Thesis or SRP?

As an SIS graduate student, you have lots of academic choices. Choosing whether to write a master’s thesis or another type of capstone work is one of them. Many people thinking about grad school wonder, “Do I have to come knowing what I’m going to write my thesis on?” The answer at SIS is no—but if you have an idea, great, if not you’ll find it while you here!

I’m not an academic guidance counselor, but I made the choice between an Significant Research Project (SRP) and thesis, as everyone else at SIS does. This blog is what I feel might be useful for those of you choosing a grad program or stressing about thesis.

The Technical Note: For the vast majority of SIS master’s programs you may complete either: 1. a substantial research paper (SRP) for 3 credits and a 3-credit internship, 2. a 6-credit thesis, or 3. a 6-credit research practicum. People choose SIS for graduate school for many reasons, and the research and writing requirement allows you to accomplish your own goals. In my last semester, I am taking a 3 credit internship and writing an SRP.

Roughly, the master’s thesis involves an 80-100-page paper representing an original contribution to the literature existing on your topic, the coursework is spread out over two (or more) semesters and accompanied by an oral defense at the end.

The Personal Note: I chose the International Communication program due the professional nature of the program, and writing an SRP and taking an internship for credit met my professional goals. I used the internship requirement (work in a field related to your academic coursework) to take time during this semester to explore a career I am interested in after graduation—I’m currently a government and public affairs intern at MWW and writing my SRP on the corporate sector’s contribution to public diplomacy in Eastern Europe.

If you’re really good, you might also be able to directly connect your internship and SRP. For instance, if you are working for an NGO and your job is to track and report on the recent democratic uprising in Burma, you can integrate the two for your SRP.

I had a good idea of what I was interested in when I started at SIS, however, I had no clue as to what topic I wanted to devote myself to researching for my SRP until recently. Professors, especially in the International Communication program, encourage you to find your knowledge niche—an area/topic that you can explore in your class research projects and papers and develop as your base of expertise. The majority of paper topics are open, and you can test out your depth of interest in an area in many courses before you decide what it is that you’re passionate about before you commit to developing around 70 pages on it. And the SIS graduate academic advisors are always available to help you figure things out.

Bottom line is you don’t need to stress about what you’re going to write about, you just need to be motivated to explore.

Happy Academic Travels,

Kate

Master’s Candidate 2008

International Communication

Knowledge Niche: Public Communication & Eastern Europe

DC internships

This post was written by Kate Bartosik, a second-year MA candidate in International Communication.

Internships in D.C., I have had a few. Private sector, public sector, corporate, non-profit, paid, unpaid, for credit, not for credit… DC offers it all, and as a graduate student at SIS, internships give you the ability to test out professional life.

I finish my graduate degree in international communication (IC) this May. Right now, I am an intern at MWW Group, a government and public relations firm. It’s my third internship in DC and this one I am taking for credit to meet a requirement of the IC program (you can complete a master’s thesis or write a major research paper and do an internship for credit—SIS offers good program flexibility).

How do SIS students get internships? Methods vary, but I use resources like the SIS networking events, the AU CareerWeb (AU’s Career Center’s online job and internship database), SIS listserv messages (alumni and professors post job/internship openings and the career center sends out a weekly list) and my own contacts. These resources are tailored for SIS students, making your search for a relevant internship experience much easier.

The Career Center offers quick drop-ins in the SIS coffee house, which I used when I first began applying for internships. A quick edit from Olya Dadressan, an SIS career advisor, and my resume was markedly better. I was able to secure my current internship and one last semester at Mazda’s Government and Public Affairs Department by applying online through AUCareerWeb.

The Career Center and the SIS Graduate Student Council (GSC) also host networking events on campus throughout the year, giving current students the chance to interact with alumni, professors and career center advisors. These provide opportunities to find out about internships and get advice from professionals.

I was able to get a job for last summer through the GSC’s spring speed-networking event. I had not planned on attending the event, but my class got out early, so I went. I had been at work earlier that day, so I was dressed professionally and had a few business cards on me (I’ll admit I design/print my own on my computer). I went with the expectation that I might learn more about possible career paths and maybe make a contact. My initial contact with an AU alumnus at the event turned into a communication job at the National Association of Realtors. Networking opportunities are everywhere, being aware and making the time is the key!

This time around, I had the most success using the AU CareerWeb. After submitting applications (standard cover letter, resume and writing sample) to about seven companies, I was offered four interviews, three at public relations firms and one at an NGO, the Council for a Community of Democracies. I did prep for the interviews: read the organization’s websites, spoke to someone I knew who had interned there before and checked other publications that had covered the organization. Contacting the career center to see if they have any alumni contacts with the company to which you are applying is also useful. I sent thank you letters to those I interviewed with and at the end I had a few offers on the table. I choose MWW, because the job content fit closest to my career interests.

If you are just moving to DC, sans job, registering at a temp agency, like The Choice, Inc., is a good place to make some cash while job/internship hunting. Graduate school is about the last time you’ll be able to “test-drive” a career through an internship. You’re in DC—internships help you build your resume even if you’re not taking them for credit! It’s a very real possibility to find a part-time job or paid internship anytime of the year in DC, and balance with a full class load at SIS.

Important Note: The views expressed are my own and in do not necessarily represent the opinions, positions or strategies of MWW Group nor any other mentioned organization.