POLS 272 Independent Study on Political Campaigns

Campaign Semester provides Occidental College students with an opportunity to learn about political campaigns and elections through first-hand experience. Students receive a full semester of college credit (16 units) while volunteering full-time in a Presidential U.S. Senate U.S. House or gubernatorial campaign. The program is offered during Presidential and Mid-term elections. Students can volunteer for a Republican or Democratic campaign or a "minor" party if the campaign is set up to adequately supervise volunteers. The program is open to all Oxy students regardless of major. This course entails production of a 25-page research essay addressing a major question pertaining to campaigns in American politics. Each student will work with a professor to craft a high-quality research paper that enters the academic debate on their selected topic incorporates extensive secondary data and existing research and presents original analysis based on the student's campaign fieldwork. Enrollment limited to students participating in the Campaign Semester Program. Satisfies Junior Writing Requirement.

Students who participate in Campaign Semester take the following three courses (POLS 270, POLS 271, and POLS 272) simultaneously.