AMST Internship Proposal Form (.doc)
Internships are a great way to explore career interests and earn college credit while gaining valuable work experience. American Studies majors are encouraged to include at least one internship experience, and some students have done more than one,
Information on internships is available in the American Studies office
(just ask to see the internship folder) or from the Career
Center. Internships in government, business, and cultural institutions
(e.g. museums, libraries, historical societies) are readily available. Many internships are also announced via email, so make sure your university-listed email address is kept current.
In order to qualify as an internship, your work placement must have (1) a clear connection to American Studies or a focus area and (2) include mentoring by your site supervisor. This mentoring may take the form of regular evaluation sessions, rotation among several departments or tasks or being included in meetings and planning sessions. The goal should be to expose you to the overall operation of the worksite and give you insight into career options in that field.
To register for an internship, you need to submit a proposal. The cover sheet and instructions are available in the American Studies office or online (downloadable .doc file). The form needs to be signed by you, your faculty sponsor and your site supervisor, then returned to the American Studies Office.
Students accepted for an internship are expected to meet with their faculty
sponsor to draw up a contract for the internship, outlining its terms
and specifying the nature of the written research project that the student
will submit for academic credit.
Normally, students are expected to register for course credit while they are performing the internship. The course number for a first internship is AMST 386; additional internships may be taken as ARHU 386 or AMST 398.
Internships in American Studies
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an internship? An internship is a trainee position; when the University grants credit for work experience, it is with the expectation that the student is participating in experiential learning which is tied to an academic field.
How do I arrange for credit for an internship? In order to earn credit, you must register for experiential learning credit (AMST 386, ARHU 386, etc.) during the semester in which you will be doing the work. For example, if you do an internship in June, July or August, you must register for AMST 386 during summer session. Prior to registration, you need to submit a completed, signed Internship Proposal Form to Dr. Paoletti. (Forms are available on the AMST website and in the main AMST office.)
How may I use internship credits towards my degree? You can apply three internship credits towards one of your outside focus areas. If you take additional credits, they will count towards the 45-credits needed for the ARHU upper-level elective requirement.
What kinds of internships do AMST majors do? Because the credits are applied toward the focus area, most internships reflect those interests. The campus Career Center can be an excellent resource for internship ideas and announcements. Examples are given below:
Focus Area Internship Ideas______________________
Business/Econ: Private sector firms in your preferred field
Education: Tutoring organizations, youth programming
Ethnic Studies: Political advocacy, multicultural organizations
History: Archives, museums, libraries
Material Culture: National Park Service, museums
Media Studies: Broadcasting, print media, American Film Institute
Popular Culture: Sports marketing, fashion industry
Will I get paid for an internship? That depends on the internship site; many private sector and some public sector internships are paid. Others are credit-only, so be sure to read the fine print and ask!
