How to Apply
In January, Smithsonian curators submit their internship needs for the following fall term to the Smithsonian Office of Fellowships, which provides them to the Smith College American Studies office by late January. Interested Smith students come to the AMS office to read the projects and select three among the proposed internships. Applicants then write a brief essay outlining their qualifications and the reasons for their internship choices. If accepted into the program, the Smithsonian Fellowship Office will then pair each applicant with one of the applicant's three project choices.
Requirements
- An essay explaining your choices and your ability to do the work involved in the internship
- An official transcript (minimum GPA requirement is 3.0)
- 2 faculty references (Faculty should email their references to AMS secretary Jennifer Roberts at jroberts@smith.edu by the application deadline.)
General Timeline
(Contact the American Studies office for specific dates.)
Late January Applications and internship descriptions are available at the American Studies Office in Wright Hall 224.
Early February Professor Rosetta Cohen, Director of the Program, chairs a general information meeting about the Program for interested applicants.
Mid-February
Deadline for application, transcript, and references
Mid–March
Notifications are sent to students re:acceptance into the Program, contingent upon successful completion of the current semester. Projects are not yet assigned.
Late March
Students notify the AMS office of their intent to participate.
Early April Smithsonian determines pairing of students with projects, and notifies AMS office. During registration, students register for AMS seminars 410, 411, & 412 and notify their Class Dean of their participation in the Program.
Mid-April Professor Cohen meets with students to announce who is assigned which project.
Late April
Annie Russo Bellavia, '01, Smithsonian Liaison and Washington resident, will speak with students about housing and other non–academic matters
Early May Students provide AMS office with their summer address(es). The Smithsonian contacts students about details concerning their background security checks. This paperwork is due back to the Smithsonian by early August.
Mid-May AMS office confirms students' successful completion of spring semester with Registrar's office. If satisfactory, students are considered fully accepted into the Program.
Summer Students are expected to make housing arrangements for living in DC, and to submit their security paperwork before the end of August to the Smithsonian for processing.
Tuesday after Labor Day Students (now interns) have orientation meeting in DC with representative from the Smithsonian Office of Fellowships. Later that same week, professor Cohen will meet with the interns for their first colloquium meeting.
September through December Interns work at their assigned museums under direct supervision by Smithsonian curators, as well as working on their own individual research project. The interns meet weekly to attend a seminar on museum studies with Dr. Dorothy Moss. They also meet monthly with Professor Cohen and periodically with liaison Annie Russo Bellavia.
Mid-December On the last day of Smith classes, the interns' research projects are due both to their Smithsonian supervisors, and another copy to the American Studies office at Smith.
Late December All grades by Smithsonian supervisors are submitted to the AMS office in time for the Registrar's office early January deadline.
