Volunteering
Want to gain experience and see what it's like behind the scenes of a museum?
Volunteering can help you determine your level of interest and skill for different aspects of museum-related work, and prepare you for paid positions in the field. Your work as a volunteer is invaluable to the MPC because you handle projects that require time, work, and attention.
How do I start?
Working with the Volunteer Coordinator, volunteers will choose a project based on personal interests and current needs of the museum. For more information, and to fill out an application, please email mpc-volunteer@byu.edu
Docents
What are docents? Docents are volunteers who help the Museum in:
- Leading tours
- Conducting programs
- Helping with special events
- Generally representing the Museum to the public
Roughly 60 visitors a day come to the museum, most of which miss out on receiving educational tours and learning about the important role archaeology has on our community. If you enjoy history, culture, and talking to people you can help! Docents receive specific training to lead tours, conduct educational programs and community events, and in general are ambassadors for the Museum. Docents generally work a minimum of two-three hours a week. Docents contribute meaningfully to the individual experiences people have at the museum daily.
No previous experience is needed in the fields of anthropology, archaeology, or education. We are looking for docents who have a curiosity in learning about peoples and cultures, and who are willing to share what they have learned as they lead tours, conduct programs, and help out with special events.
If you have any questions, please email mpc-volunteer@byu.edu or call (801) 422-0022.
Internships
*All internship 2022 positions are currently filled*
Internships at the museum are available for interested individuals. Interns have the opportunity to work on specific projects with the museum staff. Internships introduce interns to the broad spectrum of museum work as well as museum staff, departments, programs, and operations.
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 offers 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 works 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.
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! New positions are made available through Y Jobs. Our current openings are:
Promotions Assistant:
The Promotions Assistant will aid in communicating department content through social media, print media, and webpages.