TEXAS A&M HUMANITIES CLUSTER INTERNSHIP SUPPORT GRANTS

Call for Proposals
AY 2021-22
 
The Humanities Cluster at Texas A&M University solicits applications from students enrolled in doctoral programs with a humanities focus who wish to engage in internships as part of their academic training. Recognizing that unpaid or low-paid internships may present a considerable financial hardship for students, these grants offer up to $5,000 to support students who participate in public-service oriented internships. The Cluster can fund as many as six internships during the current cycle.
 
Internships provide an excellent opportunity for doctoral students to broaden their career prospects, learn about the range of career opportunities available to those with advanced degrees in humanities disciplines, and develop valuable skills.  Data gathered during an earlier survey suggest that almost 20% of Texas A&M humanities PhD program graduates complete an internship during their time in the program.  The Humanities Cluster hopes to support and expand these opportunities.
 
Eligible organizations include, but are not limited to, NGOs, non-profits, museums, government agencies at any level, research centers, or think tanks.  Qualified internships may not be partisan or commercial in nature, nor can they be with organizations engaged in political advocacy.  Internships at Texas A&M, including branch campus, cannot be funded. While we recognize that internships may be connected to a student’s research interests, these grants will not be awarded to projects that solely support the student’s doctoral research. Internships may be domestic or international, but the Humanities Cluster is not responsible for arranging visas, permission to work in countries outside of the United States, or any tax matters stemming from international work.
 
The Humanities Cluster does not help students find internships.  Students will need to make arrangements for an internship on their own and provide supporting documentation at the time that they apply for an Internship Support Grant.  The Cluster will organize a Humanities Internship Fair and an internship informational with the Career Center in Spring 2022
 
Preference will be given to summer internships. Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis, with a preferred application deadline of March 11, 2022. Internships in the current cycle should plan to conclude by September 1, 2022. Applications should be sent as a single file to humanities@tamu.edu.
 
Applications should include the following:

1. A statement (3 pages maximum) outlining the proposed internship, its relevance to the applicant’s career plans, and the specific benefits that the internship will provide for the applicant’s education.  Applicants should specifically address the financial costs of accepting the internship and how funds from this grant would be used.
2. A letter from the internship host/sponsor, specifically indicating the nature of the work to be performed during the internship period, the duration of the internship, work location, work hours, and any compensation.
3. A brief letter from the applicant’s primary academic advisor/mentor indicating their support for the applicant’s decision to pursue an internship opportunity.
4. A copy of the applicant’s CV.

The Humanities Cluster at Texas A&M University brings together university resources to re-think how the humanities respond to the changing career trajectories of humanities PhDs.  The Cluster draws on expertise and enthusiasm from the Departments of English, History, and Philosophy, as well as the Graduate and Professional School, Texas A&M Career Center, and the College of Liberal Arts.

Download a printable version of this RFP.

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