Paid Internships for Undergraduate Humanities Majors
Humanities in Action (HIA) is a transformative program that connects UMD humanities majors with paid internships across Northeast Minnesota’s nonprofit and government sectors. Students partner with organizations addressing critical issues—such as food and housing security, ecological justice, domestic violence, and community development—gaining professional experience while applying their humanities education to real-world community impact. Be a part of something truly impactful and make your humanities degree work for you by joining HIA!
MISSION: We advance the professional value of the humanities through paid internships while partnering on community issues, strengthening human-centered professional skills, and fostering lifelong community and civic engagement.
VISION: A future where UMD humanities students are empowered to build purpose-driven careers and uplift the public good in any community.
VALUES:
- Student Empowerment: HIA students develop human-centered professional skills through hands-on career preparation grounded in their humanities education.
- Promoting the Humanities: HIA makes the professional power of humanities training clear: turning communication, critical thinking, and complex problem solving into career assets.
- Community Advancement: HIA advances the greater social good by partnering with regional nonprofits and governmental organizations, helping to expand their capacity to achieve their missions.
- Workforce Innovation: HIA prepares a resilient workforce for Northeast Minnesota and beyond, combining professional skills with a commitment to the public good.
Eligibility
To be eligible, you must have completed at least 30 credits and major in one of the following areas:
- American Indian Studies
- Art History
- Chinese Area Studies
- Communication
- English
- Environment, Sustainability, and Geography
- French Studies
- German Studies
- History
- Interdisciplinary Studies
- Journalism
- Philosophy
- Spanish Studies
- Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
If you have any questions about the program or your eligibility, please reach out to Jill Hollingsworth, HIA Coordinator.
Application Process
- Submit application form
- Register for CLA 3087 (Pre-Internship Course) during semester prior to internship
- During the Pre-Internship Course, you will select which internship(s) you want to apply for in consultation with the Coordinator
- Apply for internship(s) through MConnect (or as indicated in the position description)
- Accept internship upon offer. If you apply for more than one internship and receive multiple offers, you will need to select one and let the other organizations know of your decision.
If you have any questions about the application process, please reach out to Jill Hollingsworth, HIA Coordinator.
Internship
- Once you have accepted an internship position, you will be hired as a student employee to receive pay through HIA
- You will complete a Learning Agreement that needs to be signed by you, the internship Site Supervisor, and the HIA Coordinator
- Hours will be determined by the organization and yourself, and will need to be tracked in MConnect and reported weekly to your UMD supervisor for approval
- You will be paid $20/hour for 120 hours of work during the semester (approximately 8-10 hours/week)
If you have any questions about the internship, please reach out to Jill Hollingsworth, HIA Coordinator.
Open Positions Spring 2027
- Bob Tavani House for Medical Respite (marketing, communications, outreach, and growth)
- Carlton County Historical Society (oral history research assistant)
- City of Duluth Planning and Development (city and community planning)
- Duluth Center for Women and Children (operations and programming)
- Duluth Folk School (operations and event planning)
- Mentor North (marketing and communications)
- Northern Expressions Arts Collective (program and event planning)
- PAVSA (operations, advocacy, and community outreach)
- Stepping on Up/CHUM (multiple: marketing and communications, program evaluation, volunteer and community engagement, fundraising and grant writing, housing advocacy, street outreach, shelter support)
- Udac (program planning and implementation)
- Urban Excellence Institute (urban planning and community development)
- YMCA (multiple: marketing and communication, organizational history and archives, philanthropic development)
- YWCA (advocacy and outreach)
If you have any questions about the internship, please reach out to Jill Hollingsworth, HIA Coordinator.
“This generous grant from the Mellon Foundation will create significant and enduring benefits for our students and programs, and we are deeply grateful....By embedding paid, community-engaged internships into the student experience, Humanities in Action will strengthen UMD’s role as a regional partner, contribute to community well-being, and affirm the humanities as a powerful pathway to purposeful, fulfilling careers.” -- UMD Chancellor Charles T. Nies, PhD