Internships in history provide an opportunity for advanced History and American Studies majors to earn academic credit while gaining professional experience in a museum, historical site, library, or similar location.  Three credits of HIS 490 may be applied toward your major requirements.

     Internships provide a variety of non-paying, off-campus, on-the-job experiences, including participation in archaeological digs, preparation of museum exhibits, creation of educational programs for school classes, basic research, cataloging and archival work, service as tour guides and teachers, and other professional-level tasks associated with the work of museums and historic sites.  In lieu of a salary, students receive academic credit toward their history major.

      Internships are generally approved for 3 credits, but it is possible to register for 1 to 12 credits, depending on the circumstances.  For each credit, expect to work 50 hours total during the semester.  A normal 3-hour internship requires 10 hours of work per week (150 hours for the semester).  The specific schedule is arranged with the sponsoring supervisor.  Internships may be completed partially or totally over an intercession or during the summer.

      Up the 3 hours of HIS 490 can be applied toward the History, History and Social Sciences, or History/American Studies major.  Any HIS 490 credits above three will become electives.

      Internships provide practical on-the-job training in a setting in which professional historians work outside the university.  They provide actual experience using the knowledge and skills you have learned as a history major, provide some variety from classroom settings, and may be useful in applying for jobs or graduate school.

      In order to register for HIS 490, you should: (1) be a junior or senior; (2) have taken HIS 200 and several other history courses; (3) have at least a 2.7 overall GPA; (4) have written an approved proposal in consultation with the historic site director; (5) have written approval of the intern director.  A special Permission to Register form also requires the signatures of the History Department Chair and the Dean of Arts and Sciences.