Internship Information
Students who are declared political science majors may complete an internship course for three credits. Students often complete internships in the regional offices of U.S. Senator Carl Levin and U.S. Representative Dave Camp, or in the offices of other local, state, and federal politicians. Here's how the process works:
- You will have to commit at least 10 hours per week to your internship.
- When you're ready to do the internship, you will need to speak with Dr. Erik Trump. He will assist you in setting up an interview at the agency or office at which you desire to intern.
- You will then be responsible for adhering to a set schedule and performing the duties outlined in an internship contract with the sponsoring office.
- You will be evaluated by both the staff member(s) where you intern and by Dr. Trump.
- You will need to write a 2,000 word paper about your internship experience for Dr. Trump. This will be due 1 week before finals begin.
You are free to set up an internship on your own, but it must be approved by Dr. Trump. Students have come up with a variety of interesting internships on their own, and we encourage you to explore this option. One student recently worked as a manager for a campaign, for example. Another student worked for the Bay City Humane Society. Thus, you should feel free to pursue options as they arise.
Finally, there are internships in Lansing that you might think about pursuing if you have the time to drive there on a consistent basis. Students who have chosen this option have typically done so in the Spring or Summer terms.