Foreign Policy Through A Great Decisions Practicum

Abstract

Many political science departments face the difficult challenge of providing practical learning experiences of use to students beyond their collegiate years. The problem is particularly pronounced in the international field, where there are fewer internship and work-credit outlets and participation in study abroad programs may be limited by financial or logistical considerations. An alternative device offering “hands on” experience is a practicum, combining classroom instruction with the opportunity to apply acquired knowledge through activity outside the traditional classroom setting.One such effort to augment the international relations curriculum is the Great Decisions practicum. Sponsored nationally by the Foreign Policy Association (FPA), Great Decisions is a non-partisan study/discussion program intended to familiarize citizens with critical foreign policy issues facing the United States. Each year, participants are exposed to eight major policy issues by reading the Great Decisions study guide and through involvement in a community lecture and discussion series.