American Studies Internship Program

The American Studies Internship Program provides an opportunity for students to engage in research, communications, education, outreach, advocacy, art practice, curation, and/or service in collaboration with an off-campus community-based group or organization. Students gain meaningful work experience while putting into practice skills they have developed in their studies.

Benefits of doing an internship:

Contribute to efforts you care about
Learn new skills
Build new relationships
Gain meaningful work experience
Explore how theories and methods in American Studies and aligned fields can inform your work in community, and how community-based work can enrich your scholarship

Internship Requirements and Student Commitment:

To have a successful and rewarding internship experience, students must be proactive about identifying a prospective host, contacting them, and discussing potential arrangements in advance of the semester in which their internship will begin. It is recommended that students allow at least one month for this conversation. Students can contact the Internship Program Coordinator (Dr. Silas Grant) for support with this process and/or to brainstorm potential hosts, including groups who have expressed an interest in hosting AMST interns.

Prior to registering for AMST 498, students will contact the Internship Program Coordinator to discuss their proposed internship. Before the start of the semester in which the internship begins (or at the latest within the first week of that semester), students will provide the Internship Coordinator with the completed Internship Agreement Form, signed by the student and internship host. Unless otherwise agreed upon, AMST internships are unpaid. These internships are based on a reciprocal commitment between the student, internship host, and the Department of American Studies.

Students enrolled in the program commit to:

Working 3 hours per week on average (or 45 hours over the semester) with a community-based partner group/organization on a co-designed project or by contributing to the partner’s ongoing work. Student contributions may range from research and writing, outreach and organizing, design and social media assistance, hands-on work, or a combination of these and/or other mutually agreed upon tasks. *
Maintaining regular communication with their community partner, including maintaining regular work hours or schedule as agreed upon with their community partner.
Being a respectful and accountable colleague to their community partner.
Being proactive about contacting the Internship Program Coordinator to talk through any questions or concerns that arise during their internship.
Attending an orientation at the beginning of the semester, a mid-semester check-in meeting, and a closing event at the end of the semester during which students present on their final work/reflections.
Posting bi-weekly check-ins about their internship experience on Canvas
Writing a final report upon completion of the internship (prompts and guidelines to be provided).

*Typically, students will register for AMST 498 for 3 credits in one semester. Students may take the internship for up to 6 credits upon agreement with the Internship Program Coordinator and partner if they are able to commit to an average of 6/hours per week of work with their partner (90 hours over the semester), or may take AMST 498 for two consecutive semesters.

How to find an internship placement:

AMST internships are intended to support students in working with off-campus, community-based groups or organizations whose work broadly seeks to advance social, racial, economic, gender, and/or environmental justice. There are many such groups in Albuquerque and the surrounding region! Students are invited to propose internships with groups with whom they have an established relationship or want to get to know.

The following groups have expressed interest in hosting AMST interns. Students are encouraged to reach out directly. For support connecting with these groups, or to discuss other potential placements, contact internship program coordinator, Dr. Silas Grant at soagrant@unm.edu.