Exploring Issues
Students in PSL examine contemporary legal and political topics in an effort to better understand the implications of issues facing our society. Through a series of discussions, debates, and open forums, students have explored such topics as Ohio’s Role in National Elections, Civil Rights, the 2nd Amendment, and the Environment vs. the Economy. On-campus events are supplemented with off-campus opportunities such as hearings at the Ohio Supreme Court, community service projects, and volunteering with political parties and candidates.
While we venture outside Central Ohio from time to time, PSLers soon find that all roads political and legal run through Columbus. As members of the OSU community, students are poised to take advantage of:
The resources of the state’s largest university...
...located in the state’s largest city...
...which is also the state capital.
Furthermore, Ohio is a crucial battleground state and “remains the grand prize in Presidential Politics” (Time Magazine, August 9, 2010) due to its large number of electoral votes and uncanny consistency. From 1896 to 2008, only one candidate managed to lose Ohio and still win the Presidency.* Ohio State hosted both Senator McCain and then-Senator Obama in the 2008 Election, while past-Presidents Bush and Clinton spoke at OSU commencements in 2002 and 2007 respectively. We are in the national spotlight in “off-years” as well – in 2006 Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart broadcast from campus the week before the mid-term elections.
(*JFK in 1960)
Exploring Careers
All students in PSL are encouraged to take advantage of internships, research, and study abroad in their areas of interest (the Pre-Law program at the University of Oxford, the John Glenn School’s Washington Academic Internship Program, and the Canadian Parliament Internship Program, among others). By the time students graduate, those continuing their studies will have an understanding of the opportunities afforded them through a law or graduate education and will be competitive in the application process.
Whether discussing the differences between the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Marshals Service, or private vs. government employment, PSLers have numerous opportunities to explore various career paths. We take advantage of one of the largest attorney-to-population ratios of any city in the country, due in part to the state and federal offices located in Columbus. Students can talk with and learn from professionals as part of our fireside chats, Lunch with a Lawyer series, large group panels, and guest presentation/debate nights.
PSL Scholars receive assistance with resumes and cover letters for full time jobs, law/grad school applications and summer internships. While PSL Scholars are encouraged to pursue whatever post-college plans they may have, students interested in politics and legal issues are often naturally drawn to law school and related careers. In years 3 and 4, PSLers planning on going to law school have opportunities to visit law schools in the region, observe courses, meet with current law students, and attend a professor-taught mock law class. All students headed to a graduate, law, or other professional degree program receive support with identifying schools, completing applications, and graduate test preparation.
Academics & Support
Most students in PSL will have at 1-3 courses with other PSLers in their first term, typically in smaller sections of 25-40 students each. The community in the first year residence hall is further enhanced as floormates get to know each other in the classroom and in study groups as well as during PSL activities.
All students at Ohio State are required to take English 110 as well as a “First Year Survey” class that covers everything from the General Education Curriculum requirements to issues of academic integrity. Most first year students in PSL are automatically enrolled in customized “clustered” versions of both courses, and have the opportunity to enroll in optional PSL-only sections of a 200-level Political Science course and/or a 200-level English course.
Each student is assigned an advisor in their chosen field (PSLers can be found in most of Ohio State’s undergraduate colleges). The PSL Program Manager collaborates with college advisors to help build the academic relationship with students from day one by tracking a student’s academic progress, providing support and resources, and preparing them for graduation and possible graduate or professional studies.