History 5390 is a course designed to familiarize the student with the practice of public history through hands on experience in a variety of settings. This experience will give the student the opportunity to see how the theories and issues in the field of public history actually function in the workplace. A well-done and well-documented internship can be an asset as you either prepare to enter the workplace following graduation or as you move ahead in your career.

Hours of work: There are 15 weeks in the semester. You will be required to work an equivalent of 8 hours a week on your internship for a total of 120 hours. The granting of one credit hour per 40 hours of internship is common in university settings.

Group meetings: We will meet as a group at the beginning of the semester, at mid-semester and at the end of the semester. During these meetings I would like each of you to share your experiences in the internship. What are your job duties? How does your internship site and your specific internship relate to public history? Who is the public that you are serving? What are the goals of the organization that you are working with? What issues have arisen regarding the methods, content, or interpretation of public history?

Reports: There are a number of reporting requirements. See below.

Site visit: Once during the semester I will visit your work site. I would like to visit with your supervisor briefly as part of this visit.

Monthly report: Once a month I would like you to submit a written report to me. The format is attached. Please submit it within a week of the end of the reporting month. (January’s report will be due by February 5, for example.)

Time sheets: Please submit the monthly time sheet along with your monthly report. Please note that it requires your supervisor’s signature.

End of semester report: At the end of the semester you will be required to write a 3-5 page paper reflecting on your experiences as an intern. You should address questions such as: What did you learn about public history through this internship? What was positive about your experience? Negative?

Supervisor’s report: At the end of the semester, I will ask your supervisor to complete a short evaluation of your work.

At some point this semester, you may have the opportunity to work on a project for the El Paso County Historical Commission. The commission is working with UTEP and the Community College to research information for historical markers. If this arrangement works out, I would like to offer each intern the opportunity to do the research for one marker. There would be some financial compensation for this. I will give you more details, as I know them.

If you need to speak to me about anything concerning the internship, please feel free to contact me. I am seeing students by appointment this semester. You may call me (747-7067), email me at yleyva@utep.edu, or leave a message for me in my mailbox in the history department.

The report is due by the 5^th of the month following the reporting month. Please type.

Name: _____________________________

Internship site: ______________________

Reporting period: ____________________

Summary of activities this month:

What have you learned about public history this month?

Do you have any questions or issues you’d like to discuss?

Signature and date: _________________________________