×

Search

Creative Employment Initiative

Montserrat’s Creative Employment Initiative helps students apply the professional skills they develop in the classroom to meaningful, on-campus employment opportunities. Montserrat College of Art is committed to providing employment opportunities that support students’ growth within the creative economy throughout their time at the college and to help students utilize their on-campus positions as springboards to creative employment after graduation. 

Get 4 Years of Professional Experience

Every student at Montserrat College of Art will receive a paid, career-focused job from their first day on campus. As the first program of its kind in any art and design college in the nation, we provide you with both steady income and professional experience, jumpstarting your creative career long before you graduate.

On-campus employment positions for first and second-year students will help build skills and confidence for more demanding positions, such as
manager roles. Upper level students will be required to complete at least two semesters in outward-facing positions. These might be off-campus Internships or student-run businesses in Montserrat’s Creative Enterprises program.

Research shows that working on campus provides more than just a paycheck:

  • Boost Your GPA: Working on campus can increase your GPA by 1/3 of a letter grade.
  • Get Hired Faster: Students who work on campus see a 10% increase in employment probability after just two years.
  • Guaranteed Income: We offer at least 5 hours of work per week at $15/hour.
  • Seamless Integration: Your work hours are built directly into your academic schedule.

Your 4-Year Creative Career Journey

We guide you through a tiered progression that builds your resume year-by-year.

Year 1: Foundation

  • Placement: Secure an on-campus job immediately.
  • Training: Receive specialized on-the-job training to build your professional toolkit.
  • Perks: Earn money for art supplies or a Halloween trip to Salem.

Year 2: Focus

  • Concentration: Declare your major and align your work with your specific career interests.
  • Experience: Develop greater skills in your chosen department.
  • Perks: Save up for summer Study Abroad opportunities, like our program in Japan.

Year 3: Leadership

  • Internships: Gain industry experience through a junior-year internship.
  • Leadership: Step into management by getting promoted to a Manager role in your campus job.
  • Perks: Fund your travel to professional events, such as a game developer conference in Boston.

Year 4: Launch

  • Mentorship: Pair with an industry professional through the Montserrat Mentoring Program.
  • Showcase: Launch your thesis project at the Senior Show.
  • Outcome: Graduate with 4 years of job experience and the creative skills needed to thrive.

Where You’ll Work

On-Campus Opportunities

Build your skills in “literally every part of campus,” including:

  • Digital Fabrication Studio
  • Communications & Design Dept
  • Library & Galleries
  • Photo, Print & Painting Studios
  • The Writing Studio

Student-Run Creative Enterprises

Upper-level students can work in our outward-facing student businesses:

  • Montserrat Design Center (Conifer Design)
  • Handmade Montserrat
  • Montserrat Mobile Art Gallery

Premier Internship Placements

Our students have gained experience at world-class organizations, including:

  • Lego & Disney Publishing Worldwide
  • MIT & Fablevision Studios
  • New England Aquarium & Punto Urban Art Museum

Have questions about jobs on campus or want to learn more about the Creative Employment Initiative?
Contact Emma Oliver, our Student Employment Coordinator, at [email protected]

Hire a Student from Montserrat:

Learn how to post your job or internship

Current Student Job Listings:

Find a student job on MontserratWorks

What is Federal Work-Study (FWS)?

Federal Work-Study (FSW) is a need-based, federally funded program administered by Montserrat College of Art. A student’s eligibility is determined through the Student Financial Services office with help from documents like the FAFSA. It is designed to promote access to employment and help students meet their educational expenses.

However, Federal Work-Study is not a traditional financial aid “grant,” and earnings are not directly applied to tuition. Instead, students are personally paid for hours worked in an eligible Work-Study position, as the program is intended for students to use their Work-Study earnings to pay for education-related expenses, like tuition and fees, room and board, books, supplies, and necessary travel expenses. Ultimately the pay from a Work-Study position is the student’s responsibility once earned. 

There may be certain on-campus or off-campus jobs that are specifically identified as  “Federal Work-Study only”. These positions fulfill mandated requirements of the Federal Work-Study program and are only open to those who have received Federal Work-Study awards. If you have questions about Federal Work-Study please contact Michelle McGaughey [email protected] or Payroll [email protected].