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Internships
Lincoln offers many and varied opportunities for students to apply their education and research skills to real political tasks. Recent students have pursued internships in state government, including the offices of the governor, attorney general and individual state legislators as well as private organizations such as the Nebraska Tax Research Council.
Students can also take advantage of internship opportunities in Washington, D.C. through Wesleyan's Capitol Hill Internship Program (CHIP). Housing is conveniently located within safe walking distance of the Supreme Court and the Capitol. Dr. Doug Steinel, coordinator of the CHIP program, works with students to find an internship within their area of interest.
Recent students have interned in congressional offices, government agencies and interest groups, including:
- Human Rights Watch
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Judge Advocate General's Office (JAG), Department of the Navy
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Secret Service
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United States Department of Defense
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United States House of Representatives
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United States Senate
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VSA arts
International Opportunities
For students interested in comparative politics and international relations, studying abroad provides insights into other cultures that cannot be duplicated in the classroom. Recent department majors have studied in Kenya, Thailand, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom and Uruguay. Many students win prestigious National Security Exchange Program (NSEP) grants to finance their stays. Through the Hansard Society program at the London School of Economics, students intern with a member of the British House of Commons. Two Wesleyan students have interned for Tony Blair, who now serves as Prime Minister. The department also sponsors regular trips abroad to locations such as India and Nepal.
Extracurricular Activities
Students of all majors are active in a variety of campus organizations affiliated with political parties and issues, such as the Young Democrats and Nebraskans for Peace. The Political Affairs Club (PAC) assists Representative Doug Bereuter with his annual Youth Leadership Institute, which brings hundreds of high school students to the Wesleyan campus to learn about and discuss current political controversies. PAC also conducts mock elections and discussion panels, encourages voter registration and holds social events. Additionally, students may pursue membership in Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honorary.
Lectures
Whether participating in a roundtable discussion with Ralph Nader or attending a luncheon with former president of Costa Rica, Dr. Oscar Arias, students interested in political science can meet and interact with many noteworthy political figures at Nebraska Wesleyan. The department frequently invites alumni to share their political insights with current students. |
