There are three ways to fulfill the IRGA Practicum requirement. All three ways require completion of a course of study taken for academic credit recognized by the registrar:
The Internship
A Practicum is usually an internship in an institution engaged in international affairs performed in conjunction with an on-campus directed research component that comprises 50% of the course grade. The internship assessment is based on the following components:
- 150 hours of work for the organization as certified by them.
- A journal kept by you during your time with the organization. The journal documents the work you are doing for the organization on a weekly basis. It also carries your reflections on that work and how what you are doing relates to your academic major.
- An evaluation of your internship performance for the organization by your supervisor sent as a letter to Prof. Oglesby.
- A "words to the wise" statement for this website in which you offer some lessons learned from the experience to Eckerd students who may follow you.
- Finally, you will read two or three assigned books and articles and research and write a 10 - 12 page paper under Prof. Oglesby's direction focused on a topic arising from your internship.
Students wishing to pursue this option should explore the information on this web site and then consult with Prof. Donna Oglesby during office hours or on-line. She is the faculty sponsor of all IRGA Practicum internships which are fulfilled while enrolled in her course IR353 “IRGA Practicum. IR353 requires Prof. Oglesby’s signature for admission and can be taken during any semester.
Specified WT and Spring into Summer Courses
The Practicum requirement can also be met by going on specified winter term and spring into summer study abroad courses led by IRGA/Political Science faculty. Prof. Brunello’s UN winter term and Prof. Felice’s spring into summer courses to Geneva, or the Hague are examples of specified study abroad courses that would meet the IRGA requirement. Most often, service-learning trips abroad do not meet the IRGA practicum requirement. Please consult with Prof. Oglesby in advance of participation in such trips if you wish to have them considered them as fulfillment of the requirement.
Semester Abroad
Finally, students may meet the requirement by semester study abroad programs recognized for credit by the International Education Office and the registrar. ISEP, CIEE and other organized semester abroad programs as well as the Eckerd Semester in Asia program are examples of those we have counted in the past. Students have studied in Austria, Spain, The Netherlands, Germany, Hong Kong, China, Thailand and France. The Eckerd London program – while excellent - does not fulfill the IRGA Practicum requirement. It is possible, however, to schedule an internship while in London. The available parliamentary internship in London is a perfect example of an IRGA practicum and would fulfill the requirement.