Internships

The Department of Political Science was a pioneer in establishing internships at Skidmore and works closely with the Office of Career Services and with the Alumni Affairs Office to expand opportunities for students.Internships give you practical skills and work experience that enhance your classroom learning. Our students have interned with elected officials at the national, state, and local levels, a host of lobbying, nonprofit, and public entities, and private law firms and consultants.

An exhaustive list of American, international, political theory, New York state and local internships as well as funding opportunities is available on Professor Turner's website. You can also contact Professor Turner, the internship coordinator in the Political Science Department. In addition, the Career Services office (Starbuck Center) maintains an electronic library of internships. You can register for and access these listings through any computer connected to the main system (skidmore.edu/administration/career) or through a visit to Career Services. Many students, on the other hand, locate their own internship sponsor through faculty advisors, family members, or alumni contacts or simply by approaching an organization or office directly.

Students may also apply for the Levine Internship Awards in American Government, Politics, and Law. These internship awards honor the memory of Erwin L. Levine, who was a Skidmore Government Department professor of American politics and law from 1961 until his retirement in 1988. The awards are offered on a competitive basis to students interning in the fields of American government and politics. Skidmore students from any major or minor may apply. The summer award is a cash stipend up to $4,500. Click here to download the Levine Internship Award Application. There are also two full-semester internship programs and a summer program.

• The Washington Semester Program
  Each year several juniors or seniors are selected to attend a one-semester program in Washington, D.C., where they attend seminars and classes at American University, hold internships at various congressional and agency offices, complete a major independent project, and receive academic credit for a full semester of courses. Interested students should contact the Office of Off-Campus Study and Exchange.
  
• New York State Assembly and Senate Internships
  The New York State Legislature offers students a chance to participate in state government and the legislative process by interning at the State Capitol. Students have the opportunity to get involved in state government and gain firsthand knowledge of the legislative process. Interns work a minimum of 30 hours for Assembly and Senate members doing research and other tasks in the members' offices. Interns also take a class on New York politics and the legislative process. Also, interns receive a stipend ($4,120 in Spring 2009) for participating in the internship. The internship is only available in the spring semester, and the deadline is October 31. Interested students should contact Professor Turner.
• State of New York Executive Chamber Internship Program
  This program offers an outstanding opportunity for motivated college juniors, seniors, and new (or recent) graduates to gain real-world government experience working closely with the governor's staff. The deadline for applying for the summer program is April 1. More information is available here.

Additional Internship Opportunities:

click here to see Prof. Bob Turner's website