Internships offer students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a professional arts environment.  In addition, these opportunities give our students the chance to make valuable connections in the art world.

School of Visual Arts students with qualifying internships are eligible to register for CFA AR572 Visual Arts Internship (CFA AR598S during summer semesters).  CFA AR572 is a two unit course, and CFA AR598S is a variable unit course that students may take for as little as .5 units. Students must complete and submit an Internship Proposal outlining the goals and objectives before beginning their placement. Visual Arts students may pursue up to two internships for course credit during their course of study.

Qualifying internship positions should:

  • Be related to the student’s course of study or career goals
  • Include 80-150 hours of work over a span of 6-14 weeks
  • Feature mentorship by a supervisor at the internship site and opportunities for a student to develop their professional skills

The student’s internship site supervisor should work with the student on goals, learning objectives, and deliverables for the position, and will be asked to complete a final evaluation of the student’s work.

To receive credit for CFA AR572/CFA AR598S, students must:

    • Find an internship placement through independent research or by taking advantage of campus resources
    • Complete and submit the Internship Proposal form (see below)
    • Once the internship is approved, submit an add/drop form in order to be enrolled in the Internship course
    • Schedule initial and mid-point check-ins with the CFA AR572/CFA AR598S instructor
    • Maintain a practice of documenting their work and reflecting on their experiences throughout the course of the internship
    • Have their internship site supervisor complete a final evaluation of their work
    • Complete a final presentation reflecting on what they have learned throughout the course of the internship

    Students will receive a letter grade based on their final presentation and reflective documentation of their internship experiences.

    Internships and Off Campus Work for International Students

    International students should always consult with ISSO prior to obtaining an internship or other off campus work. In some cases, international students on F-1 visas may be able to take advantage of off campus work or internships by enrolling in CFA AR572/CFA AR598S and obtaining Curricular Practical Training authorization.

    Internship Links
    Questions?

    Resource Share: Internships and Work Opportunities
    Friday, November 7 3-4pm
    Visual Arts Research and Resource Library, 5th floor of 855 Comm. Ave
    Learn about SVA students’ recent internship and work experiences, what they learned during the process, and what they wish they had known at the start. We’ll also discuss resources on campus and online for finding positions, polishing resumes, and prepping for interviews.

    Visual Arts Internship Proposal

    Student Information

    Your Name(Required)
    Your Email Address(Required)
    ex, MFA Graphic Design, BFA Painting
    Most international students will require authorization. To learn more about CPT and OPT work authorization, go to https://www.bu.edu/isso/employment-internships/student-off-campus-work-and-training/

    Internship Placement Information

    Please include information about the company/organization/individual you will be interning with. Note: BU SVA does not provide credit for on-campus work or internships.
    Internship Placement Address
    Internship Placement Supervisor Name(Required)
    Please indicate whether your internship will take place in the summer, fall, or spring semester. Note: For students who require ISSO authorization to work off campus, internships MUST start and end within the start and end dates of one semester (for example, a placement could not start in August and continue through the fall).
    Please include your anticipated start and end dates, and an estimate of hours per week. Internships should include at least 80-150 hours of work over the course of 6-14 weeks.
    What will you be doing, and how does it relate to your degree and academic goals? What are the final goals and deliverables that you will be responsible for?
    Student Signature and Agreement(Required)
    I understand that upon approval of my Internship Proposal, I will need to submit an Add/Drop form (https://www.bu.edu/cfa/students/forms-procedures/add-drop-form/) to be enrolled in CFA AR572 (Fall/Spring) or CFA AR598S (Summer). I understand that CFA AR572/598S is a letter-graded, for-credit course, and that I will need to attend check-ins with the course instructor and give a final presentation of my internship experiences.

    This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.