Experiential Learning

Effective leaders and managers must know how to deliver on their ideas in a measurable way, clearly communicate with all stakeholders, and understand how their roles and decisions fit into the broader landscape of the field. To achieve these competencies, there is no substitute for meaningful hands-on learning experiences that bridge learned theories and best practices.

AT HEINZ, YOU WILL:

• Experience Pittsburgh's arts and cultural sector, widely recognized for its innovative approaches and contributions to the city's renaissance.
• Move beyond the classroom and gain tangible skills through work opportunities both on- and off-campus, including positions at Future Tenant and fellowships at the College of Fine Arts.
• Solve a real-world problem for a real-world client in your team-based Capstone Project, collaborating with our top industry and government partners.
• Make meaningful connections through internships and apprenticeships, many of which lead to full-time job offers.
• Apply your newly earned knowledge from class to immersive activities, workshops, events, and student clubs.

Not only do these opportunities crystallize concepts and strategies learned in coursework, they add highly marketable industry experience to your résumé prior to graduation.

INTERNSHIPS & APPRENTICESHIPS

MAM students are required to complete a 10-week, full-time internship during the summer between the first and second years. The majority of our students complete their summer internship in New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, or Los Angeles. Internships present you with the chance to apply what you've learned in your first year to real-life situations, gain exposure to your future field, build your résumé, and make lasting professional contacts.

Additionally, many MAM students take on a part-time apprenticeship in the Pittsburgh region during their second year. All MAM students are eligible to complete an apprenticeship, with earnings up to $5,000. Apprenticeships further supplement coursework and enrich the student experience.

from the source: Heinz Instagram internship takeovers

CAPSTONE PROJECTS

MAM students complete a team-based project, working in close collaboration with a real-world client. These projects fulfill an actual business or operational need for our partners, giving you an opportunity to have a measurable impact while still in school.

Recent MAM Capstone clients include:

• The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
• The Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
• Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre
• Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
• National Theatre Institute/Eugene O'Neill Center
• globalFEST
• Rivers of Steel Arts
• Phillips Connection
• Carnegie Museum of Art
• Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council
• Jacob's Pillow Dance
• Mattress Factory Museum
• American Alliance of Museums
• Arts Ed Collaborative

AMT LAB: Arts Management & Technology LABORATORY

Widely considered an asset to the field of arts management as a whole, AMT Lab is a MAM research center serving as an exchange, a catalyst for innovative ideas, and a conduit for knowledge circulating at the intersection of arts, management, and technology.

Each year, many MAM students work within AMT Lab as paid researchers and contributors. These positions offer many opportunities for publication, dialogue with practitioners, and exposure to the latest innovations in arts technology.

AMT Lab provides current and future arts managers, technologists, and researchers with existing best practices and emerging technologies that allow for a direct impact on their work and their organization. AMT Lab is a resource that leads to innovative, effective, and efficient integration of technology in the cultural and creative enterprise space.

Learn more about AMT Lab

ON-CAMPUS POSITIONS

• Fellowship positions are available through the College of Fine Arts School of Music, School of Drama, Miller Gallery, and other CFA departments, as well as the Heinz College-affiliated Arts Management and Technology Laboratory (AMTLab).
• Research Assistantships pair students with faculty and research centers to pursue topics of interest.
• Teaching Assistantships are available to students in the final two semesters of their program. 

U.S. Citizens enrolled in the MAM program can work part-time for organizations in the Pittsburgh region, and work for public and non-profit firms is often eligible for Federal Community Service Work Study. 

See the MAM Student Finances page for more information about work study and fellowship opportunities.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES & CLUBS

Many Heinz College students complement their education with involvement in immersive student activities and clubs. In some cases these activities are purely recreational or centered on community-building, but in many others they can be direct extensions of, or supplements to, coursework.