Summary
The US onAir Network will be working with volunteers from South Carolina universities, colleges, and nonprofit organizations to oversee the curation and moderation of posts, aircasts (online discussions), and in person events for the South Carolina onAir Hub … related to federal, state, and local elections and government.
Our first outreach will be to University of South Carolina partly because of its proximity to the state capital. We have identified many of University of South Carolina’s civic engagement, academic, internship and research programs related to making democracy and civic responsibility a focus of higher learning on their campus … for students, faculty, staff, and local community. This post, over time, will have similar information on other collaborating organizations in the state.
Contact ben.murphy@onair.cc for more information on how to involve your organization.
About
The University of South Carolina’s onAir chapter will initially focus on training interested undergrad and graduate students on how to curate South Carolina onAir content especially submitting Top News articles, events, videos, and information and moderating forums in each post they curate.
Student curators will also work with state senate and house committee chairs to produce aircasts on issues being discussed and bills being proposed in their committees.
During election season, students with other other organizations like the League of Women Voters, will coordinate and produce aircasted debates with candidates.
The University of South Carolina onAir chapter will also help to establish other onAir chapters at public and private universities and colleges throughout the state.
University of South Carolina
Source: About
ABOUT
We enjoy a rich history of more than 200 years of academic leadership, and we’re building on that tradition. Find out more about our history, the people who make us successful and how to help shape our future.
Civic Engagement Programs
Source: Leadership and Service Center’
Civic Engagement
The Leadership and Service Center equips students to positively impact their communities through self-exploration and connections. We believe being civically engaged helps students become responsible, educated citizens in local, national and global communities.
Statement of Nonpartisanship
The Leadership and Service Center’s involvement in civic engagement is a nonpartisan effort. Our initiatives are meant to encourage informed and active participation in government, increase understanding of public issues, and create a culture of civic education and advocacy. The Leadership and Service Center does not support nor oppose any candidates for office or political party. As a center, we recognize it is unlikely for individual members of our team to be entirely nonpartisan with their personal views. Despite this, we find strength from this diversity of opinions and thoughts, rather than weakness. To balance our political ideologies, we intentionally select students from across the political spectrum in hopes of representing everyone.
Civic Engagement Programs
The Civic Leadership Education and Action Team (CLEAT) envisions and plans initiatives to cultivate deliberation, enhance civic literacy, and increase voter engagement on campus.
Voter Registration
Every year, CLEAT spearheads a Voter Registration Coalition composed of members of a variety of different student organizations and departmental programs. This coalition provides opportunities for students to register to vote, request an absentee ballot, verify their registration, find their polling location, and even see their sample ballot!
Guest Speakers & Civility Series
CLEAT partners with university departments to bring guest speakers to campus to discuss current events and hot topics in civic engagement.
Public Deliberation Program
CLEAT facilitates deliberative dialogues for classes, student organizations, or groups who are interested in having a facilitated conversation on a social issue
Constitution Day
In recognition of Constitution Day, the Civic Leadership Education and Action Team (CLEAT) and the Carolina Judicial Council are partnering to bring you Conversation Cafe! Learn about the connections to the Carolinian Creed and discover the importance of being an active citizen
Student Government
Source: Student Government
About Student Government
Since 1908, Student Government has had a distinguished history at the University of South Carolina. Former members can be found within various career fields to include business executives, lawyers, and community leaders. Stay in touch with what is happening by connecting with us on social media.
Student Government Initiatives
Student government is an active body that works for university students through numerous initiatives and programs such as the Carolina Closet which provides business and professional clothes for students and Swipe Out Hunger where students can donate unused meal swipes. The student government even assists in providing a shuttle to the Columbia Airport during Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, and Spring Break.
Internships
Source: Department of Political Science
Internships
Internships provide undergraduate and graduate students a chance to gain real-world experience and identify possible career paths that may interest them. Undergraduate majors have the option to pursue an internship, whereas MPA students are often required to gain this experience.
Political Science Programs
Source: Department of Political Science
One of the largest departments in the College of Arts & Sciences with more than 800 undergraduate students and over 100 graduate students, the Department of Political Science offers five degree programs: a B.A. in Political Science, a B.A. in International Studies, a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.), a Master of Arts in International Studies (M.A.I.S.), and a Ph.D. in Political Science. Our fields of study include American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Methodology, Political Theory, and Public Administration.
Undergraduate
The Department of Political Science is a popular and comfortable home for more than 800 undergraduate majors who choose one of two degree programs, political science or international studies. Both of these majors allow you to tailor your focus to fields of inquiry that may interest you, from American politics to environmental studies.
B.A. in Political Science
Students obtaining the B.A. in political science receive broad exposure to the discipline, selecting courses from fields such as American politics, comparative politics, international relations, public administration and policy, and political theory, while also developing one or two individualized areas of interest.
B.A. in International Studies
The B.A. in international studies emphasizes the interdisciplinary pursuit of comparative and/or international politics, allowing students to tailor their programs of study to focus on such topics as foreign policy, global economic or environmental studies, or international conflict and cooperation.
Minors
The department also offers two popular and very flexible minors in political science and international studies. Our department also houses the leadership studies minor. The minor prepares students for a lifelong process of leadership development and action. Grounded in a rigorous and multidisciplinary course of study, the minor introduces students to a range of perspectives and models of leadership. These diverse approaches are unified by the goal of providing knowledge and skills that can assist students in promoting positive social change. Academic leadership training combined with the practice of leadership through the myriad of opportunities available at the university provides the foundation for successful leadership development.
Graduate
The graduate programs in the Department of Political Science are designed to produce leading scholars and public servants, who possess keen analytical skills and leadership ability.
Master’s Degrees
Students can pursue a master’s degree in International Studies or Public Administration.
The Master of Arts in International Studies (MAIS) program is a professionally oriented program geared toward service in governmental, non-profit, and private sectors, both domestic and international. It offers two degree paths (course-based; thesis-based).
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program provides a graduate and professional education that incorporates managerial and analytical skills. It advances the understanding of issues facing the public sector.
Dual Degrees
We offer three dual degrees. Students can pursue a dual degree in Law and Public Administration (JD/MPA), Social Work and Public Administration (MSW/MPA), or Public Health and Public Administration (MPH/MPA).
Ph.D. Program
The Ph.D. program is designed to produce leading scholars in the discipline of Political Science. The Ph.D. program offers six major fields of study:
American Politics
Comparative Politics
International Relations
Political Theory
Public Law (recently ranked as one of the top five programs in the nation)
Public Administration/Public Policy
Additionally, the Ph.D. program offers seven minor fields of study: the six listed above, plus political methodology.
Research Initiatives
Source: Department of Political Science
Research Focus
Our faculty is recognized for its innovative research in political science and is the home of leading scholars in many subfields. The faculty’s interests run the gamut from American politics to comparative politics and international relations to political theory, public law, and public policy. Additions to the faculty in recent years have brought to the department a cohort of young, productive scholars who are producing exemplary work.
Our faculty members value asking big-picture theoretical questions that address major issues and employ an innovative blend of methodological approaches with which to enrich their research and teaching. The department boasts specialists in Bayesian statistics, spatial analysis, qualitative methods, causal inference, and field experiments, and in recent years our faculty have produced new insights into topics as varied as:
- the rule of law and the sources and challenges of failed, democratizing, and democratic states
- the role of geography in such political phenomena as voting and international conflict
- the causes and effects of social movements and collective action across the globe
- the sources and effects of variations in public policies across national states and nation-states
- the contemporary value of Aristotle’s politics, and the role of culture in political values
The department is heavily invested in collaborative research, and scholars frequently pursue projects with their undergraduate and especially graduate students. The fruits of these efforts have resulted in numerous publications in the best journals of the discipline and in books and book chapters published by prestigious university and private presses.
