PLS 276 - Legislative Internship: Practicum

3 credit hours -
Selected students are assigned to members of the Maryland General Assembly, committees, lobbyists or associations during the legislative session (January-April). Furthermore, students performing internships in any political legislature (local, state or federal) may earn academic credit for their service. Students perform duties as assigned including drafting of legislation, constituent service and research. Before the beginning of the proposed internship, students must contact the political science department chair. It is recommended that interns take PLS 275 during the second eight weeks of classes of the fall term before they enroll in PLS 276.

Prerequisite(s): Eligibility for ENG 101 /ENG 101A and permission of the department chair.

Location(s) Typically Offered: Online (OL)

Term(s) Typically Offered: Spring

Course Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Improve comprehension of Maryland’s General Assembly structure and operations.
Evaluate and monitor the entire legislative process, from bill scheduling to passage.
Develop hands-on experience in a legislator’s office, developing skills in constituent service, communication, presentations, bill tracking, and research, fostering critical analysis through written papers.