Internships
Internships provide valuable work experience and skills as well as exposure to diverse cultures, people and perspectives while you simultaneously earn college credit. They also offer an opportunity to apply skills learned in the classroom to the workplace, and prepare you for career and graduate school goals.
Typically, internships last for one semester, during which you earn college credit. You must be registered for an internship course to earn credit and a grade. The internship will appear on your transcript and is added to your tuition costs.
Program-Specific Internships
Although you are welcome to research internship opportunities on your own, the following organizations' internships — listed by major — have proven popular among previous School of World Studies students.
- Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia
- Fairfield Foundation
- Historic Preservation and Museum Services of Henrico County
- Valentine Richmond History Center
- Virginia Museum of History and Culture
- Virginia Holocaust Museum
Contact: Bernard Means, Ph.D., bkmeans@vcu.edu
Specialty Internships
Our speciality internships have specific eligibility, course or credit requirements. Each requires completion of the relevant specialty internship form. Please email the contact listed in the details below for the speciality internship you’re interested in for more information.
French Film Festival
For more than 25 years, Richmond's French Film Festival has earned acclaim in the U.S. and France for introducing more than 800 French and francophone films to American audiences. This opportunity involves the preparation and execution of the annual festival.
Contact: Peter Kirkpatrick, Ph.D., pkirk@vcu.edu
Spanish-English Translation and Interpretation
The three-credit internship fulfills the capstone requirement for the Spanish-English translation and interpretation (SETI) certificate program. Eligibility for the internship requires registration in the SETI program, completion of its course prerequisites and timely submission of the internship application [Google Form].
Contact: (804) 827-1111
Virtual Curation Laboratory
In the Virtual Curation Laboratory, 3D scanners create digital models of archaeological objects resulting in plastic replicas made by 3D printers. Interns assist by scanning artifacts then printing and painting the replicas so they can be used in teaching, public outreach and museum displays. Interns also present their original research at professional conferences. This internship is not exclusive to anthropology majors and may be pursued by students in other departments.
Contact: Bernard Means, Ph.D., bkmeans@vcu.edu
National and International Internships
The following internships have not been endorsed by VCU nor the School of World Studies. You are strongly advised to research these opportunities before participating.
- African Faith and Justice Network (Washington, D.C.)
- International Labor Rights Forum (Washington, D.C.)
- CAPA International (London)
- InteRDom (Dominican Republic)
- Institute for Field Research Expeditions (18 different countries)
- International Education Programs (worldwide)
- International Cooperative Education (worldwide)
- Global Experiences (worldwide)
- Cross Cultural Solutions (worldwide)
- Bridge Volunteers (worldwide)
Questions?
Please direct all internship-related questions to the appropriate School of World Studies contact, listed by program:
Anthropology
Bernard Means, Ph.D.
bkmeans@vcu.edu
Foreign Language
Aspen Brinton, Ph.D.
aebrinton@vcu.edu
International Studies
Mayda Topoushian, Ph.D.
mtopoushian@vcu.edu
Religious Studies
Jon Waybright
jwwaybri@vcu.edu
