James Henson

The Government Department internship program provides students an opportunity to combine work experience in government and politics with academic coursework. This course emphasizes guiding students through the design and execution of a carefully defined small-scale research project, and an analysis of their research that can be communicated intelligibly to a public audience. The coursework is designed to sharpen students’ ability to use basic academic research skills as tools in a professional environment, and to convey the results of their research in ways that contribute to public discourse about politics, policy, and government.

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 per the grading criteria below, but 75% of your course grade is based on assessment of academic work completed for the course.

COURSE DESCRIPTION – Spring 2015

The Government Department internship program provides students an opportunity to combine work experience in government and politics with academic coursework. This course emphasizes guiding students through the design and execution of a carefully defined small-scale research project, and an analysis of their research that can be communicated intelligibly to a public audience. The coursework is designed to sharpen students’ ability to use basic academic research skills as tools in a professional environment, and to convey the results of their research in ways that contribute to public discourse about politics, policy, and government.

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 per the grading criteria below, but 75% of your course grade is based on assessment of academic work completed for the course.

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing (60 completed semester hours; 12 semester hours of government completed, including GOV 310L and GOV 312L or GOV 3TX & GOV 3US; Cumulative GPA must be 3.00 or higher AND Government GPA 3.00 or higher; and consent of the internship coordinator (Dr. Henson) via application process.  Applications and more information are available here: https://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/government/internship/faqs/prospective-intern.php.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Government Department internship program provides students an opportunity to combine work experience in government and politics with academic coursework.  This course emphasizes guiding students through the design and execution of a carefully defined small-scale research project, and an analysis of their research that can be communicated intelligibly to a public audience.  The coursework is designed to sharpen students’ ability to use basic academic research skills as tools in a professional environment, and to convey the results of their research in ways that contribute to public discourse about politics, policy, and government.

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 per the grading criteria below, but 75% of your course grade is based on assessment of academic work completed for the course. 

TEXTBOOKS

None.  A limited list of readings will be provided on the Canvas site for the course (see above).

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

• Completion of 5 assignments connected to research project
• 4 mandatory group meetings – dates listed below
• 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 be 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
• Texas Politics Speaker Series attendance (times & dates TBA)

NOTE:  all requirements must be fulfilled to receive credit and a passing grade for the course.

GRADE CALCULATION

Course component

Percent of final grade

Project assignment #1:  Proposal

10%

Project assignment #2: Data Graphic Prototype

12.5%

Project assignment #3: 1st Draft – Analysis Text

12.5%

Project assignment #4: Final Research Project

30%

Project assignment #5:  Dissemination/Promotion

5%

Research presentation

5%

Mid term supervisor evaluation

10%

Final supervisor evaluation

15%

Grade scale for final grades:

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.  Decimal points will be rounded. Sign up sheets from events and meetings will be considered in borderline cases.

GOV 312L:  POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT IN CONTEMPORARY TEXAS

COURSE DESCRIPTION – Summer II 2014

This course provides an in-depth orientation to the actors, processes, and institutions that make up the political system in Texas with a strong emphasis on the development of applied knowledge.  Instructional material in the course focuses on how politics in Texas shapes the operation of Texas political institutions, with particular attention to the interplay between public opinion, conflict among elites, and the policy environment in the state.

The course is delivered completely online, which gives the student more latitude in completing the work, though the class is NOT entirely self-paced.  Students will be given a limited amount of time to complete reading, viewing of videos, and variety of online assignments, with deadlines occurring weekly.  This design allows students to compete the work, including viewing lectures and completing interactive quizzes and activities, according to their own schedule – as long as the weekly due dates for completion of each unit are met.

Students are encouraged to visit http://www.laits.utexas.edu/tower/gov312ltx to test their computer and network connection and learn about the course structure.

The course fulfills the second half of the state-mandated instruction in Texas and American constitutional government (GOV 2302).  

Grading policy

Weekly assignment types

Percent of final grade

Review assignments in Texas Politics text

5%

Questions on lecture videos

20%

Questions on non-textbook reading

20%

Becoming an insider activities

25%

Putting in All Together activities

25%

Getting Involved activities

5%

Grade scale for final grades:

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%

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.

Please check back for updates.

Prerequisite: Six semester hours of lower-division coursework in government.

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While the main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas. Topics will include U.S. political history, political institutions, elections, public opinion, rights and freedoms, and public policy issues.

This course is an introduction to American government and politics.  While the main focus is on the national level, additional attention is paid to the state and local governments of Texas. Topics will include U.S. political history, political institutions, elections, public opinion, rights and freedoms, and public policy issues.

Government 312L satisfies the second half of the mandated six hours of government that every UT student must take.  Course covers analysis of varying topics concerned with American political institutions and policies, including the United States Constitution, and assumes basic knowledge of government from GOV 310L, which is a prerequiste. May be taken for credit only once.

Please check back for updates.

Prerequisite: Six semester hours of lower-division coursework in government.

Please check back for updates.

Prerequisite: Six semester hours of lower-division coursework in government.

Please check back for updates.

Prerequisite: Six semester hours of lower-division coursework in government.

Please check back for updates.

Prerequisite: Six semester hours of lower-division coursework in government.

Government 312L satisfies the second half of the mandated six hours of government that every UT student must take.  Course covers analysis of varying topics concerned with American political institutions and policies, including the United States Constitution, and assumes basic knowledge of government from GOV 310L, which is a prerequiste. May be taken for credit only once.

Please check back for updates.

Prerequisite: Six semester hours of lower-division coursework in government.

Please check back for updates.

Prerequisite: Six semester hours of lower-division coursework in government.