FAQ

What is the Applied Politics & Policy Learning Experience (APPLE)?

The FSU’s Political Science Department offers the nation’s only program that gives select students leadership training and experiential political learning at the local, state and federal levels of government. APPLE leverages FSU’s location in the epicenter of Florida’s government, to give participating students an insider’s view and understanding of government and politics “from the ground up.” The coursework is sequenced to take students from theory to practice, combining coursework on local government and politics with experiential learning opportunities in the state of Florida and in Washington D.C., in conjunction with The Washington Center Program, a semester-in-D.C. summer program. APPLE spans the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters and students may earn college credits each semester.

Why be part of the APPLE program?

Not only will you learn critical skills in the classroom that will help you to navigate the political world, you will gain valuable professional experience to build your resumé, all while pursuing your undergraduate degree. Moreover, APPLE student leaders enjoy the following selective benefits:

  • Small undergraduate cohort experience, with a student-to-faculty ratio of approximately 6 to 1;
  • Personalized mentorship and professional training;
  • A hands-on introduction to local politics via engagement with civic leaders, public officials, community leaders and stakeholder groups;
  • Individualized placement in a premier state-level internship with professional experience during the fast-paced Florida legislative session;
  • Successful completion of the APPLE activities in the Fall and Spring automatically qualifies students for a scholarship for the Summer semester Washington Center experience which covers, at a minimum, approximately 75% of the program and housing fees (FSU tuition and fees not included).

Can you give me examples of internship opportunities?

Internship opportunities at the state level include placements working at the leadership of the Florida Senate, the Florida House of Representatives, or within executive agencies of the State of Florida. In Washington D.C., the Washington Center will work to place you in a D.C. internship that is compatible with your interests and professional aspirations.

Can you tell me more about the Washington D.C. summer experience?

Students may earn FSU credits for their work serving as an intern in Washington D.C. over the Summer semester. In addition to internship placement services and career readiness programming, The Washington Center provides fully furnished apartments in the heart of Washington D.C. More information on The Washington Center can be found here.

What coursework is involved?

The course sequence is as follows:

  • *Fall Semester: Special course for APPLE students only focused on leadership, local politics, and community activism. POS 3142 Urban Politics (3 credit hours). Completion of POS3713 is also required.
  • Spring Semester: POS 4941 Political Science Internship (6 credit hours).
  • Summer Semester: D.C. Internship Experience at The Washington Center (up to 12 credit hours available).

*Students must first be accepted to the APPLE program in order to register.

More Questions?

If you’d like to attend a virtual information session to learn more about the program, please sign up here. For more information, please contact Dr. Amanda Driscoll at adriscoll@fsu.edu.