Call for Government Department Research Practicum The University of Texas at Austin Fall 2015 & Spring 2016

This fall semester we are pleased to announce that the Government Department will be offering a research practicum under the direction of Dr. Michael Findley (Department of Government) and Henry Pascoe (Department of Government).

This course is the first semester of a two-semester program (with upper-division course credit) to introduce undergraduate students to the research process in the social sciences. In this program, students will get hands on experience by contributing to research projects

similar to the lab setting of the natural sciences. In the first semester, taken in fall semester, students will develop and present their own research proposal. In the second semester

(spring), students will complete and present their results.

Throughout both courses, we will discuss issues encountered when conducting applied social

We expect that students will engage in research about foreign aid, political violence, peace processes, and international development. Other topics of interest to students are also possible. Training in research methodologies and statistical analysis will be provided.

Past iterations of the research practicum have proven very successful for students. Last year, four students in the course were accepted to present their research at the Midwest Political Science Association meeting in Chicago, IL. Two students won best project awards at this year’s undergraduate research fairs. Students have gone on to terrific internships in Washington D.C., Uganda, Senegal, Timor Leste, Mexico, and numerous other countries. And in years past, some students have gone on to publish their research in high profile academic and policy outlets.

Please contact Dr. Michael Findley (mikefindley@austin.utexas.edu) or Henry Pascoe (hbpascoe@utexas.edu) as soon as possible if you have any questions or if you would like to participate in the course. Only a limited number of seats are available in the course.

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