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Mike Simpson, Spring 2008 class, at his desk in Congressman Jim
Clyburn’s Majority Whip Office, located in the U.S. Capitol. |
THE JOB
Washington Semester Program Fellows work full-time in congressional,
executive, judicial or private sector offices and receive $5,000
compensation (less taxes and other deductions). After intensive
interview students are assigned to their placements according to
their interests and work skills.
The
South Carolina Congressional Delegation, with six representatives
and two senators, provides the core of work placement. However,
other recent placements have included the Executive Office for US
Attorneys in the Department of Justice, Barron-Birrell (a public
relations firm representing developing countries), the Department of
Education, the American Council of Life Insurance (a lobbying
organization), the Office of the US Trade Representative, the
National Endowment for the Arts, the Center for American Progress,
and the House Committee on Financial Services.
Office work varies widely, from copying and faxing to giving tours
of the Capitol, to answering constituent mail. Much of the job is
routine office work, but it can also include taking notes for the
Congressional office at a committee meeting, attending meetings and
hearings, or providing public policy research. The job can range
from preparing information for news conferences and releases to
representing an office at a reception.
THE COURSES
All students enroll in three courses for a total of 15 honors
credits. Each student is responsible for checking with his or her
academic and honors advisors to ensure the applicability of these
courses to his or her degree program. Each course is designed
specifically for Washington Semester Program Fellows and each
stresses experiential, hands-on learning.
Fall
2008 Course Descriptions
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SCCC 498: Honors Internship
(9 credits)
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1. Work: Fellows are expected to work full-time (40
hours per week). Grades will be assessed by the Fellows'
office supervisor in collaboration with the Academic
Director and the Placement Director. |
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2. Leadership: Five to six times during the
semester students meet with Dr. Don Fowler, adjunct
professor in the Department of Political Science at USC and
the former head of the Democratic National Committee. In
this seminar students investigate dilemmas faced by public
leaders. Fellows develop their understanding of ethics and
investigate different psychological, social, and
institutional factors that influence leadership style.
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3. Enrichment: Students experience Washington, DC and
the surrounding area through a range of activities that
might include a Nationals baseball game, a live taping of a
CNN program, a day trip to Annapolis, and meetings with
important political and media leaders. Fellows are asked to
reflect on these experiences through a series of seminars
and journal entries. |
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THEA 200: Honors Theatre Appreciation (3 credits)
Washington, DC is second only to New York as a theatre market in the
United States. For this course, students attend five or six
professional productions in the greater Washington area. Students
meet working theatre professionals and learn what happens “behind
the scenes.” Students respond to the productions with short reviews
and seminar discussions.
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SCCC 433N: Contemporary Washington Issues- Honors (3
credits)
Students will use the resources available to them in Washington to
execute a research project of their design. In this course students
develop skills in methodology, research strategies, and writing
skills as they produce a final research paper of 15-20 pages.
Korey
Rothman,on the right, director of the Washington Semester Program
and the Theatre 200 instructor, meets with Dr. Regina Gray, who
teaches the "Debating Washington Issues" course.
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