Anthropology Internships in Charleston

Anthropology Internship Coordinator: Dr. Maureen Hayshaysm@cofc.edu

Below is a list of possible internship placements for Anthropology majors broken down by area of interest.  Please remember to first consult with the anthropology internship coordinator before you contact an internship site. 

Anthropology Internships

Other Internship Possibilities


Archaeology Internships

The Charleston Museum

360 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC 29403

CONTACT: Jennifer McCormick, Chief of Collections
EMAIL: jmccormick@charlestonmuseum.org 

DESCRIPTION: The Charleston Museum, founded in 1773, is the oldest museum in the United States. The Charleston Museum has sponsored an active program in archaeological research and excavation since the 1960s, and houses a large collection of archaeological materials from historic sites. Anthropology students will have the opportunity to work with these collections, from initial washing and sorting of materials from recent excavations to data entry through the PastPerfect collections management software program.

Archaeological Laboratory interns actively participate in most activities performed in an archaeology lab including washing, sorting, processing, identification, and various qualitative and quantitative analyses. Students also receive training in metal artifact conservation. Prior classwork in archaeology and participation in archaeological fieldwork is preferred, but not required.
Collections Management interns work with the Curator and the Registrar in various areas of museum collections management, principally data entry of collections. Through the exercise, students will learn the range of historical archaeological materials recovered in the lowcountry. Students will also assist in sorting, bagging, and packing existing collections. Basic computer skills, familiarity with historical and archaeological terminology, and attention to detail are necessary skills.
Comments from Students:
  • "I came out this internship with more knowledge, more connections to archaeologists in the low country, a better grasp on European ceramics and vessels types, and more understanding into how a small archaeology department like the one at the Charleston Mususm functions on a weekly basis. This internship has peaked my interest in certain areas of low country archaeology and has showed me what it will take to make it as an archaeologist. I will forever remember my time at the Charleston Museum as the time that truly showed me how passionate I am about South Carolina archaeology." Hannah J.
  • "My experience at the Charleston Museum has been enlightening and will have an impact on my future decisions. A lot of experience in the field during the summer of 2015 followed by this lab experience I think has made me a well rounded archaeology student. I am better prepared for future internships and graduate school as a result of this experience." Stephen D.

 

Charles Towne Landing Historic Site

1500 Old Towne Road
Charleston,South Carolina 29403

CONTACT: Nicole Isenbarger
EMAILNisenbarger@scprt.com
 
DESCRIPTION: Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site (CTL) is one of the premier archaeological sites in South Carolina, and one of the flagship historic sites within the South Carolina State Parks system.  Anthropology students seeking a focus in Historical Archaeology will benefit from their time spent at CTL, where they will have the opportunity to work on one of the few 17th century archaeological sites and collections in the state. Past student interns have gained experience in both field and laboratory techniques, public archaeology, curation, as well as museum and exhibit maintenance. Field experience covers everything from excavation techniques, unit photography methods, mapping, collecting and processing special samples, public interaction, and routine site maintenance. We also offer lab opportunities allowing students to gain experience in all stages of artifact processing from the initial washing to conservation and exhibition.

Comments From Students:

  • "Being at Charles Towne Landing has truly made me realize how much I love history, and especially, how happy I am in my progress with historical AND prehistoric ceramic identification. It felt like such an accomplishment when I was at the Michaux site the other weekend, and I could ID a piece of pottery out of the ground." Elizabeth L.
  • "I would recommend this placement if someone is interested in working in the park service, whether it is national or the state. They are willing to work with your interest and will personalize your position based on those interests." Adrian S.

Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site SC Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism
300 State Park Rd.
Summerville, SC 29485

CONTACT: Mary Wightman, Archaeologist Colonial Dorchester

DESCRIPTION: Located in Summerville, SC, Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site is an archaeological preserve under the management of the South Carolina Park Service. The site consists of an entire Colonial-era town (est. 1697) situated along the Ashley River. This historic site has been virtually undisturbed by modern development, offering a unique setting for historical archaeological research and preservation.

Students interested in Historical Archaeology are presented with the opportunity to further develop their skills with the principles of archaeological field and lab methods.  Additionally, students will learn how to orchestrate volunteer and public archaeology programs for school groups and adult education.

Comments from Students:

  • "Through hands-on experience I have learned what it takes [to be an archaeologist], from plotting points in an area to cataloguing the artifacts dug up from that point and analyzing the data into ideas about the people that lived there. This internship was like a miniature field school, but with extra teaching on park services. I had no idea that I would come out of this with so much more knowledge than I had before." Benjamin C.

H.L. Hunley Project

Warren Lasch Conversation Center, Clemson University Restoration Institute
1250 Supply Street
North Charleston, SC 29405-2045

CONTACT: Stéphanie A. Cretté, PhD, Director, WLCC
EMAIL: scrette@clemson.edu
OR: Michael P. Scafuri, Archaeologist, WLCC
EMAIL: scafuri@clemson.edu

DESCRIPTION: Located on Clemson University’s Restoration Institute campus on the former Charleston Navy Base in North Charleston, SC, the H.L. Hunley Project is currently engaged in the conservation and archaeological investigation of the American Civil War submarine H.L. Hunley.  On February 17, 1864, H.L. Hunley attacked and sank USS Housatonic off the coast of Charleston, becoming the first submarine in history to sink an enemy vessel in combat. Recovered in 2000, the 40-foot iron submarine has been undergoing conservation treatment and study at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center.

Internships are available to assist project archaeologists with their investigation of H.L. Hunley. Students will be given the opportunity to participate in and support ongoing documentation, research, and report writing related to the submarine.  This may involve database assistance, archival research, photography, and some exposure to 3D documentation.  Students may also participate in hands-on work with the submarine, such as sample and artifact collection, as well as public outreach and other educational activities. A summary report and/or presentation at the conclusion of the internship will also be expected.

Hampton Plantation State Historic Site

1950 Rutledge Rd
McClellanville, SC 29458

CONTACT: Stacey Young
EMAIL:  SYoung@scprt.com
 
DESCRIPTION: Hampton Plantation State Historic Site, located in McClellanville, South Carolina was home to the Horry and Rutledge families and their enslaved workers for generations. The mansion house, detached kitchen, and former rice fields are the few visible above ground remains of the plantation.  Current archaeological investigations are focusing on an early eighteenth century site that appears to have an enslaved African, Native American, and European presence. Students interested in an internship at Hampton Plantation will develop basic skills in lab methods, while helping us to understand this site that pre-dates the establishment of Hampton Plantation. Opportunities to assist in the field with volunteer archaeological excavations at Hampton Plantation in the Spring and Fall will also be availalbe. The lab portion of the internship will be conducted at Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site in Charleston.

Opportunities may be available for advanced students. Selected students will choose one aspect of the laboratory work (such as a specific artifact type i.e. buttons, beads, ceramics) and write a short paper or summary of the work. Summaries could lead to presentations at a local conference or lecture, published in the SC State Parks newsletter, or incorporated into the site report.

Brockington and Associates

498 Wando Park Boulevard, Suite 700
Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina 29464

CONTACT: Jeff Sherard
EMAIL: jeffsherard@brockingtoncrm.com

Application Deadline: Fall Semester March 15, Spring semester Oct 15

DESCRIPTION: Brockington and Associates provides a broad spectrum of cultural resources management tasks, including identifying and evaluating archaeological sites and historic buildings/structures, identifying and classifying cultural material in a full-service archaeological laboratory, and public history interpretation through our partner company, HW Exhibits. Brockington interns will be exposed to all facets of the archaeological process with primary responsibilities to include assisting in the initial processing of archaeological specimens by washing and rough sorting excavated collections and preparing project-related documents and materials for long-term curation. The internship takes place in our Mt. Pleasant archaeology laboratory facility. In addition to hands-on experience in the lab, individuals will have the opportunity to interact with a wide range of professionals, including historians, geophysical and GIS specialists, graphic designers, and museum exhibit design experts. Opportunities for archaeological fieldwork may be possible.

Drayton Hall
3380 Ashley River Road
Charleston, SC 29414

CONTACT: Stephanie Demkowski
EMAILSdemkowski@draytonahll.org
PHONE:  843-769-2637
FAX:  843-766-0878

DESCRIPTION: Drayton Hall Preservation Trust is seeking interns to assist our Historic Architecture and Archaeology staff.

The internships range from digitizing oral histories; entering data into ReDiscovery (our collections management software); consolidating internal genealogical records; inventorying and organizing archaeological materials; and cataloging, digitizing, and processing artifacts. Students that complete an internship with Drayton Hall will further develop their skills in collections management, collections-based research, and archival studies.

Following a meeting with the department internship coordinator; Drayton Hall requires interested students to submit a resume, a short statement of purpose, an unofficial transcript, and a minimum of one letter of recommendation to Stephanie Demkowski at Sdemkowski@draytonhall.org. Students may be asked to attend an interview.

 

 

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Biological Anthropology Internships

MUSC, Dept. of Pathology (Autopsy section)

MUSC, Dept. of Pathology
Autopsy Section, MSC 908
171 Ashley Avenue
Charleston, SC 29425

CONTACT: Olivia Rivera
Email: riverao@musc.edu

Application Deadline: Fall Semester May 1, Spring Semester October 15

DESCRIPTION: Forensic pathology: The student may observe hospital and medicolegal autopsies and is encouraged to ask questions.  During observation, the student will assist in the organization of the autopsy paperwork and other administrative duties. Before applying for an internship, the student will first need to contact his or her college professor who is supervising internships for endorsement and provision of the college's internship course requirements and evaluation rubric. The time commitment expectation is one day each weekend or the entire weekend every other week. On occasion, time during the week is available for participation.

MUSC's Department of Pathology, Medical and Forensic Autopsy Section has the following requirements for students doing internships:

1. The candidate must be in good academic standing at their college.  

2. The candidate's resume must be submitted for review, and an interview arranged with one of the forensic pathologists and the pathologist assistant, Mr. Jeffrey Wagner.

3. The intern must submit a proposal for a forensic pathology-related topic or case study to be presented at the end of the internship to the faculty and staff of the MUSC Medical and Forensic Autopsy Section. Presentations should be 15 to 20 minutes in length. The college internship supervisor and a forensic pathologist must review the proposal for suitability and practicality.

4. The intern must successfully receive clearance and complete training with the MUSC Volunteer Office.                     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Comments From Students:

  •  "I really enjoyed my time at autopsy... I'm glad I had an anatomy class before taking the internship because I was able to see inside the body everything I'd learned and more... The staff, techs, and doctors were wonderful. Extremely relaxed and willing to answer my million questions a case." Perri K.

  • "As much as I wish I could change my career and go into pathology, this internship did not change my career plans. If anything, I am more excited about and dedicated to my chosen career [forensic anthropology] than I was before I saw my first autopsy." Mary D.

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Cultural Anthropology Internships

American Red Cross of Lowcountry SC

2424-A City Hall Lane
North Charleston, SC 29406

CONTACT: Carly Fountain
PHONE: 843-480-4247
FAX: 843-764-2318
EMAILcarly.fountain@redcross.org

DESCRIPTION: The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteer and the generosity of donors. Interns can be involved in a variety of initiatives, including recruiting and engaging volunteers, assisting disaster-affected populations, helping to share the Red Cross story or working with military members and their families to teach classes and relay emergency communications. 

Benefits of this internship: Great exposure to direct client interaction ideal for Public Health, Anthropology, Public Policy, and other such studies. An internship at the Red Cross would provide great opportunities for networking and understanding nonprofit management and direct delivery of services to populations in need. 

 

ACLU of South Carolina (American Civil Liberties Union)
P.O. Box 20998
Charleston, SC 29413

PHONE: 843-720-1423
EMAILFor general information, email: info@aclusc.org
CONTACTFrank Knaack, Executive Director

OR: Ali Titus, Communications Director 
EMAIL: atitus@aclusc.org

DIRECT LINK: National Internships

DESCRIPTION: “ACLU of South Carolina is seeking a student volunteer with strong communications and research skills (interest in public policy and/or government or journalism a plus). We seek assistance with ad hoc projects that include researching and drafting op-eds, speeches, fact sheets, and web content on civil liberties. We also need help designing a communications strategy to reach new members, especially the youth audience. The volunteer will work under the supervision of both the office coordinator and executive director. Please send your resume or CV or relevant academic and work experience to us at info@aclusouthcarolina.org.”  

Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding

Located at Brickhouse Equestrian Center
2669 Hamilton Road
Johns Island, SC 29455

CONTACT: Kenna Brookshire, Volunteer Coordinator
EMAILvolunteers@catr-program.org
PHONE: CATR: 843-559-6040
FAX: CATR: 843-559-0176

DESCRIPTION: Charleston Area Therapeutic Riding empowers children and adults with disabilities to enjoy more active and fulfilling lives through therapeutic horsemanship. Interns will have the opportunity to work directly with horses and individuals with disabilities in our therapeutic riding program in addition to gaining exposure to non-profit management, fundraising, event planning, and volunteer management. 

Cultivate SciArt

CONTACT: Bobbie Lyon
EMAIL: cultivate.sc@gmail.com


DESCRIPTION: Community Engagement Intern
Cultivate SciArt (https://www.cultivatesciart.org/) hosts events which explore science and art together to cultivate community discussions. We have hosted public science + art happy hours, dinners and public workshops. We collaborate closely with Charleston’s grassroots organizations, non-profits, local businesses, schools, research and art institutes. Cultivate is rooted in interdisciplinary learning and collaborations. Our work involves a diverse set of skills ranging from website design, marketing, event management, science communication, art integration, social enterprise (small nonprofit) business management and impact assessment. This enables internships to be personalized to each student’s strengths, major and areas of interest.

The intern will assist in building and maintaining public engagement with Cultivate SciArt digital events and online material.

  1. Create online science art blogs (event recaps).
  2. Curate past event photo albums.
  3. Create newsletters, graphics, web pages and social media posts to engage the public.
  4. Assess and improve online engagement methods.
  5. Maintain online worklog and protocols.

Because of the interdisciplinary nature of Cultivate’s work, this internship is rewarding for most majors and we work with you to develop learning objectives tailored to your interests. To help with this, please include in your cover letter:

  1. What personal and professional areas do you seek to develop while working with Cultivate?
  2. What are some of your strengths that you bring to Cultivate’s mission to promote community

science and art?

If interested, email cover letter, transcript and resume to Bobbie Lyon at cultivate.sc@gmail.com

Lowcountry Street Grocery

CONTACT: Olivia Myers RD, LD, Director of Nutrition and Community Outreach
EMAIL: olivia@lowcountrystreetgrocery.com

DESCRIPTION: Lowcountry Street Grocery (LSG) is a sustainable, healthy food social enterprise that leans on resilient, innovative business tools engaged by every community member that we strive to connect. LSG leverages the demand for healthy, high-quality local food, to directly address the need for the same for those that need it most. We utilize a strategic sliding scale & SNAP/EBT incentives to ensure that fresh food can be accessible to all. LSG is a sum of three parts: a mobile farmer's market, local grocery delivery (Community Supported Grocery) and GroceryRx, our produce prescription program.

This internship would be a combination of onsite work and remote, project-based work. The onsite time may include hands-on working with produce to prep for delivery or the market, putting together grocery bundles for GroceryRx patients and marketing and site visits for GroceryRx. Projects may be based around research, advertising, food/nutrition work and more. This internship would be good experience for anyone that is wanting to learn more about our local food system, the food supply chain, nutrition and food access in healthcare and food insecurity in our area.

The Sophia Institute

3 Broad Street
Charleston, SC 29401

CONTACT: Maureen Finan
EMAIL: info@thesophiainstitute.org

Operations Intern

Description:

The Sophia Institute is a non-profit focusing on educating a national and global audience of men and women on the importance of developing wisdom, mindfulness, well-being for a more just, regenerative, and flourishing world for all people.

As an Intern at The Sophia Institute, you will assist in many aspects of the business.  You will interact with program participants and donors, assist with marketing and event planning, help manage our website, and provide administrative support. This internship is unpaid. 

Responsibilities:

Assist with emails/phone calls and communicate with participants

Assist staff with social media platforms and marketing plan

Support staff in event planning and management including preparing slides for Zoom screen sharing and sending out Zoom confirmation emails to registrants

Support staff with fundraising efforts including using letter templates for thank you letter templates for donations, sponsorships and other correspondence

Participate in Board team meetings and brainstorming sessions

Aide with membership management

Assist with special projects

Gravitating Zoom recordings to Vimeo and if appropriate, updating passcode document

Qualifications:

Prefer GPA of 3.0 or higher

Pursuing BS or BA degree

An interest in non-profits and/or small businesses

Great interpersonal skills

Computer skills in Google and Microsoft programs, as well as Zoom and Vimeo

Basic knowledge of website management

Familiarity with Social Media Platforms

Ability to work in a busy environment

Prefer some training in marketing and business processes

Alignment with our vision and mission

How to Apply:

Email The Sophia Institute, your cover letter (preferred) and resume to info@thesophiainstitute.org Please include "Internship" in your subject line.

Water Mission

1150 Kinzer St, Bldg 1605
N Charleston, SC 29405

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 71489
Charleston, SC 29415

CONTACT: Kristen Check, Program Evaluation Coordinator
EMAILkcheck@watermission.org
PHONE: 843-769-7395

DESCRIPTION: Water Mission is a non-profit Christian engineering organization that builds safe water solutions for people in developing countries and disaster areas. Since 2001, Water Mission has provided access to safe water for more than 3.1 million people in 52 countries. The Community Development at Water Mission often seeks interns to assist with a variety of research activities. Cultural anthropology students interested in international development, WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), medical anthropology, and global/public health would be especially interested in this opportunity. Depending on research needs, interns may have the opportunity to contribute to planning qualitative research studies, piloting new methodologies and modes of inquiry, transcribing ethnographic interviews, analyzing data to include medical records, intereviews, focus groups and survery, and writing internal reports and drafts for academic pubications.

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Educational Internships

Trident Literacy Association

St. Julian Devine Community Center
1 Cooper Street
Charleston, SC
9am-3pm, Monday-Thursday

CONTACT: Eileen Chepenik, Executive Director
EMAIL: echepenik@tridentlit.org
PHONE: 843-469-2512

DESCRIPTION: Trident Literacy is an adult education program. They do very rewarding work - and there is lots of work to be done. Some of the opportunities would involve one-on-one and small-group tutoring in a variety of subject areas (only the ones in which the intern feels confident), helping with paperwork and administrative responsibilities, and any other responsibilities that may arise in conjunction with helping adults improve their skills so they can become qualified for jobs. "We've always focused on our downtown location for the convenience of students, but we have other locations around the tri-county area that also need help, so the options are open if the intern would prefer another location."

Comments From Students:

  • "I've decided to stay on as a volunteer through the summer. I want to see my students take their GEDs. I promised them if they pass I'll take them out to dinner. I've also decided that I want to get my tutor certification through the ProLiteracy organization... I would definitely suggest my placement to other students." Meghan W.

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ESL (English As A Second Language) Internships

Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach Services

1684 Brownswood Rd,
Johns Island, SC 29455

CONTACT: Ryan Vrba, Director of Outreach
EMAILryan.vrba@olmoutreach.org
PHONE: 843-559-4109

OR: Jennifer Meshanko, Volunteer Services Manager
EMAIL: jennifer.meshanko@olmoutreach.org
PHONE: 843-559-4109

OR: Kelly Criscitiello, Education Manager
EMAIL: kelly.criscitiello@olmoutreach.org
PHONE: 843-559-4109

 

DESCRIPTION: Educational opportunities are available at the Johns Island location to include involvement with English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, Yes, I Can! After School Program and Early Childhood Education.  ESL classes teach conversation, writing, reading and grammar to non-English speaking adult students in small group settings.  The after school program assists 2nd through 5th grade students with completing their homework assignments, strengthening their math and reading fluidity, as well as teaching social and emotional concepts.  The early childhood program provides educational instruction to assist young children reach their developmental milestones in a safe and positive environment.

Comments From Students:

  • "Today...we learned about Easter and the traditions each student has for the holiday. We learned different words for the methods of cooking food such as bake, boil, broil, fry, steam, etc. We did a listening and writing activity concerning our new vocabulary ... I love all my students so much. I promised I would be back for their graduation in May, and I plan to stick to that promise." Lindsay P.

The Outreach Learning Center at St. Matthew's

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
405 King St.
Charleston, SC 29403

CONTACT: Hayden Shook, ESL program manager
EMAIL: haydenshook70@gmail.com
PHONE: 843-579-0420

 

DESCRIPTION: Opportunities in this active community center within walking distance of campus to work in adult literacy and English as a second language programs.

Comments From Students:

  • "My favorite part of the internship was working with the children. I hope to continue to build upon that interest in my anthropological studies through the anthropology of education and comparative child studies/comparative parenting practices. I think my time at the internship has helped my organizational skills and has contributed to my knowledge of children and effective programming... Over the course of this internship I have decided... to continue with my studies in anthropology and pursue a doctorate after graduation." Rebecca K.

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Environmental Internships

Audubon South Carolina

Remotely OR
336 Sanctuary Road
Harleyville, SC 29448

CONTACT: Matt Johnson, Director of Bird Conservation & Engagement
EMAIL:  mgjohnson@audubon.org
PHONE:  843-462-2150 or 803-429-5571

DESCRIPTION: Audubon South Carolina internships (non-paid) offer experience to students interested in conservation of natural habitats in South Carolina with an emphasis on bird conservation, native plant initiatives, and climate resiliency.  Protecting birds and their habitats from human activity is at the forefront of Audubon’s mission, and fortunately for birds, people living in towns and cities can still play a critical role in fostering healthy wildlife and communities.  Internship work experiences include photography in the field, coordinating and recruiting volunteers, compilation of educational and interpretive materials in PowerPoint or Publisher software, engagement of local schools programming, documentation and GIS map making (experience preferred), assistance with our new Bird-friendly and Climate-Resiliency Recognition Programs, and coordinating outreach for our legislative resolutions and initiatives. Internships can include one or multiple jobs listed. Other opportunities can be made based on mutual agreement between the inter and the supervisor. Schedule can be flexible, but more field opportunities will be available for students who have one free day during the work week. Must be reliable and enthusiastic. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Lowcountry Local First:(Growing New Farmers Program)

P.O. Box 72018
North Charleston, SC 29415

PHONE: 843-801-3390
CONTACT:  Jamee Haley, Executive Director
EMAIL:  jamee@lowcountrylocalfirst.org

DESCRIPTION:Lowcountry Local First (LLF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that builds community support for local independent businesses and farmers by working with businesses, consumers and policymakers. From business services to hospitality to creative to farms, LLF has a membership base of more than 500 companies ranging from sole-proprietorships up to 250+ employees. Our work includes Good Business and Good Farming. 

LLF's Good Farming endeavors provide the resources, training, and consumer education necessary for local, independent farms to thrive in South Carolina. Our work in sustainable agriculture grows and supports local food systems by connecting existing and new farmers with each other and providing access to local restaurants, grocers and community members. This work includes the Growing New Farmers Program, farm support and consulting, and an Eat Local Month public campaign. LLF also works collaboratively with many organizations that provide direct farm services for farms at all stages of their operation through a regional listserv and networking and training opportunities. 

We're looking for someone who's smart, responsible, fun, creative, and a self-starter that works well in a fast-paced environment to assist both the Growing New Farmers Program Manager and Director of Marketing & Communications. 

Nature Conservancy, Charleston Office

1417 Stuart Engals Blvd, Ste 100
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

CONTACT: Sarah Hartman, Director of Conservation
EMAIL:  shartman@tnc.org
PHONE:
  843-937-8807

DESCRIPTION: The Nature Conservancy in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina is looking for non-paid interns interested in conservation of natural habitats in South Carolina. Internship work experiences include field work and photography, documentation of landscapes, digitizing documents, historical research, GIS work, and data entry. Internships will have flexibility in types of experiences and skills gained. No experience necessary. Good work ethic required. 

Office of Sustainability at the College of Charleston 

14 Greenway, College of Chalreston, Charleston SC 29424

CONTACT: Ashley Lavender
EMAILlavenderal@cofc.edu

DESCRIPTION: Created in the fall of 2011, the Office of Sustainability at the College of Charleston is comprised of undergraduate and graduate interns working under the direction of full time office staff. The purpose and vision of this Office is: To generate and apply knowledge through holistic praxis to create sustainable solutions that transform society by rethinking, redesigning and restoring integrated systems. The Office of Sustainability is looking for motivated and dedicated students for internships in the spring, summer, and fall. Both paid and unpaid internships are available for undergraduate and graduate students.

As our projects are student driven initiatives, applicants must be self-motivated, organized, and have a passion for sustainability. A portion of the internship will include intern personal development, and professionalism and leadership training. While some of the positions may be working on pre-determined projects, the Office of Sustainability promotes creativity and collaboration and any new initiative will be considered for implementation.

The Office of Sustainability is looking for self-starting individuals with an ability to brainstorm creative solutions to current challenges facing our community. Potential candidates should be organized, hardworking, and detail oriented with the desire to be a change agent in society. Additionally, applicants should desire to further the vision of the Office of Sustainability by implementing projects and ideas that will create a more sustainable CofC. Experience and knowledge in the field of sustainability is a plus, but not a prerequisite for this position. Preference will be given to those applicants demonstrating skills in leading experiments and project management. Responsibilities include working with campus associates as well as other community members to further building and strengthening our relationship with the community of Charleston. For more information on our internship program please email lavenderal@cofc.edu  and check out our website at sustainability.cofc.edu.

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Museum and Archival Internships

Addleston Library, Special Collections

College of Charleston
66 George Street
Charleston, SC 29424

CONTACT: Mary Jo Fairchild, Manager of Research Services
EMAIL: fairchildmj@cofc.edu
PHONE: 843-953-8016

DESCRIPTION: The Special Collections department offers internship opportunities to both undergraduate and graduate students who wish to gain experience working with archival collections and researchers. Primarily designed for academic credit and in collaboration with an intern's faculty advisor, Special Collections internships are structured to last for one academic term. All internships are supervised and evaluated by the Manager of Research Services, Manager of Archival Processing, and/or other members of Special Collections staff. Special Collections internships are competitive and promote undergraduate and graduate research, scholarship, and creativity with a goal of more fully integrating Special Collections into the pedagogical and public missions of the College of Charleston to foster distinctive opportunities and relationships in the city of Charleston, state of South Carolina, and the world.

The scope of Special Collections internship projects is somewhat flexible, based upon the needs of Special Collections and the interests of an individual candidate. Some examples of possible internship responsibilities include:

Reference: providing reference support in the Special Collections Reading Room by assisting visiting patrons and students locate relevant primary source materials for their research. Students may also create research guides for specific courses of subjects of interest.

Exhibit curation: researching, mounting, display, and caption writing for Special Collections exhibits, both physical and digital.

Manuscripts processing: learning the basics of archival organization while arranging and describing all or part of a manuscript collection. This might include sorting, cleaning, arranging, boxing, researching the person, business, or organization, or creating and encoding finding aids to enhance access and discoverability of collections.

Digital projects: Digital projects might include research into collections, and providing images and information for blogs or chosen social media outlets.

Preservation: training in conservation activities can include repair of archival/rare materials; environmental monitoring; and stabilization and re-housing of library materials.

Special Collections intern candidates need attention to detail, organizational skills, and an ability to work with the public and on a team.

In addition to the internship project(s), special collections interns are required to:

  • Maintain an internship log, including in it the experiences and challenges that they encountered over the course of their project;
  • Complete an internship assessment and self-evaluation;
  • Write at least one blog post or essay about their project, for publication in library newsletters or the departmental blog.
  • Create a plan for next steps, if a project is not completed in the original scheduled duration of an internship.

How To Apply

After meeting with the Anthropology Internship Coordinator, prospective interns should complete the Special Collections Internship Application (see deadlines below). After the application is completed and reviewed, Special Collections staff may schedule an interview with the prospective intern to determine fit as well as describe the current projects available at the time. Special Collections staff may elect not to take on an intern after this initial meeting. Internship applications must be submitted at least 30 (preferably 60 for internships beginning in the spring) days in advance of the start of the internship term (fall, spring, summer).

The Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture

College of Charleston
125 Bull Bull Street
Charleston, SC 29401

CONTACT: Daron-Lee Calhoun II, Facilities, Outreach, and Public Programming Coordinator
                  Race and Social Justice Initiative Coordinator
EMAILcalhoundl@cofc.edu
PHONE: 843-953-7621

DESCRIPTION: Interns may be involved in a variety of activities at Avery such as documenting, evaluating, organizing, and preserving the Center's archival and permanent collections, helping with exhibitions, event planning, and providing research assistance.

Comments From Students: 

  • "I love being in a work environment learning to give tours or helping with research.  I find it hard to understand African American History and Culture unless it's tangible and this is tangible!" Shajuania C.

The Charleston Museum (America's First Museum, founding in 1773)

360 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC 29403

CONTACT: Jennifer McCormick, Chief of Collections
EMAILjmccormick@charlestonmuseum.org
PHONE: 843-722-2996

DESCRIPTION: There are a number of departments at The Charleston Musuem - Archaeology, Textiles, Archives, History and Education that have internships available. This is one of our most popular and valuable internships. Depending on interest, interns can work on artifact analysis, excavations, computer services or museum management. The internship in The Charleston Museum's archives, one of the best kept secrets in the Holy City, entails a large amount of data entry, but there are also opportunities to learn basic collections managments skills and to assist with a variety of tasks. The data focuses on archaeological and historical artifacts, thus coordinating with the student's field of study. The archives internship should serve as an interesting introduction into museum registration methods.

Comments From Students:

  • "After interning with the museum I have realized that I am much more interested in archaeology and anthropology than I was before.  I have been thinking of going to graduate school for anthropology.  I also really enjoyed the artifact conservation." Greer G.

  • "I am working with a computer program called "Past Perfect: that museums use to catalogue all of their items including fossils, artifacts, textiles, etc.  It can be used as a search engine if one needs to look for something in particular...My favorite experience at The Charleston Museum has been to explore the museum's storeroom on the days I would help pack and unpack artifacts.  The museum storeroom is a large, temperature-controlled room that holds all the museum materials that are not on display." Britney C. (completed the Archives internship)

 

The Heyward-Washington House & The Joseph Manigault House

The Heyward-Washington House 87 Church Street

The Joseph Manigault House 350 Meeting Street

EMAIL: sthomas@charlestonmuseum.org
PHONE: 843-722-2996 ext. 236

DESCRIPTION: Interns will give house tours as well as complete a research project on a topic concerning the history of one of our sites. Topics include slavery, archaeology, women's history, decorative arts, and more. Internship would require self-study in the archives on various topics as well as public speaking to groups of people.

Waring Historical Library

Medical University of South Carolina
175 Ashley Ave., MSC 403
Charleston, SC 29425-4030

CONTACT: Brian Fors, Curator
EMAILfors@musc.edu

PHONE: 843-792-2290

DESCRIPTION: Internship opportunities include working with museum object collections to catalog, clean, rehouse, and prepare exhibits; archival materials to research, organize, describe, and rehouse; and digitization projects including creating of digital content for and online exhibits. The Waring Historical Library is the medical history library at MUSC and has collections dating back to the 16th centruy, which include rare books, manuscripts, museum objects, artwork, and more. Interns are expected to have basic proficiency in Word and Excel, ability to work independently with direction, and above average communication skills (oral and written). 

  • "This internship made me realize how much I love research, especially medical research...I love what I did in this internship and would like to work in similar areas of research in the future.  Overall, this experience has been entirely beneficial and I've loved everyone I've been able to work with on this internship." Lia D.

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National and International Internships

National and International Internship Sites Listed by CofC's Career Services
 
Anthropology Internship List, compiled by the American Anthropological Association

North American Archaeology Department of the American Museum of Natural History

Internships through the Smithsonian

Anthropology Internships Abroad, from GoAbroad.com
 
Internship Opportunities for Anthropology Students interested in International Development, compiled by George Washington University

 

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