The academic portion of the New York State Assembly Internship Program is designed to enhance and reinforce the analytical, communication, and professional skills Interns develop through their semester-long, immersive legislative experience. Using the legislature as a classroom, and New York State politics and policy as course materials, our accomplished Professors-in-Residence guide Interns through the weekly activities of state government.

Participating in structured class discussions and producing various work products, including a major research paper based on a policy of the student’s choosing, each Intern will gain a greater understanding of the following:

• How to critically evaluate policy
• The role of politics in the New York State legislative process
• How to write effectively on diverse and complex subjects
• Principles and practices of democracy, citizen participation, equity, and rights
• The impact of global and other powerful forces on the democratic process

The course is intended to help Interns understand the environment in which they are working and to appreciate the differences and decisions that allow for consensus and the passage of legislation. Understanding this process will inform Interns as to the most effective way to research and communicate in a legislative setting.

The academic course, which constitutes 55% of the Intern’s final grade, includes weekly meetings each Thursday held in the Legislative Office Building as part of the regular workday.