The Capital Semester Internship Program
The Capital Semester Internship Program of Elizabethtown College (CSIP) has placed scores of juniors and seniors in interesting and substantial positions with state executive agencies, state legislators, and private political organizations in the Harrisburg area. The program provides opportunities for students with virtually any career interest. From 1996 to 2003, for example, the majors represented in CSIP were political science, business, English, psychology, environmental science, history, communications, education, biology, and biochemistry. In addition to earning college credit, students gain valuable insight and exposure to politics and public service through their supervised participation in the work of government.
What CSIP Interns Do and Where
CSIP interns engage in a wide variety of activities, including such important functions as policy analysis, public relations, lobbying, grassroots organizing, legal research and investigation, and human resource management. The typical intern works two days a week through the semester during regular office hours, earning six credits from the Department of Political Science (PS 471). Here are some examples of placements from 1996-2003:
Politics (Lobbying, Electioneering, Grassroots Organizing)
Pennsylvania Republican Party
Pennsylvanians for Effective
Pennsylvanians AFL-CIO
Sierra ClubGovernment
Sierra Club Policy Analysis/Research
Governor's Office of Policy
Development
Senate Republican Policy and Research Office
House Democratic Policy and Research Office
Pennsylvania League of Women Voters
Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence
House Republican Cancus
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources - Bureau of Forestry
Public Law
Dauphin County District Attorney's Office
McNees, Wallace, and Nurick (Corporate Law)
Dauphin County Public Defender's Office
Dauphin County Juvenile Probation Office
Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General - Bureau of Consumer Protection
Public Management
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation - Office of Human Resource Development
Governor's Office of Administration - Bureau of Management Services
Public Information
Office of the Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Governor's Office of Communication
Senate Republican Office of Communications
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
International Relations
Pennsylvania Department of Commerce - Office of International Development
Some Particularly Interesting Projects
Katie Zerfuss developed and drafted a bill that would require all Pennsylvania colleges and universities to establish rape and sexual violence awareness programs for first-year students. Rep. Keith McCall (D) and Jerry Stern (R) introduced the bill in the 2003 session of the Pennsylvania state legislature.
Mary Selleck coordinated a program linking motorists with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials to improve PennDOT's responsiveness to citizen concerns.
From opposite sides of the political fence, Dan Degler (working for the Sierra Club) and Dave Bartoli (working for a law firm representing large corporations) researched pending legislation that would enable the re-use of abandoned industrial sites. The Sierra Club wanted the bill to be tougher on site cleanup, and the law firm wanted more relaxed requirements.
Brianne Hoffer, working for Speaker of the House Matthew Ryan, publicized the involvement of legislators in a Habitat for Humanity project in Harrisburg and drafted a resolution honoring Habitat that was enacted by the House of Representatives.
A Proven Record of Success
Ambitious students have chosen CSIP not just because of the experience itself, but also because it prepares them for challenging careers. In the 1996-2001 period, for example, at least 35 percent of the interns went to law school or graduate school. Schools attended include the Dickinson Law School of Penn State University, University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Widener University School of Law, and the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management. CSIP interns have pursued various careers in the Federal government, state government, business, banking, law, communications, and politics. For example, three recent students parlayed their internship experiences into full time positions in the Office of Governor Tom Ridge, including Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff and Deputy Director of Public Liaison.
For More Information about CSIP
Write the Director of the Capital Semester Internship Program, Dr. E. Fletcher McClellan, Department of Political Science, Elizabethtown College, One Alpha Drive, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania 17022. Or, contact him at (717) 361-1304, or by e-mail at mcclelef@etown.edu
Internship & Scholarship Opportunities
State House Legislative Fellowship Program
Pennsylvania Political Science Association Annual Meeting
Finnegan Fellowship Foundation Contest
