IU’s undergraduate History majors go on to apply their skills in research, analysis, and presentation to an enormous variety of jobs. Our graduates have established successful careers in law, business, journalism, and health, as well as in libraries, archives, non-profit organizations, foundations, government, and education, to name just a few of their many professional choices.
"As a History major, I honed my skills in writing, critical thinking, and debate. Since graduation, I've worked in fundraising and communications for a think tank in Washington, D.C., and worked as a digital strategy consultant for a boutique firm. I am now a realtor in Houston, Texas, and in each role I have constantly relied upon the skills developed at IU."
Lis Harper, History B.A. (Honors), 2006.
Whatever your ultimate career path, a history internship can help you find the kind of job that interests you, while providing valuable work experience and even academic credit.
Helping to create a museum exhibition is just one of the many things our recent majors have accomplished in their history internships. Whether it’s working with authors and editors on a history journal, researching legislation, restoring a historic landmark, or preparing teaching materials, interns gain beyond-the-coursework experience in doing history, during the regular academic year or the summer.
Internships give you academic credit toward your history major, at the same time offering you valuable field experience that enhances your résumé and lets you explore career options.
The most valuable aspect of my internship was being able to research, design, and implement an entire exhibition. I was very happy with my final product and learned a great deal about curating in the process.
Adrian Hepfer, Fall 2011 Intern
Internship opportunities are open to all students, with preference given to students with a GPA of 3.00 or higher who will have completed at least 9 credit hours in history or a related field prior to beginning an internship. Interns who seek 3 academic credits work 8-10 hours weekly on their selected project, as well as engaging in a related course of reading and writing with an IUB faculty member. (One- and two-credit options are also available for a lesser time commitment.) Internships are graded on an S/F basis.
Interested students should first contact their preferred work site (see links to internship opportunities, listed below) to determine the availability of a position, and then contact History Department internship coordinator Susan Ferentinos for information about next steps and getting the internship credit approved.
For other internship opportunities not specifically related to the field of history, contact the Career Development Center.
"If you are interested in pursuing history as a future career path, make sure to do at =least one internship so that you can begin to focus where in the history field you would like to go."
Elizabeth Pitman, Spring 2014 Intern
Many local history organizations offer internships to IUB students. Internship possibilities include, but are not limited to, the Journal of American History, Bloomington Restorations, Inc., and the Monroe County History Center.
With approval from the IUB History Department, students can also get credit for internships with organizations elsewhere in the state and in the country.
Each summer, the Browder-Lewis Summer Internship Prize is awarded by the Department of History to two undergraduate History majors. This $2000 stipend supports a volunteer summer history internship. To apply for the Browder-Lewis Prize, you must be accepted to serve a full-time summer internship of six weeks or longer duration, comprising a total of 240 hours worked. The deadline to apply for the Browder-Lewis Prize is announced during spring semester. Contact Director of Undergraduate Studies Deborah Deliyannis for more information.
The College of Arts + Sciences
