Frequently Asked Questions

Is the internship a course?
It is a course for senior Political Science majors and is one of the three ways students can meet the capstone requirement. All eligible students are admitted. Crashing is not a problem for those who can prove eligibility. Be sure to pay close attention to the syllabus. The grade involves writing two essays that together are worth 70% of your grade and the field work, worth 30% of your grade.

How do I find an internship?
The best thing to do is to have a consultation with Dr. Fairlie, so she can suggest opportunities that most closely suit your priorities. Before coming for a consultation, think about factors such as: do you need to be near your home or work?; what are your career objectives?; what were your favorite subjects in political science?. If you are browsing for opportunities, you can look at the big red notebook kept in the Department office. It contains requests from organizations for interns and entries which show where interns have been in the past. The book is organized by subject matter so look for the index tab which features your favorite topic. Examples include government agencies, political parties, interest groups, the judicial system and Mexico. Remember that some internships, particularly those in some law enforcement agencies, may require as much as six weeks advance time for a background check. In addition to the red book subject index there is a white notebook containing internships by date beginning with the most recent semester. It is not yet complete.

When may I begin my field work?
Students may begin field work in the vacation period preceding the semester they enroll if they received permission during the previous semester. For example, students who want to enroll in fall term must come in during spring term to get approval of a field work site they wish to join during the summer. The course is not staffed during the summer when it is not one of the listed offerings.

Is the course offered in the summer?
No, the course is not one of the offerings you can register for during the summer. See "When may I begin my internship?" for more information.

I have already done field work? May I skip the course and have the field work credited to meet the capstone requirement?
Because the course is one of the capstone options, students write two papers which count for seventy per cent of the grade. Field work counts for thirty percent of the grade. See other FAQs regarding when to get approval to start field work in the vacation period before your enrollment. The course can not be skipped.