Candidates for the master's degree in Arts and Administration at the University of Oregon are required to complete a 200-hour internship during the summer between the first and second years of the program.
Summer internship placements benefit both interns and organizations. With faculty guidance, students secure professional opportunities in non-profit arts and culture organizations, public agencies, and for-profit enterprises. Placements may be local, regional, national or international. Interns are prepared to work in areas of management, education, research and evaluation, program development, and exhibition design, among others. Students have selected their internship sites carefully, after extensive consideration of the state of the field, and how they view their strengths and interests relative to the development of the arts.
Graduate students come to the AAD program with experience and backgrounds as practicing artists and arts administrators. During their first year, course work prior to beginning their internship includes advanced arts administration, nonprofit leadership, arts education, community arts, and technology applications, among others. Students enter the summer internship experience prepared with work learning goals, expectations in terms of skill development, and frameworks for how the internship may fit in with research goals and master's projects.
