AD&A Museum Undergraduate Internship Program

Application Form - Fall 2025-Spring 2026

Application Deadline: May 16, 2025 

Job Description: Undergraduate intern (part time/non-paid)  

Position Overview/Goals: Become an Art, Design & Architecture Museum intern. Help sustain the artistic vibrancy of our campus community while on your way to exploring a career in art history, museum studies, and/or community development.  

Background: In 2012, the AD&A Museum initiated a dynamic undergraduate internship program in order to fulfill its goal of engaging with members of our campus community and the greater Santa Barbara area. The Museum has since partnered with various institutions promoting access to education, arts, and culture in Santa Barbara (Local artist studios and architecture offices as well as the Santa Barbara Museum of Art), to provide interns with a wide range of learning opportunities that contribute to their academic and professional development. Moreover, interns can also work on campus within the various departments of the AD&A Museum–Curatorial, Registration and Collections Management, Education, Communications and Programming, and in the Architecture and Design Collection–as well as the UCSB Library’s Special Research Collection.

Requirements: Enrollment in the AD&A Museum Internship Seminar (Fall/Winter/Spring ARTHI192A/B) is a requirement of the Internship Program. This year-long course aims to lay the theoretical and practical foundation for the pursuit of future work and studies in museums through class assignments and discussions, guest lectures, field trips, and outreach initiatives. Interns must thus attend the weekly classes and fulfill the seminar tasks, in addition to participating in museum events and conducting their individual internships. Interns are required to commit to the Program, including enrollment in the Internship Seminar, for the full academic year. This position requires someone who is personable, collaborative, well-organized, accountable, and enthusiastic. Priority will be given to applicants who express an interest in the visual arts, cultural research, and educational outreach, as well as those with a cumulative GPA of 3.0+.  All majors are welcome to apply.  

Responsibilities:   

•      Meet weekly with your supervisor

•      Conduct internship activities as assigned by supervisor

•      Attend weekly seminar (ARTHI 192 A/B) and complete relevant assignments (75 mins/week, 2 units per quarter)

•      Participate in Museum events upon request

Internship Benefits:   

• Professional training and experience working in museum settings   

• Involvement in the visual arts and community outreach   

• Development of research, writing, communication, and networking skills   

• Academic credit towards your degree   

 Application Requirements:

• Completed application form

• Cover letter
• Resume
• 1 letter of recommendation from a faculty member or a current/former supervisor
• Interview upon request

*If submitting as separate documents, please include lastname_firstname in each file name*

For questions about the application or program, please contact the AD&A Internship Coordinator, Nathan Segura: nathansegura@ucsb.edu. 

Applicants will be notified on June 6, 2025 

Internship Hours and Units: In addition to the 2 units received for enrollment in the ARTHI 192A/B Seminar, a minimum of 1 unit of internship per quarter (3 internship hours per week/30 hours per quarter) is required. A maximum of 3 units based on internship hours is possible. Students cannot earn more than 5 units total, per quarter, for the internship program. 

3 hours of internship work per week = 30 hours per quarter = 1 unit 

6 hours of internship work per week = 60 hours per quarter = 2 units 

9 hours of internship work per week = 90 hours per quarter = 3 units 

For further details on units and major requirements, please contact the ARTHI undergraduate student advisor. Students from outside departments may need to consult their department advisor for petition information. 

Duration: Interns must commit to the program for the full academic year.