Capital Region Political Internships

In this course, which can be taken in the Fall, Winter, or Spring, students become politically active and/or gain political experience by working for elected officials, government agencies, election campaigns, interest groups, non-profit organizations, lobby firms, etc. Students draw on their internship experience and related academic work to reach a better understanding of the complexities and dynamics of politics at the state or local level.

• 120 hours of internship work over the 10-week term
• associated academic work with course director
• individual and/or group meetings
• assigned readings
• written assignments
• 1-2 evening events, sometimes with a guest speaker

• Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s Office
• Senator Charles Schumer’s Office
• Lieutenant Governor’s Office
• US Representative Paul Tonko’s office
• New York State Assembly
• New York State Senate
• Schenectady City Clerk
• Schenectady County Planning Department
• Schenectady County District Attorney
• Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation
• Schenectady County Legislature
• SKDK Albany (a political public relations firm)
• US Post Office, Inspector’s Office
• Citizen Action
• Alliance for Quality Education, New York
• Alliance for Clean Energy
• Center for Community Justice
• Schenectady Country District Attorney’s Office, Victims Services
• New York State Attorney General’s Office, Bureau of Consumer Fraud and Investigations
• Audubon Society