On-the-job training in-the-studio

BFA Studio Art students can gain valuable professional experience and earn credit toward their degree by taking on an internship with an artist, business or organization engaged with studio practice.  This experience allows students to work with professionals in their field of study to gain practical knowledge and professional experience. We have supervised internships in a variety of locations across the country.

The BFA Studio program does not require an internship, but students can choose to earn 1 to 6 hours of credit toward their Professional Development Courses requirements. Every 40 hours of work onsite, allows students to earn one credit. Students may choose to work more hours on site than the minimum required for the credit hours they are earning and the internship may be paid, or unpaid.

When deciding how many credits to work toward, keep in mind that the BFA Studio Art curriculum requires 3 to 15 hours of Professional Development Courses.

When to Go

The best time for a BFA Studio Art student to conduct an internship is the summer after the junior year or after completing specific coursework that supports their internship. . At a minimum, students must have a GPA of 2.0 and will ideally have completed at least one 3000 level studio.

Application Process

If you wish to earn academic credit for your internship, speak with your advisor.  When choosing a site artist or business with whom to work, look for someone from whom you can gain industry experience. Once you have narrowed down your choices, choose and approach a faculty supervisor who will assist you with the approval process. The approval process may take as long as a month, so start early. General advice about internships can be found at internships.appstate.edu.

Abstract metal sculpture of two interlocking, thick, gray, oval-shaped links.

Bronze sculpture of two fingers pressing into fine sand, creating circular ridges.

Andrew (Bailey) Arend
Close-up view of intricately cut sheets of MDF and other materials, featuring organic and geometric patterns created using a laser cutter. The layers include floral, leaf, and abstract designs, some with burn marks from the cutting process.
Close-up of hands weaving colorful threads on a loom, with green warp threads stretched across the frame and vibrant weft yarns forming a striped pattern. The image highlights the intricate craftsmanship and concentration involved in textile making.

Internship Requirements

You will collaborate with your faculty supervisor and your internship site supervisor to determine your daily responsibilities onsite. Your faculty supervisor will outline their requirements for documentation of your internship experience on AsuLearn.

Liability Insurance

Appalachian State students conducting internships are required to have liability insurance. See internships.appstate.edu/insurance for more information.