The Mellon Internship Program aims to provide undergraduate humanities students with meaningful work experience through paid internships and career development workshops. In this program, students will learn to better identify and articulate the skillsets that they have developed through their humanities studies to help prepare you for future careers.
Unless previous arrangements have been made with the department internship coordinator, applications for Spring 2025 are now closed.
The humanities are broadly defined as studies of society and culture that emphasize storytelling, creativity, and the uniquely human element. UMKC's humanities degree programs are
*some coursework or internships within this degree program may not be eligible for Mellon funding. Contact the Mellon Internship Team for more information.
This program is open to undergraduate students who are looking for an internship AND undergraduate students who have already secured an internship who are interested in funding and career development workshops. Internships through the Mellon Program pay $15/hour.
Students participating in the Mellon Internship Program should:
As part of the Mellon Internship Program, students are required to enroll in their department's internship course. Most of the content of the course will be actually working at the internship. Any additional assignments will be at the instructor's discretion.
In addition, students participating in the Mellon Internship Program will be required to attend career development and professionalization workshops over the course of the semester. The schedule of required workshops is below:
All programming will take place in Education 115 unless otherwise stated.
January 22, 12-1:30 p.m. - Internship Orientation
Interns will be prepared for what to expect from their internship experience, including workplace etiquette, professional communication, and more.
February 12, 12-1:30 p.m. - Thinking Entrepreneurially
This workshop will cover basic concepts related to fostering an entrepreneurial mindset, key tools and frameworks used by entrepreneurs, and how to use these tools to define, propose, and scope a project for a client or customer.
March 5, 12-1:30 p.m. - Introduction to Career Services
Interns will explore the resources provided by UMKC Career Services.
April 2, 12-1:30 p.m. - Making Your Humanities Skills Legible
Led by UMKC History alum Matt Reeves, this workshop will focus on how humanities students can present their skills to employers who may not be aware of their applicability in a range of industries.
April 23, 12-1:30 p.m. - Humanities Careers Roundtable - Scofield 109
Humanities alumni from UMKC will discuss strategies for students to prepare for their careers after graduation. Topics will include networking, resumes, and securing grant funding.
May 7, 12-1:30 p.m. - End-of-Semester Showcase
A gathering where students can discuss their experiences and accomplishments with their peers, internship coordinators, and host site supervisors.
Applications for Spring 2025 will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
If you are looking for an internship but not sure where to start, check out this list of positions we've set up with our community partners.
Humanities institutions interested in hosting UMKC undergraduate interns can apply to be a part of our program.
