Altfest Graduate Internship Program

The Altfest Graduate Internship Program allows students to cultivate their own internship opportunity at an organization that best suits their academic interests and/or professional goals. Students who find a summer internship with an organization may then apply to the Altfest Graduate Internship Program for funding. The program provides $4,000 for the summer; interns are expected to work a minimum of 120 total hours. The manner in which these hours are completed can be flexible, and will be agreed upon with the host organization during the application process. The program is competitive—a limited number of awards are made each year.

The Office of Career Planning & Professional Development is happy to assist students with their internships searches. You can schedule an appointment via Handshake.

The Altfest Graduate Internship Program is generously funded by Drs. Karen C. and Lewis J. Altfest, alumni of the Graduate Center.

Funding is open to PhD and master’s students. Students must be currently enrolled at the Graduate Center to apply.

Applications should include the following documents:

·        A current CV or resume

·        A one-page document explaining how the internship would further your career goals

·        An email or letter from an employer confirming that you have been offered an internship with an organization

·        The name and contact information of a professional reference.

·        International students should be prepared to apply for CPT to do their internship: Employment | CUNY Graduate Center

Ideally, any proposed internship should help you:

·        Gain exposure to career trajectories in the field

·        Learn how an organization works, its structure, goals and the roles within it

·        Identify ways in which you can expand your range of career options

·        Build relationships that expand your personal and professional network

Host Organizations for Previous Altfest Award Recipients

2023 Recipients 

·        Brooklyn Institute of Social Research

·        The Debt Collective 

·        The Gotham Center 

·        National Sawdust 

·        Rutgers Laboratory for Developmental Language Studies 

2022 Recipients

·        Mother-Infant Communication Lab, Columbia University Medical Center

·        Mothers on the Inside

2021 Recipients

·        The Gotham Center

·        International Center for Transitional Justice

·        Elysium Between Two Continents

2020 Recipients

·        Zucker Hillside Hospital

·        Kings County DA’s Office

·        Museum of the Moving Image

·        TWO-N

2019 Recipients

·        Litmus Press

·        The Gotham Center

·        Ashtar Theatre

·        NYC Dept. of Housing Preservation & Development

2018 Recipients

·        Unmentionables

·        Coro New York Leadership Center

·        Pesvebi Georgian Cultural Center

·        American Numismatics Society

·        Paideia Institute for Humanistic Study

2017 Recipients

·        Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD

·        Open House New York

·        Global Fund for Women

·        ExpandED Schools

·        The Brooklyn Rail

2016 Recipients

·        Global Fund for Women

·        Salon Media Group

·        Open House New York