Internships and independent study form
Please use this form for independent study courses or internships. Be aware that the form will require you to sign in Adobe with your e-signature. Independent Study Form
Independent studies (sometimes called directed readings) allow a student to work under the direction of a faculty member on a defined topic that is agreed upon by both the faculty advisor and the student. These are sometimes used when a student is off-cycle and was unable to take a required course; it is used on other occasions to give a student the opportunity to delve deeply into an area of interest before writing a directed research paper or thesis. Please consult the Graduate Handbook for guidance on taking an independent study.
On the form, please select "independent study." The course number for an independent study is POLS 691 or 692, and it is worth 3 credit hours. (The Graduate Director will tell you which number to put on the form.) The faculty member will fill in the description of the class along with how the student will be evaluated. Do not fill out the "site supervisor" sections, as these are for internships only. The student and faculty member directing the independent study should both e-sign, and then send the form the the Graduate Director to sign. After approval, the course will appear on the student's schedule.
Internships are strongly encouraged as part of the graduate program. These may be pursued on their own or for academic credit. Please consult the Graduate Handbook for guidance on taking internships for academic credit.
Internships for academic credit generally include at least 8 hours of work on-site per week, plus an additional two hours of academic work per week, over a 15-week semester. ("On-site" might mean different things, depending on the type of internship and whether it is in-person or virtual.) Note that for GA's, an internship could be one of the three classes in a semester (as an elective), but that it might not be possible to do an internship in addition to three courses and an assistantship.
In addition to the internship opportunities posted through the UofL Career Center, graduate students may also participate in the Frankfort Legislative Internship Program and the Metro Louisville Internship Program. Consult the department internship page for information on these and other internships. Please note that the Louisville Metro Council Internship Program and the Frankfort Legislative Internship Program both have a required interview process prior to acceptance and placement. Contact the faculty advisors for those programs for more information and to find out deadlines for applying (generally, in the fall for Frankfort and in the spring for Louisville Metro).
To receive academic credit for other internships, please follow the instructions below. You will use this form to add an approved internship to your schedule.
- Obtain permission from the Graduate Director first, who will verify that the opportunity meets requirements and that you are eligible. The Graduate Director will also tell you what course number to enter into the form (POLS 511 or 691 for independent internships).
- Fill out the top part of the form. Put in the course number, indicate that the course is worth 3 credit hours, check the "internship" box, and enter in the semester and year.
- In the box, the student should briefly describe the responsibilities of the internship and say that the grade will be based on weekly reflection papers and a final paper. The course title should be "Independent Internship." The student should put the internship work site supervisor's name and contact information, then e-sign. Include the tentative start date.
- Email the form directly to the Graduate Director for their signature. The form will then be sent to the College. After the approval, the class will appear automatically on your schedule