NEW YORK STATE, COUNTY & LOCAL EMPLOYMENT
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT
Career & Professional Education Center
Through its mission, the Buffalo State University Career and Professional Education Center (CAPE) provides comprehensive services to matriculated undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, employers, and faculty/staff. The center's staff assists students and alumni with career exploration and decision-making, gaining valuable experience, job search preparation, finding jobs and internships, and selecting and applying to graduate schools.
Graduate Student Internships
MPA students can earn three credit hours through PAD 588 Public Administration Graduate Internship. Internships are located at nonprofit agencies and government offices in Western New York. Please contact publicadministration@buffalostate.edu or speak directly with your MPA adviser to review the policy and to obtain an application.
Upcoming deadlines for internship applications:
Fall 2025 internship: July 1, 2025
Spring 2026 internship: November 1, 2025
Summer 2026 internship: March 15, 2026
Fall 2026 internship: July 1, 2026
The NYS Internships are paid internships available through competitive application. MPA students can apply and earn credit for this internship. NYS Assembly Graduate Internships take place from the first week of January through mid/end of June.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY GRADUATE INTERNSHIP
Several MPA students have served internships in the NYS Assembly.
Applications, information, and deadlines
Stipend: $23,000 (2025 Session)
Contact Dr. Laurie Buonanno, NYS Assembly Faculty Liaison, for more information.
Opportunity to earn credit towards the MPA
MPA students participating in the the NYS Assembly or the NYS Senate Internship/Fellowship can earn up to SIX (6) graduate credit hours towards the MPA in any of the thematic tracks.
Students who would like to earn credit towards their MPA must register for the following courses:
Three credit hours requested
PAD 588 Public Administration Graduate Internship (3 credit hours)
Six credit hours requested
PAD 588 Public Administration Graduate Internship (3 credit hours)
PAD 587 NYS Government & Budget (Course by Contract) (3 credit hours)
NEW YORK STATE SENATE GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP
The NYS Senate Graduate Fellowship runs throughout the academic year (September through July). The application deadline is typically in April.
Undergraduate Student Internships
Undergraduate students matriculated in the Public Administration Minor can earn three credit hours through PAD 488 in external placements (capstone experience). Students can identify their own off campus internship opportunity or work with the PAD Internship Coordinator.
Undergraduate students who are not enrolled in the Public Administration minor can still register for PAD 488. This is an on-campus internship. We place on- campus interns with the Institute for European Union Studies at SUNY (primarily organizing and leading all aspects of the student-organized SUNY Model European Union) and with the Public Administration program (assisting with database management, data reporting, covering public administration events, and social media).
DETAILS
- Students must document 135 hours of work, which include working on-the-job, keeping a weekly journal, submitting a final paper about the internship experience, and attendance at required workshops.
- Students must be available to work approximately 8-10 hours a week for 13-14 weeks.
- The local internship is a graded experience (A-E).
Contact Dr. Laurie Buonanno, Public Administration Internship Coordinator, for more information.
The NYS Assembly Internships are paid internships available through competitive application.
This opportunity is open to public administration minors and economics majors. If you are a political science major, you will want to check that department's website for details.
If you are a public administration minor, contact Dr. Laurie Buonanno, Public Administration Internship Coordinator.
If you are an economics or finance major, contact Dr. Curtis Hayes, Economics & Finance Internship Coordinator.
PAD 488: Albany Assembly Session Internship (15 credit hours)
he New York State Assembly offers up to 150 college students an opportunity to get involved in state government and gain firsthand knowledge of the legislative process. Interns are enrolled in a course taught by the Intern Committee Professors-in-Residence. They are assigned research and administrative responsibilities in an Assembly office. The Assembly Intern Committee awards a stipend and book allowance to each Session Intern. The undergraduate stipend for the 2025 Session was $8,800.
Deadline
Spring semester only. The normal BSU deadline is mid-October. The specific date is set at the beginning of each fall semesterr, with an email circulated to students alerting them of this opportunity.
Consult
Discuss the internship with your major/minor's internship coordinator before applying.
Public Administration Honor Society
Pi Alpha Alpha- The Global Honor Society for Public Affairs & Public Administration
Induction into the public administration and affairs honor society takes place each April. Qualifying MPA students will receive an invitation during the spring semester by Dr. Ikhee Cho, Pi Alpha Alpha local chapter faculty adviser.
Scholarships and Awards
Dr. Keith P. Henderson Scholarship
MPA students with a GPA of 3.0 or above are invited to apply for the Dr. Keith Henderson Scholarship early in the spring semester. The department sends out an email with application information and deadlines to all MPA students. Students apply through the Campus Application Portal for Scholarships.
Click here for application requirements.
Outstanding MPA Project Award
Awaded for Outstanding MPA Project/Thesis from the previous academic year. No application required. The MPA Committee selects the awardee.
Outstanding MPA Alumni Award
Selected by the MPA Committee.
New York State Excelsior Service Fellowship
Post Graduation Fellowship Opportunity
The New York State Excelsior Service Fellowship Program is a competitive fellowship available for one or two MPA students (depending upon whether a student from the CJ Master's program is selected), who have graduated the previous August, previous December, or May for the competition year. This is a full-time fellowship where the fellow gains hands-on training and experience in NYS government. It is a two-year commitment. The salary range is $55,000-$60,000 depending on previous experience. Placement includes the Executive Chamber, state government agencies, or state authorities.
Fellows works alongside senior members of the administration and play a policy-influencing role in New York State with the opportunity to focus on the most pressing issues of the day.
The Career & Professional Education Center holds an information session each fall semester, with applications typically due in early February. All MPA students are notified of these sessions via email.
Excelsior Service Fellowship video
Previous Placements for our MPA Students
2017- 2019
Kayla Carrasquillo Baker: Department of Environmental Conservation. "Adventure New York"
Naima Yancey: Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. Administrative office focusing on talent acquistion.
2018-2020
Christopher Kuwik: Department of Environmental Conservation, Strategic Planning & Performance Management Unit, Albany, NY
Alexis Willard: Office of the Medicaid Inspector General, Bureau of Compliance, Albany, NY
2019-2021
Tyler Bridgewater: Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, DPCS Waiver Unit (Project Management), Albany, NY
Taylor Vishion: Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, Emergency Management, Albany, NY
2020-2022 (Cancelled due to COVID-19)
Jayl Williams
2023-2025
Joshua Oballin: Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, Division of Service Access, Program Implementation & Stakeholder Support
2024-2026
Nathania Capriles - Offfice for People with Developmental Disabilities