internships
One of the hallmarks of the CGP experience is involvement in professional projects at real institutions. Internships are an important way for students to help the museum community, evaluate possible career paths, develop a peer network, and gain firsthand experience with professional staff, diverse audiences, cutting edge facilities, and innovative interpretation.
Summer and semester internships are student driven, meaning they choose and apply to the institution they want to work with, with faculty approval. Internships generally focus on specific projects, though are flexible enough for students to involve themselves in other aspects of museum work. At the end of the internship students are evaluated by their supervisors and faculty liaisons for course credit.
summer internship
Students are required to take an eight to ten week credited internship in the summer between their first and second years. Students are strongly encouraged to seek out paid internships that best fit their career goals. In some cases, funding can be provided for students with internships in areas with high costs-of-living.
Students have had summer internships at institutions throughout the nation, from Historic New England, to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, to the Branigan Cultural Center in Las Cruces, to the Anasazi State Park Museum in Utah.
semester internships
After their first semester of study students can arrange to intern with local institutions for semester credit. Students in the past have interned in a variety of departments, including development and marketing, membership, education, curatorial, collections, and research. Internships can be done for one to three credits, or 3-9 hours a week.
