Internships and History
History students have an opportunity to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios through a variety of internships. Students can work in museums, archives, libraries, government agencies, non-profit organizations, schools, businesses, and many others. Training in the discipline of history has a wide range of applications.
The Department of History is committed to helping students connect their academic study with professional experience. Internships allow you to:
- Gain hands-on experience in fields where historical skills are valued.
- Contribute meaningfully to organizations that preserve, interpret, and share the past.
- Explore career possibilities in public history, education, law, business, non-profits, and more.
- Build networks and professional connections that extend beyond the university.
Students can apply for opportunities in the department, elsewhere at UF, or at independent businesses and organizations. Internships can be completed to bolster your resume, and some internships carry three hours of course credit in HIS4944. We invite you to explore these opportunities and discover how your passion for, and training in, history can make an impact in the world today.
If you ever have any questions about these or other opportunities, reach out to Dr. Strickland, the department’s Experiential Learning Coordinator, at mbstrickland@ufl.edu
Regular Opportunities
The history department has a range of internships available that undergraduates may pursue. Each of three departmental internships listed below allow for three credit hours of HIS4944. Yes, you can receive course credit while also gaining important skills that transfer to future careers!
Alachua Schools Curriculum Writing Internship
Interested in a potential career in education? Want to know how curriculum development works? If so, you’re in luck! The Alachua County Public Schools are looking for interns from History.
Interns will work closely with K-12 Social Studies Curriculum Specialist Dr. Jon Rehm to create curriculum guides for teachers to assist them with instructional content. One goal is to design a document to be used by teachers across all subject areas for instruction in the Civics and Government standards in their classrooms. Another group of interns will create a document to be used by teachers for instruction based on the Florida Sunshine State Standards that will delineate which important individuals and topics are to be taught at each grade level through specific primary source analysis.
This internship will require approximately 150 hours of service over the semester and upon successful completion, interns will receive three credits for the course, HIS4944: History Department Internship. Most of the work will be self-directed and the internship will not require a great deal of off-campus travel.
Applications will be solicited via the major/minor listservs in October 2026 for Spring 2027.
Undergraduate Research Assistantship
Students will have the opportunity to participate in an unpaid, internal “research internship” within the department, with a faculty member serving as the internship supervisor. Faculty members will determine the research tasks to be performed. The goals of this program are to:
- Provide structured opportunities for students to gain hands-on research experience, enhancing their scholarly skills and curiosity.
- Strengthen collaborative relationships by pairing students with faculty mentors, benefiting both student learning and faculty projects.
- Link theoretical classroom knowledge with applied research skills to prepare students for advanced study or careers.
As historians-in-training, you can “peek behind the curtain” to see how professional historians conduct their own research projects.
Applications will be solicited by individual faculty beginning around October 2026.
The Samuel Proctor Oral History Program Internships
The Samuel Proctor Oral History Program (SPOHP) believes that oral history is an indispensable method of studying the past, and it strives to promote the thousands of invaluable oral narratives that have been entrusted to our care. SPOHP seeks motivated students to help accomplish it’s many goals. Our semester-long internships, available to graduate and undergraduate students for 3 credit hours, serve as an introduction to the field of oral history. But beyond conducting, transcribing, and audit-editing interviews, our internships are tailored to the strengths of our students. Interested in event planning? Public relations? Website design? Audio and film editing? We have the resources and opportunities to help you. This is a great time to complete an academic internship with the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program! Please visit the internship site for more information.
Applications will be solicited via the major/minor listservs around October/November 2026.
History Department Communications Internship
Are you interested in helping the History Department get the word out about events, accomplishments and courses? We are looking for a few good paid interns to maintain our social media presence (https://www.instagram.com/ufhistory/), carry donuts to coffee socials and then eat them, decide This or That (https://www.instagram.com/p/DEpqldpRCmD/), and generally help get the word out about our department.
Relevant skills include familiarity with social media platforms, ability with Canva, and photography/videography.
At this time, we are only looking for interns who are eligible to be paid via Federal Work Study or would like to take an unpaid internship for course credit. Is that you?
Applications will be solicited by the department’s communications director, Dr. Christopher Goodwin.
External Opportunities
There are many internship opportunities available to students, some on campus and others through national and global organizations. We encourage students to participate in these opportunities for the skills and experiences they provide. Please see the opportunities listed below. Not all internships are eligible for course credit in HIS4944. For the internship to count for history credit, prospective interns must do the following before the start of the internship:
- inform both their internship supervisor and Dr. Strickland of their intention to earn academic credit
- confirm that the internship will involve substantial historical work (e.g. processing archival collections, serving as a museum guide, conducting historical research for on-going projects and publications)
- in consultation with the supervisor and Dr. Strickland, come up with a set of assignments on which the grade will be based. These may include, but are not limited to, regular progress reports, website design, exit essays, and research papers.
UF Centers & Programs
| Opportunity / Link | Deadline / Notes |
| Bob Graham Center – UF/Washington DC Internship Program | Applications are now open and close on September 8, 2026 |
| Bob Graham Center – UF/Tallahassee Internship Program | Applications are now open and close on September 8, 2026 |
| George Smathers Libraries | Ongoing – see their page for opportunities and deadlines |
| Harn Museum – MUSE Program | Ongoing – see their page for opportunities and deadlines |
Historical Societies & Institutes
| Opportunity / Link | Deadline / Notes |
| Library of Congress Junior Fellows | Opens Oct. 2026 |
| Florida Gubernatorial Fellows | Ongoing – see their page for opportunities and deadlines |
| Gilder Lehrman Summer Internship | Closed – see their page for further details on future opportunities |
| Society of Florida Archivists (Adam Hunt Stipend) | Closed – see their page for further details on future opportunities |
| Library of Congress AHHA Internship | Opens April 2027 |
| U.S. Presidential Libraries | Deadlines vary |
| American Bar Foundation Fellowships | Opens September 2026 |
| Institute for Southern Jewish Life | Deadline TBA |
Museums & Historic Sites
| Opportunity / Link | Deadline / Notes |
| Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Foundation | Rolling Submissions |
| Mount Vernon Summer Internships | Closed – may open around February 2027 for Summer 2027 Internship |
| Smithsonian Institution | Multiple opportunities with a variety of open/close dates |
| National Museum of the American Indian | Multiple due dates – see their site for more information |
| Monticello Summer Internships | See their site for due date information and FAQ |
Government & Public Service
| Opportunity / Link | Deadline / Notes |
| Editorial Internship, Ballotpedia | Applications due August 24, 2026 |
| U.S. Dept. of State | Opens Oct. 2026 for Spring See their page for other due dates and opportunities |
| National Park Service Internships | Due Dec.–Feb. |
| Future Leaders in Public Service & Harold W. Rosenthal Fellowship in International Relations | DUE: September 2026 (see the exact date for each of the internships) |
| U.S. Government Accountability Office | See their site for more information |