obtain educational experience outside of traditional classes. INTERNSHIPS The Department has a program through which qualified students may receive up to 6 hours of academic credit toward the major for internships with various government related entities such as legislators or legislative committees, state or local government agencies, lobbying organizations, political parties, or election campaigns. Responsibility for finding an appropriate internship rests with the student, but the Department does have information on offices and agencies who historically have offered internship positions, and posts new information as it is received. The assignment must enable the student to learn about politics and government -- about decision-making, influencing public policy, government operations, public service, and the like. Interns are expected to do useful, professional staff work and are not to be used as clerks, runners, typists, etc. In an Internship, the student works 20 hours per week, writes a research paper, and attends periodic meetings with the course instructor. The internship is graded on an A-F scale. A student's eligibility for an internship is determined by the Academic Coordinator, based on specific academic prerequisites and the appropriateness of the proposed position. Prerequisites include completion of at least 60 semester hours, satisfactory completion of 15 hours in political science including POS3713, and a 3.0 grade point average. Students can obtain the forms necessary to apply for academic credit related to an internship on the Department’s web site. DIRECTED INDIVIDUAL STUDY (DIS) Individual study is designed to provide a more in-depth study of a specific topic than is available in the classroom experience. A student identifies an area in which she wishes to undertake research and approaches a faculty member with expertise in that field to request a DIS. The content and requirements of the course are worked out between each instructor and student. Generally, students should not expect a faculty member to agree to a DIS unless they have had the student in a regular class. The student and instructor complete DIS Form and submit it to the Academic Coordinator who establishes the course in the registration system. HONORS PROGRAM The Department participates in the Liberal Studies Honors Program by regularly offering seminars (ISS2937) as well as honors sections of our liberal studies courses. The Department also offers honors in the major, consisting of a thesis project that the student completes over a period of two terms with the aid of a three-member faculty committee. Eligibility for honors in the major requires a minimum of 60 credit hours (at least 15 in political science), a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 (3.5 GPA in political science courses), and a grade of B or higher in POS3713. Students interested in pursuing the honors thesis must consult with the Department's Undergraduate Director, Dr. Christopher Reenock, for details. Completion of the thesis allows the notation "With Honors in Political Science" on the student's transcript and diploma. Additional information on the process of receiving approval to pursue an honors thesis can be found through the FSU Honors Program website. Once approval is received, students can submit the signed Honors Work/DIS form to Jerry Fisher in 535 Bellamy in order to be entered into Honors Hours. Membership in the Political Science Honors Society, Pi Sigma Alpha, requires completion of at least 12 hours in political science with a 3.2 GPA in political science and a 3.0 overall. There is a one-time membership fee, most of which goes to the national organization. Application materials are available from the faculty liaison for the society, Dr. Robert Jackson. Degrees of distinction are available to all FSU students and the accomplishment is noted on the student's transcript and diploma. Transfer students must complete 40 hours at FSU and attain the appropriate GPA on all coursework and on all coursework at FSU. The degrees of distinction are Cum Laude (3.50), Magna cum Laude (3.70), and Summa cum Laude (3.90). THE WORLD AFFAIRS PROGRAM Organizes Florida State's Model United Nations (UN) and Crisis Simulation Team at conferences across the country. WAP is open to all students at FSU and is funded by Student Government, the Office of Academic Affairs, and the College of Social Sciences. Fields of Study Major/Minor Requirements Academic Advising Undergraduate Internship