Chris Pianka '11 works on an animated film during his internship at Handcranked Films.

The Required Junior Year
Internship & Apprenticeship Program

Our required internship program is an important part of the undergraduate experience at Montserrat College of Art. It is designed for students to integrate classroom and studio learning with the world of work, to gain practical experience and to make employer contacts. It is also an opportunity for the student to examine specific types of work, thereby confirming or adjusting the career path.

Offers of Employment
Since the internship program began in 2006 through the end of the 2010-2011 academic year, approximately half of our student interns received offers of employment from their internship sites. Prior to the economic downturn in the fall of 2008, this statistic fluctuated between 65% and 75%. As the economy improves, the rate of offers of employment is expected to increase.

Benefits for Employers and Artists

• Benefits for employers hosting interns include work by a third-year student capable of making a meaningful contribution, an increased applicant pool, and the option to observe and train the student as a future employee.

• Benefits for established artists hosting apprentices include assistance in the studio and help with installations, plus a means for passing on creative skills and professional knowledge.

Professional Practices
Workshops, panel presentations and discussions about the business of working as an artist are regularly offered each semester. Topics include marketing, networking, professional presentation to the public, how to approach galleries, skills and attributes employers seek, and developing the "elevator speech" for self-promotion. Curators, gallery owners, established artists and employers present information on campus, answer questions and typically invite students to contact them for follow-up discussions. For more on professional practices, click here.

National Recognition
Joan Milnes, the creator and director of our required internship program, received the 2009 Higher Education "Leader of the Year" award from the National Society for Experiential Education. NSEE promotes experiential learning like internships and recognizes work that advances the philosophy of learning by doing.

Community Service
Course description: CS200 Community Service 1.5 credits
CS200 provides students the opportunity to engage in community service, gain real world experience, and make personal contributions to a community organization, school or other institution with expressed need for volunteers. Students work a minimum of 60 hours on-site. Other requirements include keeping a journal or creating artwork reflecting the experience, completing a self-evaluation and attending a debriefing seminar with other volunteers. A learning contract outlining objectives as well as work duties and responsibilities is developed prior to starting.