PSCI 3906 Political Science Internship – 1.0 credit – Offered Fall/Winter 2024-2025
PSCI 3907 Political Science Internship – 0.5 credit – Offered Fall 2024 and Winter 2025
Get placed in a politically-active organization in Ottawa area!
If you have always wondered how to put your political science coursework into practice, consider registering for the Ottawa Experience Placement course. You will be placed in a politically-active organization in the Ottawa area for one semester, and participate in their work using the skills and knowledge you have learned in your Political Science program at Carleton. These organizations include the offices of elected politicians, research and strategy firms, and advocacy organizations. This course is available for 0.5 or 1.0 credit, requires a minimum 9.0 GPA and third or fourth year standing, and is restricted to Political Science major students.
How does the placement work?
The course places a student in a politically-active organization for about one full day per week during the fall and/or winter semester, where they will perform a range of tasks set by the organization. The exact number of weeks is determined by the academic credit earned by the student (eg 0.5 versus 1.0 credit). Students will also meet in person with the whole class twice during the semester, once for an orientation to the placement, and once to discuss career-related issues. The time commitment of the placement falls roughly in line with the time commitment for a typical third or fourth year undergraduate course.
How is the course evaluated?
As this course is for an academic credit (rather than a work experience as per a co-op), it is evaluated by the course instructor. Evaluation consists of compiling an ongoing activity log, completion of a career-related assignment, and completion of a final reflective essay that uses your placement experience to consider the role of that organization in the political system of which it is a part (whether local, national, international). Additionally, the organization will provide a short end-of-placement evaluation of the experience of students, ranked according to a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory scale using a rubric provided by the course instructor. Students will not receive a grade for this course unless they receive a satisfactory ranking in this evaluation.
Student Learning Objectives and Outcomes
The placement will provide students with the experience of working in an organization involved in some aspect of politics, whether local, national or international. Learning objectives include:
- exposing students to the responsibilities associated with working in a politically-focused organization
- enabling students to use and develop skills they acquire in their undergraduate coursework
- developing career-related goals for students
- strengthening research skills by conceiving and executing a piece of independent research connected to their placement experience
Three core learning outcomes are expected:
- students will strengthen their ability to perform tasks in a politically-focused organization
- students will deepen their understanding of how an organization operates in the political environment
- students will develop their awareness of career-related goals
Placement Structure and Assessment
Students registered for the placement meet twice during the semester at Carleton in an in-person format, and otherwise work at their placement organization in a manner determined by the organization. As this course is for an academic credit (rather than a work experience as per a co-op), it is evaluated by the course instructor. Evaluation consists of compiling an ongoing activity log, completion of a career-related assignment, and completion of a final reflective essay that uses the placement experience to consider the role of that organization in the political system of which it is a part (whether local, national, international). Additionally, the organization will provide a short end-of-placement evaluation of the experience of student, ranked on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory scale using a rubric provided by the course instructor. Students will not receive a grade for this course unless they receive a satisfactory ranking in this evaluation.
Course Elements
Course Element |
Percentage of Grade |
Due Date |
| Student Profile | N/A | Week 1 |
| Student Placement Agreement | N/A | Week 1 |
| Activity Log | 20% | Throughout Semester |
| Career-Related Assignment | 30% | Week 8 |
| Reflective Essay on Organization | 50% | End of Placement |
| Organization Final Report | Sat/Unsat | End of Placement |
Course Outline
| Week 1 | Course introduction; placement expectations; orientation to placement organizations; relevant documentation |
| Weeks 2-6 | Placement |
| Week 7 | Career-Related Exercise |
| Weeks 8-12 | Placement |
| NOTE: If you take the placement as a 1.0 credit course, you will be with an organization for one day per week over both the fall and winter semesters, and your assessment will include an activity log through both semesters, two career-related assignments and a longer reflective essay. | |
Placement Process/Organizational Responsibilities
- All participating organizations will sign a Master Agreement with Carleton/Political Science as per Carleton University Student Placement policy
- Students register for the course according to the academic calendar deadlines.
- Students complete a profile and rank order their preferences for organizations in August or December (for the Fall or Winter semesters).
- Course Instructor liaises with organizations to determine their preferences.
- Course instructor assigns placements in consultation with students and organizations in early September or early January.
- Students sign Placement Agreement on terms of reference for placement at beginning of semester.
- Organizations / students finalize choices in mid-September or mid-January (may include meetings or interviews as per organizations’ preferences).
- Course runs as per course outline.
- Students complete final assignment.
- Organization completes Placement Evaluation.
Participating Organizations
Offices of Elected Representatives
Office of Ottawa Centre MPP
Office of Ottawa South MPP
Office of Ottawa Vanier MPP
Office of Nepean MPP
Office of Ottawa West Nepean MPP
Political Research/Strategy Firms
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Canadian Labour Congress
Institute for Fiscal Studies and Democracy
Cardus Institute
Nanos Research
Impact Public Affairs
Summa Strategy
Advocacy Organizations with a Political Focus
Amnesty International Canada
Children First Canada
Ecology Ottawa
Informed Opinions
Forum of the Federations
National Association of Friendship Centres
Internship Requirements
PSCI 3906 and 3907 are designed for part-time internships taken alongside regular course work. The following requirements must be met:
PSCI 3906 (1.0 credits): The internship must run over a full academic year (fall and winter term), or over the complete summer term (early and late summer). In the fall/winter term, it must run a minimum of 24 weeks for at least 3 hours a week (total of 72 hours). In the summer term, it must run a minimum of 12 weeks for at least 6 hours a week (total of 72 hours).
PSCI 3907 (0.5 credits): The internship must run over one term (fall, winter, early or late summer). In the fall/winter term, it must run a minimum of 12 weeks for at least 3 hours a week (total of 36 hours). In the summer term, it must run a minimum of 6 weeks for at least 6 hours a week (total of 36 hours).
Supervision
The Ottawa Experience supervisor is Professor Randall Germain.
Email Professor Germain
View bio
Eligibility
PSCI 3906 and PSCI 3907 are available to students with third-year Honours standing, a declared major in Political Science, and a major CGPA of 9.0 or higher, or permission from the department. Both courses preclude each other (i.e., only one of them can be taken); additional credit for the Washington Internship is also precluded.
Registration Procedure
To register, contact psciadvising@carleton.ca for the necessary form.