Want to gain a competitive edge in your future career? Internships can help you develop valuable job skills, gain practical work experience, and explore potential career paths—all while learning in a real-world environment. Many theatre arts students seek internships with theatre companies and participate in other opportunities to extend their learning beyond the classroom.
Interested in applying for an internship? Our faculty mentors can guide you through the application process, prepare you for interviews, and help or coordinate course credit for your internship.
Theatre Opportunities in Eugene
The Eugene-Springfield area has a number of theatre opportunities throughout the year, from professional work available with the downtown Oregon Contemporary Theatre, The Shedd Institute (musicals), and Actors Cabaret of Eugene, to one of the oldest community theatres in the country, the Very Little Theatre. All of these companies welcome UO theatre majors, and in some cases involvement has led to part-time jobs or other useful connections within the profession at large.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival Intensive
Every spring break, our faculty lead a group of up to 20 theatre arts majors to see plays at the Tony-award winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon. Students participate in talks and workshops specifically designed for our group and usually see 4-5 plays. Thanks to a generous gift from Carol Williams, students only pay a small fee for housing (nearby cottages with full kitchens), transport, workshops, and plays.
Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival
Every year, usually in mid-February, our department participates in the Region 7 conference that is part of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) national program. College theatre faculty and students in our Northwest region meet to view productions, attend workshops, participate in networking events, and compete for scholarships or professional internships and other opportunities. Theatre Arts students apply to participate with support from a faculty coordinator as well as other faculty mentoring and partial funding.
Get Help Finding Internships
The University of Oregon Career Center provides career and job search assistance, offers strategies for choosing a career, and helps connect students with local and global internship opportunities. Students participating in internships can earn up to 12 upper-division credits in a 10-week term.
IE3 Global Internships
Would you like to earn internship credits toward your major while living and working abroad? The IE3 Global program offers internships at over 100 different organizations in 50 countries, where students can earn credits toward their major or university requirements.
Attend a Career Fair
Career, internship, and job fairs occur throughout the academic year. Stop by to discover opportunities within your area of interest.
Hands-on Learning Scholarships
Students in the College of Arts and Sciences can apply for funding to support them in pursuing experiential learning opportunities. These scholarships provide up to $5,000 in financial support to assist students in completing an unpaid internship, research opportunity, or service-learning experience of at least eight weeks duration.