Structure & Timeline
Structure
Public Service Clinics and Degree Project Seminars are the same in that students work in seminar settings with the guidance of a faculty advisor and the support of peers through two six credit courses during their last year of study at the Evans School.
The only difference is that students in Public Service Clinics all work with agencies, while some students in Degree Project Seminars work with agencies and some work on topics independent of an agency. Both formats are organized around broad themes of public policy.
Timeline
Autumn Quarter
- Mid September: A call for proposals is sent to nonprofits and public agencies
- End of October: All agency proposals are due on October 31; faculty members review them and selected topics are posted online for students to choose from
- Early November: All self-proposed student topics and applications for available agency topics are due
- Late November/Early December: Agencies are notified of matches and the first meeting with the student(s) and faculty advisor is scheduled; letters of agreement are drafted
Winter Quarter
- January: Letters of agreement are finalized; agencies pay half of their participation fee
- January-March: Students develop a work plan, identify research questions and methods, and conduct a literature review. By March, students write the background and introductory portions of their degree project and are implementing their research methods.
Spring Quarter
- April: Agencies meet with the student(s) and faculty advisor for a progress report
- May: Draft products are prepared and reviewed
- June: Students present a final report of their findings to the agency, Evans School community, and others at Presentation Day; agencies pay the second half of their participation fee for successfully completed projects
Find out more about upcoming deadlines and events for the current academic year and how to submit a proposal by contacting the Public Service Clinics at psclinic@u.washington.edu or 206.221.3676.
