Iowa State Students!
Explore careers in the museum field with internships and student employee opportunities while gaining professional museum experience.
Students applying for an internship, fellowship, or to be a student employee must be currently enrolled at Iowa State University.
Applications for Summer and Fall 2025 internships will open in late February 2025.
Click an area of focus below to learn more about that internship.
Internships
- Education
- Understand the role of education and research in the museum field
- Develop, implement, and elevate educational programming
- Gain knowledge of audience development through educational techniques
- Gain insight into exhibition installations that utilize educational experiences
One internships for Spring 2025 at the Brunnier Art Museum for Early Childhood Education majors. Check back in late February 2025 for other Summer/Fall application opportunities.
- Research
- Understand the importance of research in the museum field
- Research objects in preparation for future exhibitions
Internships for Spring 2025 are currently full. Check back in late February 2025 for Summer/Fall application opportunities.
- Collections Management
- Understand the importance of collection management in the museum field
- Gain knowledge of proper object documentation, photographing, and research
- Gain insight into the care and maintenance of a collection
Internships for Spring 2025 are currently full. Check back in late February 2025 for Summer/Fall application opportunities.
- Curatorial
- Understand the importance of object and collection research in the museum field
- Gain knowledge of key curatorial components - education, research, documentation
- Gain insight into exhibition installation & permanent collection installation of Art on Campus
Internships for Spring 2025 are currently full. Check back in late February 2025 for Summer/Fall application opportunities.
- Farm House Museum
Understand all aspects of daily Farm House Museum operations- Gain knowledge in the care and development of collections and collection-based research
- Gain insight into exhibitions and work as a team member to develop integrated curatorial and educational programming and other learning opportunities
Internships for Spring 2025 are currently full. Check back in late February 2025 for Summer/Fall application opportunities.
- Anderson Sculpture Garden
- Gain practical hands-on experience maintaining the University Museums' sculpture garden.
- Work with museum staff to plant and maintain the garden.
- Assist with the care of objects in the garden and the wider Art on Campus Collection.
Internships for Spring 2025 are currently full. Check back in late February 2025 for Summer/Fall application opportunities.
- Art on Campus
Inventory and condition report public works of art around campus- Database management with The Museum System (TMS)
- Assist in exhibition installations
- Research objects and artists
- Write object texts and didactic labels
- Assist with care and cleaning of the Art on Campus Collection
- Public Relations
- Understand the importance of public relations in the museum field
- Possible areas of practice include:
- Brand management, campaigns, social media, website maintenance, marketing
- Video, graphic design, layout, photography, audio/video tech support
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere, Rush)
Currently for credit only
Internships for Spring 2025 are currently full. Check back in late February 2025 for Summer/Fall application opportunities.
- Lynette L. Pohlman Museum Fellowship (separate application)
- Gain hands-on experience in a museum setting
- Enrich your academic experience
- Broaden your understanding of:
- Museums administration,
- Art, art history, cultural arts, and the relevant role of museums in the lives of citizens
- Capital projects
- Strategic planning and fiscal management for museums
- Assist curators and staff on exhibitions, collections, programs, and special projects
- Participate in museums field professional development
- Fellows are matched with a museum staff mentor
The Pohlman Fellowship for Spring 2025 is full. Please check back in late February for Summer/Fall 2025 applications.
Click here for more information and to apply for the Pohlman Fellowship
University Museums internships and student employee opportunities are generously funded by John H. Maves (education and research), Margaret Davidson (collections management, curatorial, and public relations), Richard Taylor (education), and by Dr. Long in honor of Wayne and Eleanor Ostendorf (Farm House Museum).
