Intern Positions at MPM

A Milwaukee Public Museum internship is a structured work experience. It is designed to expose a college student to a particular career area that can assist the student in making a career decision. The internship allows the student to gain hands-on experience and to interact with professionals, thereby bridging the gap between school and the working world.

Internships

  • May be specialized or broad-based experiences
  • Are unpaid, but can be arranged for credit through the student's school if desired.
  • May be for as long as a semester or as short as a month.
  • Can be arranged for the fall, summer or spring semesters.
  • Are for 8 - 40 hours per week with a minimum semester hour total of 80 hours
  • Depend on availability.

Who is Eligible?

Generally, college sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students are preferred. High School seniors and college freshmen, in certain instances, may be accepted. Students may also be accepted as an intern within one year of graduation from a college or university.

Acceptance to the internship program is based on:
  • Availability.
  • The student's clear statement of a career goal or interest.
  • The student's skills and abilities to perform necessary job responsibilities.
  • The approval of the potential supervisor.

How do I apply?

If the internship is to be taken for credit, the student should contact a faculty advisor or the school's internship office to discover the school's policies and procedures. The student should then submit a resume and cover letter, by email, that is addressed to the Museum Internship Coordinator.

The cover letter should include the following:
  • Why would the student want to do an internship at MPM
  • What semester the student is interested in pursuing an intership
  • When the student is available to begin, and how many hours per week
  • What area the student would like to intern, and why
  • What the student thinks they would gain from an internship at MPM

The Museum Internship Coordinator will contact the potential supervisor with the information submitted by the student. The potential supervisor will call the student for an interview. The potential supervisor and the student will determine if the proposed internship is acceptable to the goals and expectations of the student and/or supervisor.

The deadline for a spring semester internship is November 1; for a summer semester internship, the deadline is March 1; for a fall semester internship, the deadline is July 1.

An MPM Internship Provides Opportunities

  • to work in a professional environment.
  • to learn from the professionals in the student's chosen field.
  • for the student to critically evaluate practice in relation to theory.
  • to gain practical experience in the student's field of interest.
  • to add an impressive addition to a transcript and resume!

Examples of MPM Internships

  • Document, research and inventory incoming and existing collections
  • Assist with the development and coordination of multimedia presentations
  • Assist with development and maintenance of exhibits
  • Research background information for upcoming school and public programs
  • Conduct public programs and demonstrations on-site and off-site
  • Help to plan and coordinate member events
  • Research products for the museum shop related to upcoming exhibits
  • Assist with the distribution of marketing and promotional materials
  • Help to prepare loans to other museums
  • Participate in recruitment and interview processes in the Human Resources department
  • Assist with programs and projects in the Information and Electronic Systems department

These are just a few examples of past internships. The variety is endless!

MPM offers internships in the following areas: (Depends on Availability) Anthropology, Art History, Artifact Conservation, Botany, Business, Communications, Education, English, Event Planning, Geology, History, Human Resources, Marketing, Media Technology, Public Relations, Retail, Studio Arts, Theater, Zoology

For additional information contact:

Dawn Scher Thomae
MPM Internship Coordinator
Milwaukee Public Museum
800 W. Wells Street
Milwaukee, WI 53233
Ph: (414) 278-6157
email: Dawn Scher Thomae