Important Note
Practica
Practica at the Indiana University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology provide students with opportunities to gain hands-on experience in museums while earning academic credit through Indiana University’s Program in Arts Administration, Department of Anthropology, Department of History, Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology, Department of Information and Library Sciences, and other coursework.
Museum practica must be arranged with museum personnel and authorized by the faculty of record for the specific practicum course prior to registration.
Acceptance of practicum students is limited.
Process
To apply for a practicum at the IUMAA: please review the following listings and then submit a completed application (link at the bottom) to the appropriate departmental supervisor for an interview. Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.
Candidates will be interviewed and must receive endorsement from the appropriate museum supervisor in order to enroll in the course.
After obtaining endorsement from the appropriate museum departmental supervisor, the student must obtain authorization from the faculty of record for the course.
Requirements
Required Orientation
All students earning academic credit at the museum through practica/internships are required to attend a student orientation each semester. During this orientation, introductions will be made, paperwork will be filled out, safety and security will be discussed, and a building tour will be given.
Capstone PowerPoint
The end of each semester will culminate in a Capstone PowerPoint where practica students will create PowerPoints based on their experiences working at the museum. These PowerPoints can focus on what you’ve learned about yourself, how you see this experience relating to your future professional life, what you learned about a particular artifact or place, or other information that demonstrates/explains your experience at the IUMAA.
Grading
All practicum hours must be completed during the semester you’re enrolled in order to earn a passing grade. Grades are raised or lowered based on the quality of practicum work and your adherence to museum policies and procedures. All students must participate in the Capstone Event, which will require a brief talk/presentation. The Capstone talk/presentation is 15% of the total practicum grade; the remainder of the grade level is based on practicum work performance. Please check with your departmental supervisor for specific guidelines.
Work Schedule
Students must provide to their supervisors a set work schedule at the beginning of the semester. If possible, work should be scheduled in time blocks of three hours or more.
Hours
The required number of practicum hours worked per week at the IUMAA varies according to the number of credit hours the student is enrolled in, and the semester of enrollment. Please review the table below.
Credit Hours | Fall / Spring | Summer 1 / Summer 2 | Total |
1 | 3 hours per week for 15 weeks | 7.5 hours per week for 6 weeks | 45 hours per semester
|
2 | 6 hours per week 15 week | 15 hours per week for 6 weeks | 90 hours per semester
|
3 | 9 hours per week for 15 weeks | 22.5 hours per week for 6 weeks | 135 hours per semester |
4 | 12 hours per week for 15 weeks | 30 hours per week for 6 weeks | 180 hours per semester |
5 | 15 hours per week per semester | 37.5 hours per week for 6 weeks | 225 hours per semester |
6 | 18 hours per week for 15 weeks | 45 hours per week for 6 weeks | 270 hours per semester |