American Studies Internships and Summer Opportunities

A summer or part-time semester internships is a valuable opportunity for you to gain practical job experience and build relationships with professionals and organizations in your area if interest. Not only do internships give you a glimpse into a professional world, but they often provide you with many of the tools needed to enter into that world: letters of recommendation, personal references and sometimes even a job offer. The Boston area and greater New England are home to a number of organizations that provide internship opportunities during the summer or over the course of a semester. If you don't see an organization of interest in the links below, contact the organization's director or education department and ask if they would be interested in sponsoring an internship. Many organizations that don't have internship programs are often interested in working with interns.

Frequently Asked Questions about American Studies Internships

How Do I Find Internships?

This page has a listing of American Studies Internship opportunities to get you started. Stonehill's Career Services office also offers directories of national internships and advice on applying for internships. Finally, your professors might also have some valuable contacts with local organizations. Let them know you are interested in a summer internship. When Should I Start my Internship Search? If you are looking for a summer internship, we recommend that you begin your search in January of that year. Often prestigious internships have lengthy applications that require writing samples and recommendations. Many organizations begin accepting summer internship applications as early as February.

What does an "American Studies Internship" look like?

Recent American Studies Majors have interned at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, the Center for Non-Profit Management at Stonehill, the Brockton Department of Social Services, and area law offices. Most American Studies internships reflect your interests within the discipline.

A few suggestions:

Education and American Studies: Tutoring Organization, Youth Program, Educational Think Tanks, Museum Education.

Difference and Diversity/ Ethnic Studies: Political Advocacy Groups, Multi-Cultural Organizations.

History and American Studies: Archives, Museums, Libraries. Material Culture: National Park Services, Museums.

Media Studies: Broadcasting, Print Media, American Film Institute.

Popular Culture: Sports Marketing, Advertising, Fashion Industry, Museums.

Social Justice and American Studies: Community Groups, Governments, Social Service Agencies, Non-Profits.

How do I get credit for my Internship?

Below is the approval process for any undergraduate student seeking course credit for an internship:

  • Find an Internship: An internship can be considered for American Studies credit only if it is related to the study of American Studies. It is the student's own responsibility to apply directly to institutions offering internships.
  • Find a Faculty Member to Work With: Before beginning the internship, the student should ask an appropriate faculty member to serve as the instructor of record for AM 475 Internship in American Studies.
  • Submit the Internship Proposal: Working with their faculty advisor, students must submit a completed "Internship Application Form" by no later than the last day for Add/Drop. Failure to make this deadline will result in the Internship being dropped off the student schedule.
  • Lastly, students may add AM 475 to their schedule on HillNet.

Will I get paid for my Internship?

Some organizations do pay their interns small stipends; others cover the interns' housing costs. Many non-profit organizations, however, just don't have the funding to pay their interns. If you are unsure if your internship is paid or not, just ask your organization.

Internship Listings:

On Campus Internships

Stonehill College Archives

The Stonehill Archives and Historical Collections Department has several internships each semester. Interns will assist with cataloguing and preserving the Stanley A. Bauman Photograph Collection, which includes over 500,000 negatives, prints, and assorted artifacts, focusing on Brockton and Eastern Massachusetts. These unpaid internships are 8-10 hours per week and are open to students of any major. If interested please contact the Nicole Tourangeau.

Stonehill Industrial History Collections

The Stonehill Industrial History Collections contain a large quantity of historical documents and artifacts. The majority of collections are based on Easton's Ames Family and their diverse enterprises, beginning with shovel manufacturing but expanding to politics and various businesses throughout the country. A wide variety of social history topics can be explored through the collection, e.g. labor, immigration, built environment topics, industrial and commercial design to name just a few. Interns will work under the direction of the curator either on projects of a curatorial/collection care nature such as organizing and caring for collections or projects of a more research/analytical nature such as exploring a topic or theme utilizing collection materials. These unpaid internships are 8-10 hours per week and are open to students of any major. If interested please contact Greg Galer.

Center for Nonprofit Management

The Center for Nonprofit Management at Stonehill College (CNPM) is dedicated to providing students with a passion or interest in nonprofits with an internship experience that matches their qualifications and interests. Or, if you're interested in learning more about nonprofits, CNPM will happily provide you with learning or volunteer opportunities. Please visit the website for specific internships.

The Washington DC Internship Program

Through its affiliation with the Washington Center, Stonehill College offers students the opportunity to spend a semester as an intern in the nation's capitol. The Center assists in the placement, orientation, supervision and evaluation of interns, as well as provides student housing and academic seminars. Student interns in Washington earn 15 credits. The Washington Internship Program is open to all majors. Sample placements include: Federal Trade Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Homeland Security, Interpol, U.S. Attorney's Office, NCIS, Department of the Treasury, CNN, The White House, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Various offices on Capitol Hill.

The New York City Internship Program

Stonehill College offers students from all majors the opportunity to spend a semester interning in New York City. Students participating in this program will be enrolled at Stonehill College, pay their normal tuition, and still receive any applicable financial aid. Recent internship placement sites have included: Carnegie Hall, Stella McCartney Public Relations, Permal Asset Management, Dow Jones, FIS, Marvel Entertainment Inc., Show Business Weekly, New York Red Bulls.

Boston Area Internships

Massachusetts Historical Society

The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) is an independent research library and manuscript repository located in down-town Boston. Its holdings encompass millions of rare and unique documents and artifacts vital to the study of American history, many of them irreplaceable national treasures. See the website job page for a listing of specific internships in publishing, museum education, archives and development.

John F. Kennedy Library & Museum

The JFK museum, located on Columbia Point on the southern edge of Boston, portrays the life, leadership, and legacy of President Kennedy. With over 34 million pages of manuscript holdings, 180000 photographs, 70000 volumes of printed material, and 15000 museum objects, the library is a premier resource for the study of the Kennedy presidency, the 1960s, the process of government, and the impact and legacy of public service. The library awards several summer archival internships each year in the textual, audiovisual, and museum collections departments. Interns must commit to a minimum of 12 hours per week, and are paid at a rate $11/hour. Applications for internships must be received by February 25. Placement is competitive and each application should include a resume, one letter of recommendation, and a current college transcript. For additional information, and an online application, see the website above.

Historic New England

Historic New England is a museum of cultural history which collects and preserves buildings, landscapes, and objects dating from the seventeenth century to the present and uses them to keep history alive and to help people develop a deeper understanding and enjoyment of New England life and appreciation for its preservation. Historic New England offers internships to graduate and undergraduate students pursuing degrees in American studies, American history, museum studies, arts administration, preservation studies, art and architectural history, library science, and related fields. Interns have the opportunity to work with Historic New England's extraordinary and rich collection of historic structures and landscapes, archival collections of photographs, architectural drawings, and ephemera, and material culture collections. Internship opportunities are also available to students interested in marketing, public relations, and development in the non-profit sector. Internships are unpaid, but may be completed for course credit. To receive application materials, contact, Jennifer Pustz, museum historian.

The Boston Globe

The Boston Globe summer intern program accepts only college students who have at least one semester of undergraduate study remaining. An aptitude for newspaper work is the most important qualification for the internship, but nearly all applicants must have worked on a student newspaper and have had a previous internship at a daily newspaper. Internships are NOT limited to students with journalism majors. Applicants must have a driver's license and type at least 30 words per minute. Interns are considered full-time employees for the 13 weeks from Memorial Day to Labor Day and are expected to complete a full internship unless classes require them to start late or leave early. The internship includes frequent discussions with editors as well as the intern supervisor and there are weekly seminars on the First Amendment, libel law and other important issues. Most reporting interns work as general assignment reporters on the metropolitan staff. Others are assigned to sports, living/arts or business. There are also intern positions in photography, in the graphics department, in the Washington bureau and on the copy desk. Interns at the Globe are paid a weekly wage. Applications for the coming year's internships must be postmarked by November 4. Interviews will be scheduled in late December or early January.

Boston Magazine

Boston Magazine offers several part-time internships in the fall (September-December), spring (January-May) and summer (June-August). Interns may work in Advertising, Marketing, Special Projects, Editorial, Research, Art and Production. To apply, send a cover letter stating which department you are applying for, and your résumé, and writing samples (where applicable) to Michelle Watts. No phone calls. Applications are due at least two months prior to the beginning of the requested intern session. All internships unpaid and part time.

Boston Review

Boston Review is a prestigious, fast-growing national magazine of politics, culture, and the arts. Interns work year-round on a variety of editorial and promotional projects and are essential to the magazine's operation.The internship program includes copyediting, fact-checking, proofreading, and desktop publishing, for which training is provided. Other responsibilities include screening submissions for publication, summarizing and proposing books for review, corresponding with authors, updating the magazine's web site, and maintaining our database of writers and other contacts. Boston Review's office is small and gives interns a unique opportunity to be involved in nearly every aspect of magazine publishing. Prior work experience in publishing is less important than the applicant's knowledge of Boston Review, and the level of commitment and creativity that he or she can bring to the magazine. We offer twelve internship positions each year, four per term. Two of the four positions are full-time, and two require a minimum commitment of fifteen hours a week. All internships are unpaid. Candidates are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Boston Review archives. Please see the website to submit an application.

Candlewick Press

Candlewick Press, a leading publisher of books for children, offers internships in the fall, spring and summer according to the needs of various departments. An independent publisher, Candlewick is a small dynamic company that provides excellent opportunities to acquire firsthand knowledge of the publishing industry. Although interns are assigned to a specific department, they will be exposed to all departments within the company. When feasible, the following internship positions are available: Marketing interns prepare marketing materials for the national sales force, coordinate mailings to the media, perform some clerical duties, and work on a variety of ongoing projects. Sales interns assist with writing and organizing a department newsletter, researching and developing new markets, handling some clerical and administrative tasks, and assisting department members on new projects. Publishing Services interns proofread both published and upcoming titles, organize and review foul files, review advance books for corrigenda, facilitate the circulation of book materials between the various departments, assist with various production needs, and perform administrative tasks as needed. Editorial interns read and report on manuscripts, register our books with the Library of Congress and the Copyright Office, perform library and bookstore research as needed, and assist editors with a variety of clerical and editorial duties. Art Department interns assist with all aspects of promotion and book design, so proficiency in Quark Express and some knowledge of paste-up and lay-out is required. The desired time commitment is typically twelve hours a week. These positions do not offer any monetary compensation, however in exchange, we offer an invaluable opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the publishing world and make important professional contacts. Interested candidates should send a résumé and cover letter specifying the position and semester of interest to: Carly Walsh, c/o Candlewick Press, 2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140.

The Christian Science Monitor

Summer interns at The Christian Science Monitor have an opportunity for "hands on" experience in the day-to-day editorial process. That experience may range from writing short items for the paper, doing research, or assisting the photo department. It may also include everyday essential tasks such as sorting mail and delivering daily newspapers. At the discretion of the editors, interns may also assist news or feature desks with editing, rewriting, contacting correspondents and contributors, and performing other duties such as assisting with special projects. Applicants with journalism experience will be considered first. The minimum time requirement for paid internships is 35 hours a week for three months. Please send resume, clips, and cover letter by January 31.

Transition Magazine

Transition magazine is an official publication of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute at Harvard University. Transition magazine is a clearing house for the freshest, most compelling, most curious-and often most controversial-ideas about race, ethnicity, culture, and politics. Recent contributors include Russell Banks, Kathleen Cleaver, Ice Cube, Carlos Fuentes, Nadine Gordimer, Philip Gourevitch, Christopher Hitchens, bell hooks, Jamaica Kincaid, KRS-One, Spike Lee, Richard Rorty, and Edward Said. Transition staff come from and go on to the New Yorker, the Atlantic Monthly, Harper's, and other major magazines. Intern responsibilities include reviewing manuscripts, finding artwork and photography, conducting research, and assisting with administrative tasks. Obsessive attention to detail, high levels of motivation and initiative, Web fluency, dedication to good writing, and fluency in the political and cultural issues of ethnicity are all desirable. Minorities strongly encouraged to apply. Internships are generally unpaid; interns must work a minimum of 10 hours per week. To apply: Read the magazine, then mail us a cover letter, resume, and two writing samples. Internships are available for the summer and timing is flexible.

City of Boston- Boston Urban Mechanics Program http://www.cityofboston.gov/internships/BUMP.asp

Interns with the Boston Urban Mechanics Program will have the chance to be "urban mechanics" and learn first-hand the challenges and rewards of public service in one of the nation's most innovative city governments. Boston Urban Mechanics interns will have the opportunity to not only gain valuable professional experience in municipal government but to provide useful contributions that will help the City to deliver a high level of service to neighborhoods and residents. Opportunities exist to take on projects related to policy and legislation, the environment, budgeting, and much more. Depending on department need the City of Boston will have internship opportunities available during the summer, spring and fall semesters. In addition to a rewarding work experience, interns will participate in an orientation at the beginning of their time at City Hall. During the course of the internship, students will have opportunities to participate in seminars, social events and networking sessions, not only with other interns but with city officials and civic leaders in Boston. Internships have been offered in the following departments: Boston Public Library, Mayor's Office, Parks & Recreation Department, Transportation Development, Office of New Bostonians, Press Office Inspectional Services, Boston Centers for Youth & Families, Department of Neighborhood Development, Emergency Shelter Commission. Full-time summer interns are paid a stipend of $2,500 for undergraduates and $4,000 for graduate students. Most semester internships do not pay stipends, but check the job description to be sure. Boston residency is required for paid internships. To apply you will need an application, current resume, a writing sample, and contact information for two references. Applications are posted on the website. http://www.cityofboston.gov/internships/faq.asp

WBUR

WBUR offers internship opportunities with the following departments and/or programs: Newscast Unit, New Media, Here & Now, On Point and Only A Game. The goal of WBUR is to provide interns with a substantive, meaningful work experience such that each intern concludes the internship period with demonstrable skills in his/her area of interest and a knowledge of how public radio 'works.' Each position varies in terms of the total weekly commitment, the specific hours worked and the responsibilities involved. All internship positions are unpaid. A degree or concentration in broadcast journalism is sometimes preferred but not required. Any student selected as an intern who is interested in receiving course credit must present the written consent of his/her adviser prior to beginning the internship. One need not be a matriculated student to apply. Internships follow a Fall, Spring and Summer schedule. To apply send a resume and brief cover letter explaining which internship position interests you and what you hope to contribute to the position in question. Materials are reviewed on a rolling basis. Positions are open until filled. Please contact the Internship Coordinator at internships@wbur.bu.edu to request more detailed information about the positions available and application deadlines.

Internships North and South of Boston

Plimoth Plantation

Step back in time almost four centuries and become part of the living history experience at Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Staff members, through painstaking research, period costumes and dialect, and authentically reproduced buildings and artifacts, re-create the people and places of 17th-century Plymouth. Plimoth Plantation offers paid internships, partially paid internships and volunteer internships. Academic credit is available. Although the majority of internships take place over the summer, some autumn, spring and winter internships may also be offered. Common departments/areas for internships include education, farm department, foodways, horticulture, museum collections, and public relations. Limited housing available.

The American Textile History Museum

  • http://www.athm.org/
  • 491 Dutton Street Lowell, MA 01854
  • Contact: See Specific Internships Contacts Below

The American Textile History Museum offers unpaid internships in several departments. The Museum staff will work with a candidate to customize an internship or practicum that achieves the student's goals while fitting the Museum's needs and capabilities. A list of intern opportunities includes a Museum Education Internship, a Library Internship, and a Collections Internship. ATHM is not able to provide stipends or housing for interns. Candidates may submit a letter of application and a resume, by mail to the contact person, (found on the museums' internship page) c/o American Textile History Museum, 491 Dutton Street, Lowell, MA 01854 or call them for more information.

National Heritage Museum

The National Heritage Museum offers a variety of internship experiences. An internship with NHM gives students an opportunity to work hands-on with museum professionals and gain insight into the workings of a museum. Interns are expected to work a minimum of three months and a minimum of 8 hours a week. Hours and duration of the internship will be determined according to the department. Internships are unpaid, but may be taken for course credit in cooperation with your institution.

The Patriot Ledger

The Patriot Ledger is an 80,000 circulation suburban daily in Quincy, Mass, right next to Boston. The Ledger has a solid reputation for the quality of its local coverage. Paid internships in the news and photo department are available to recent college graduates and promising undergraduates. Candidates who are involved in campus papers are particularly encouraged to apply.

Western Massachusetts Internships

Old Sturbridge Village

  • www.osv.org
  • Bill Hatzberger, Education Department
  • Phone: (508) 347-3362 x265
  • Email: By link on "Contact Us" page.

Located in Western Massachusetts, Old Sturbridge Village is the largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast, portraying everyday life in an 1830s New England village through costumed interpretation and more than 40 restored historical buildings. The Village's interpretation of New England's past is based on decades of award-winning historical research, including work in archaeology, material culture studies, and the examination of hundreds of letters, diaries, and account books. Volunteer internships for academic credit are available in three areas of the museum: the research center, the education department and activities/development. See the website for contact link and a downloadable application.

Springfield Armory National Historic Site

  • www.nps.gov/spar
  • Contact: Joanne Gangi-Wellman, Chief of Visitor Services
  • Phone: (413) 734-8551 x236
  • Email: By link on "Contact Us" page.

The Springfield Armory is a National Park Service site located in Springfield, Massachusetts. Located on the site of the first national armory (1794), the original 1840s arsenal houses the world's largest collection of American military firearms. 120-hour internships are offered in preservation/conservation and interpretation in the Fall and Spring. An 8-week full-time internship program is also available in the summer months. Contact the museum for details.

Historic Deerfield

Historic Deerfield, located in a beautiful 330 year old Massachusetts village, has hosted students for summer fellowships since 1956. The prestigious nine-week program allows students hands-on study of manuscripts and early New England material life, using Historic Deerfield's extensive collections (more than 25,000 objects made between 1650-1850) and 14 eighteenth and nineteenth century houses. Students will gain experience not only in museum studies and material culture, but will also develop their research skills and learn about interpreting New England history to the public. All admitted students will receive a $7500 fellowship which covers tuition, books, field trip expenses, and room and board for nine weeks. In addition, a small number of awards from $800-$1500 will be awarded to exceptional applicants. Deadline for application is in early February, 2005. Visit the Historic Deerfield website for more information.

Greater New England Internships

Mystic Seaport Summer Internship in Museum Studies

Located about 45 minutes away on the Southeast coast of Connecticut, Mystic Seaport is a re-creation of a 19th century coastal village and is touted as the "nation's leading maritime museum." Interns use Mystic Seaport as "a laboratory in museum education, historic interpretation, and museum practice." Summer internships are usually available in education, archives, conservation and curatorial, membership development, communications, and exhibits. The program is 10 weeks program and requires a full-time commitment (room rentals near museum are available). Stipends to help with cost of living are available (from $500 to $1,400). In the Fall and Spring, the Seaport also offers a semester-long program centered around history, literature, policy, and science of the sea through its Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies program. Admission to the program is competitive and open to undergraduates in good academic standing.

Newport Historical Society - Buchanan/Burnham Internship

At the NHS, interns have the opportunity to research and interpret three historic Rhode Island houses: the Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House (circa 1675), the Great Friends Meeting House (1699), and the Newport Colony House (1739). Interns will regularly lead tours through these houses, while also executing a research project to contribute to the understanding and explanation of the site. Students will ultimately present their work through either a lecture or an educational program, and are eligible for publication in Newport History . Five positions are available and admission to the program is very competitive. Successful applicants receive a $3,000 stipend for approximately 10 weeks. Furnished rooms may be available for rent. The deadline for application is March 1.

Old York Historical Society

The Society is located in York, on the Southern Maine Coast, and consists of 7 historic buildings open to the public, including the oldest public structure still standing in the English colonies, the Old Gaol. The impressive collections highlight tavern life in the 18th century, merchants and the shipping trade, farming and agriculture, crime and punishment, and the early 20th century colonial revival. Each year, the Society hosts the Elizabeth Perkins Fellowship Program in Museum Practice, an intensive 12-week program designed to familiarize fellows with museum operations, provide a venue for doing meaningful research and presenting it in a public forum, and provide experience in historical interpretation. The fellowship is open to upper level undergraduates and graduate students. Selection is competitive, with 4 fellowships offered each summer. Fellows are awarded a $7000 fellowship, which covers tuition, books, field trip expenses, and riverfront housing in one of the historic houses for the length of the program. In addition, fellows receive a $2700 stipend for the summer. Application deadline is usually March 1 of each year, but for the exact date and a downloadable application, see the "Education" page on their website.

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