INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR ART HISTORY

 

An internship involves registration for 3 credits under the rubric of:

082:495 or 496, “Internship in Art History”

To earn three credits the student must put in approximately 14 days of work (7.5 hours per day) at the chosen institution. This is approximately 105 hours. The student keeps a journal – a brief account of work done, etc.--and also submits a two- to three-page summary of his/her activities. The journal and summary should be emailed to the Art History Undergraduate Program Director by the last day of classes.

For a student doing an internship in the summer, requirements are the same except that as the numbers 495 and/or 496 do not exist  in the summer, the student will do the internship and then register for the relevant course the following autumn. Those enrolled in the course retroactively (for example, in the fall semester for a summer internship) may hand in the journal and report close the beginning of the fall semester. 

Internships at museums often offer credit instead of an hourly wage. If the student is paid, and that is the standard in museum practice as of 2020, the department will also give credit.  Some host institutions will consider commuting time as part of the day, but not all. The student must negotiate this individually. 

Students may choose to work intensively over Spring break to build up the required number of hours.  

The student’s supervisor at the host institution will be requested to provide an evaluation.  The UPD will write directly to the supervisors  shortly before the end of the semester.  

The student is responsible for identifying internship opportunities and negotiating with the host institution. We have placed student interns at the Art Library and the Zimmerli.  Be persistent! Sometimes the most interesting internships are at small organizations, because you will be given a lot of responsibility. Do not limit yourself to the official competitions at the Met or other big museums. 

All internships are subject to approval by the Undergraduate Director.