166-039 Public Affairs Internship (Int.Students)

Formerly available as 166-254/354. Students who have completed 166-254 or 166-354 are not eligible to enrol in this subject. Students will only be permitted to take one Political Science internship as part of their BA degree.

This subject is available only to students undertaking the Public Affairs (International Students) Program. For further details contact the department. Special entry conditions apply.

In this subject students will have active experience working for a senior person with a policy-making and management role in the organisation in which they are placed. The central task will be to complete a policy report of relevance to the organisation. Academic support and supervision is provided by the department. Local government, non-government and community-based organisations which have a public affairs focus or interest will provide placements. Students who complete this subject should have well-developed analytical, research, interviewing and report-writing skills enabling the provision of consultancy-type research services; and have high-level interpersonal skills developed through interaction with a range of people involving several tiers of government and a plurality of interests.

• be able to research through the competent use of the library and other information sources, and be able to define areas of inquiry and methods of research in the preparation of essays;

• be able to conceptualise theoretical problems, form judgements and arguments and communicate critically, creatively and theoretically through essay writing, tutorial discussion and presentations;

• be able to communicate knowledge ideologically and economically through essay writing and tutorial discussion;

• be able to manage and organise workloads for recommended reading, the completion of essays and reports;

• be able to participate in team work through involvement in syndicate groups and group discussions.

A research essay of 6000 words 75% and a reflective essay of 2000 words 25% (both due at the end of semester).