Start with the term calendar, then check whether the specific position is still posted
PEM's current program page says Spring 2027 internships run January 21 through April 26. Spring postings are expected in October 2026 and applications are accepted through December 6, 2026. Summer 2027 runs June 10 through August 23, with postings expected in February and applications accepted through March 14, 2027.
| Term | Program dates | Posting / application window |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 | January 21–April 26, 2027 | Postings in October 2026; applications through December 6, 2026 |
| Summer 2027 | June 10–August 23, 2027 | Postings in February 2027; applications through March 14, 2027 |
Those shared dates are not a promise that every opening stays available until the cutoff. PEM reviews applications and schedules interviews on a rolling basis, and positions are removed as they are filled or when the period ends.
Open the specific internship description before drafting your materials. The department posting controls the actual eligibility, required hours, work location and compensation terms.
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Reserve the shared Thursday session before fitting the flexible hours
PEM says fall and spring internships are normally 12 weeks at 15 onsite hours per week, totaling 180 hours. Summer internships are normally 10 weeks at 18 onsite hours per week, also totaling 180 hours. The page separately lists a mandatory in-person orientation on the first day from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and professional-development sessions every Thursday from 10 a.m.–noon throughout the internship.
The published term calendar spans more dates than the stated working-week count. Do not multiply the entire calendar span into a new hour total. Ask the department how working weeks, breaks and any hybrid sessions apply to the position you are considering.
Put the Thursday session on your calendar first, then add the rest of the weekly hours and travel. A nominal 15- or 18-hour weekly capacity does not help if the required shared session conflicts with a class you cannot move.
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Confirm whether the work is in Salem, Rowley or a hybrid arrangement
PEM's museum is in Salem, Massachusetts, while the Phillips Library and collection-center facilities are in Rowley. Evaluate the commute to the department's actual worksite, not just the museum's public entrance. If a description says hybrid, ask which tasks and shared sessions still require attendance.
Tailor one concrete example to the department's output. For library or collections work, explain how you organized information so another person could retrieve it. For audience work, describe a communication decision and what you learned about the people using it. Keep the claim proportional to what you actually did.
Because review is rolling, a complete application submitted while the position is still advertised is more useful than waiting for the shared term deadline and assuming the opening will remain.
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