Art, Design & Theatre
Experience the fine art and design world in a global city teeming with possibility, creativity and top professionals in these fields. You may find yourself interning at the Museum of Contemporary Art, assisting with the production of plays at award-winning theaters like Lifeline Theater or the Chicago Children’s Theatre, or working under designers and artists at sites as diverse as The Field Museum to LATITUDE. Chicago Semester also opens doors to these fields in other cities by enabling you to become part of a rich network of national arts and cultural institutions.
FYI
Chicago is home to more than 250 theatre companies and is the birthplace of storefront theatre and improv comedy. Experience the creative energy firsthand through Chicago Semester.
Internship Placement Process
- Submit your program application, references, resume, transcript and essay responses to Chicago Semester.
- We review your materials, work with you collaboratively to create a polished resume ready for professional review and send these to potential internship sites.
- You interview with potential internship sites and prioritize which opportunity is the best fit for you.
Questions?

Ask Hannah Kiefer,
our Coordinator of Internship Placements & Alumni Engagement
Do you have a question about what you see on this page? Let me know. I would love to talk about how to make Chicago Semester possible for you!
Read Hannah's Bio ➝
Hear from an Art, Design & Theatre Alumnus
"Chicago Semester was a time to grow. I learned more about myself in this one semester than I ever thought possible. I loved having this semester to start taking steps toward transitioning to life after college... I learned more about what I need to thrive in a work environment, and it’s given me a clearer idea of what I want to pursue. Moving to the city was a big change, but it was an adventure that needed to happen so I could grow. Adulting is a bit scary to think about, but after this semester, I feel more confident about making that step into the ‘real world’."
– Becky Ochoa
‘18, Theatre, Internship at Chicago Children’s Theatre
Professional Seminars and Courses
Professional Seminar (Interdisciplinary) - Fall, Spring and Summer
Arts in the City - Fall and Spring
Diversity and Inequality: Engaging Chicago Cross Culturally - Fall, Spring and Summer
Social Justice - Fall and Spring
Urban Planning, Development and the Sustainable City - Spring and Summer
Values and Vocation: Reflections on Work and the Common Good - Fall and Spring
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