Volunteering
Volunteering is a great way to serve the community, build skills, and gain museum experience. We aim to provide meaningful opportunities that support both your goals and our mission.
Who can volunteer?
Adults 18+ are welcome, including BYU students, other university students, and community members. Volunteers are paired with a mentor for training and guidance. An interest in museums, education, anthropology, archaeology, or research is helpful.
What do volunteers do?
Volunteers are given opportunities to work in two main areas: education and collections.
- Education: Lead tours, assist with programs and events, or support promotions.
- Collections: Record data, manage archives, inventory objects, research, and administrative work.
How do I start?
Please email the volunteer coordinator at mpc-volunteer@byu.edu with your name and area of interest. The coordinator will email you a digital application for you to fill out and return. If approved, the coordinator will then schedule an interview with you. Please note that approved applicants will be required to sign a volunteering agreement with BYU’s department of Risk Management and Safety before they begin contributing their services. If you have any questions or concerns, please email mpc-volunteer@byu.edu or call the office at (801) 422-0020.
Internships
*All internship positions are currently filled*
The Museum of Peoples and Cultures offer internships that give participants hands-on experience with museum staff, departments, and operations. Interns work on specific projects in collections, education, or administration, depending on museum needs.
The museum accepts interns according to its needs. The following include general guidelines for museum internships:
- Internships are provided each semester when projects and supervisors are available.
- Interns may work in the departments of collections, education or administration.
- Internships last the duration of both spring and summer terms (May–August), but can also be accommodated during Fall (September–December) and Winter (January–April) semesters.
- The number of hours worked each week is determined by the scope of the project or the number of hours required by the department in which an intern is receiving credit. Generally, interns serve between 150-300 hours.
- Interns may arrange with the department of their major to receive academic credit for their work at the MPC.
Application Process:
When positions are available, candidates must submit an application provided by the museum, along with a cover letter and resume.
When selecting an intern, the museum will try to match its needs with the educational and professional goals of the intern and the goals of the academic department providing credit, if applicable.
Upon acceptance, the intern will meet with an assigned supervisor to draft an internship agreement outlining projects and expectations.
Museum Courses
The Museum of Peoples and Cultures offer several courses on museum studies through the BYU Department of Anthropology. Please see the current BYU catalog and class schedule for details.
The Museum of Peoples and Cultures is the learning stage for the Certificate in Museum Practices program offered by the Department of Anthropology. Students currently enrolled in a graduate program in any cognate BYU department may apply. This program is a great way to obtain training and experience in the museum field. The curriculum focuses on the care and interpretation of collections, with hands-on experience in exhibitions, collections, management, education, writing, and program evaluation.
The Museum of Peoples and Cultures work in conjunction with the Department of Anthropology to provide a Field School experience for students.
For more information about courses offered in conjunction with the Museum, contact the Museum at (801) 422-0020, the Department of Anthropology at (801) 422-3058, or via email at anthropology@byu.edu.
Giving to the MPC
We greatly appreciate any gifts given to BYU's Museum of Peoples and Cultures. Online donations to the MPC can be made here. If you wish to contribute to a specific area of the Museum, please leave a comment with your online contribution or contact Paul Stavast, the Museum director, at paul.stavast@byu.edu. Your support helps us preserve collections, create meaningful exhibits, and provide valuable educational opportunities. Thank you for making a difference in the work we do!
NOTE: Philanthropies is the organization which coordinates and facilitates philanthropic gifts to BYU and other entities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Philanthropies is simply a pass-through organization and does not keep donations directly.
Join Our Team
BYU's Museum of Peoples and Cultures is unique from all other BYU museums in that it is almost entirely student-run.
The students who work at the museum are from a variety of different majors and hold positions in everything from archeology to experience design. If you are seeking a hands-on work environment and desire the opportunity to learn about different cultures, this is the place for you!
Current Part-Time Positions:
NAGPRA Specialist - Provide administrative support, maintain records, and handle all general business processes related to compliance with the Native American Graves Protection & Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). Click here for more information.
New positions are made available through Workday. Check this link to see more of our current part-time and full-time openings.