Public Service Internship (formerly Albany Semester Program)
“Where Learning Comes Alive”

Overview

The NYS capital is an ideal setting for students interested in working for state government.    The Public Service Internship Program is an executive branch internship that allows students to work in a wide variety of state agencies.   Open to all academic majors, students have interned in agencies such as the Department of Environmental Conservation, State Education Department Offices of Bilingual Education, Child Nutrition, Non-Public Schools, Standards and Assessment, the Department of Motor Vehicles and SUNY Administration.   In addition, regional placements are available throughout NYS in state affiliated agencies.   Past regional placements have included:  NYS Attorney General’s Office,  NYS Division of Human Rights, area school districts,  and SUNY Brockport.

Participating students earn between 12 - 16 academic credits (depending on their home campuses) and a stipend of $3,000 during academic year for the 15 week internship (fall and spring semesters). During the summer, students intern for 10 weeks and earn a stipend of $2,500.   Students seeking regional placements (Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo) may be paid or unpaid depending on the organization.  Regional placements also offer more flexibility in terms of credit (3-15 credits depending on hours worked). 

Academic and Field Supervision

The program coordinator serves as the intern’s academic advisor, helps the student secure an appropriate placement in Albany, provides on-going guidance during the internship, and evaluates the intern’s work throughout the semester. 

In the field, students are supervised by qualified staff members familiar with the Public Service Internship, academic requirements and learning objectives.  An important part of any internship is the relationship between the intern and immediate supervisor.    The quality of placements (internship sites) and the student’s performance are carefully monitored through communication between the Public Service Internship staff and the participating interns. 

Academic Requirements and Prerequisites

The Public Service Internship typically offers full-time academic credit depending on the student’s home campus.  As noted above, regional placements may be arranged for fewer credits. Grading is based on supervisor’s evaluations, weekly reflective journals, an academic term paper, work portfolio and final presentations.   Students should be in their junior or senior year (with the exception of The College at Brockport Delta College students) and have a minimum 2.75 GPA. 

Participating Schools

Participating schools include the State University of New York Colleges at Brockport, Cortland, Empire State, Geneseo, Oneonta, Oswego and Potsdam.  However, students from all four-year SUNY campuses are eligible to participate at the discretion of their home campus.   Community college and private college students are also eligible to participate.  Students from non-SUNY campuses and community colleges would register for credits at The College at Brockport. 

For more information

Program Coordinator
SUNY Brockport
Career Services
350 New Campus Drive
Brockport, NY 14420
(585) 395-2392 or rdicarlo@brockport.edu