The Fellow Program at the Center for Historic Preservation is a semester-long research fellowship designed to provide professional historic preservation training and experience to post-master or post-doctoral students in fields related to historic preservation. The selected fellow will design and complete a preservation project in collaboration with the CHP staff that fulfills both the goals of the fellow and the CHP.  Fellowships are available for the spring, summer, and/or fall semesters. The fellow typically receives a single-semester award.  Fellowships are renewable based on merit. For a complete list of current and past fellows, click here.

The Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) Program at the Center for Historic Preservation is designed to provide professional training and experience to MTSU graduate students. The selected student(s) will design and complete a project in collaboration with the CHP staff that fulfills both the goals of the GRA and the CHP. The award is available for a nine-month term, renewable by semester, and includes the cost of tuition plus an additional stipend per academic year. Summer support is available, depending on funding. The GRA’s term is renewable depending on performance and CHP needs. Only fully-admitted graduate students are eligible to hold graduate assistantships unless the graduate dean grants an exception.

The Student Research Assistant Program at the Center for Historic Preservation allows selected assistants to design and complete a project in collaboration with the CHP staff that fulfills both the goals of the assistant and the CHP. The assistantship is available for 9 to 12 month terms and is renewable, depending on performance and CHP needs, on a semester basis.

The Intern Program at the Center for Historic Preservation is designed to provide professional training and experience to individuals new to the field of historic preservation or seeking to gain new technical skills. Eligibility is open to MTSU students currently enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate degree program or individuals from the community seeking to be a part of the university’s research culture and public service initiative. The internship is unpaid, renewable by semester, and interns may expect to work 10 to 30 hours per week, depending on CHP needs. Students wishing to satisfy an internship requirement of their academic program for university credit should contact their faculty instructor for prior authorization.

Application Process

To be considered for student academic support, submit the following:

1. Application  Application for Student Academic Support
2. Resume. Current resume including employment and educational experience.
3. Writing Sample. Examples may include student papers, research reports, walking tour brochures, media articles, museum exhibit photos/text, journal articles, press releases, or National Register nominations.
4. Statement of Interest Cover Letter. The Center’s work is varied and includes such services as resource identification, documentation and preservation, architectural assessment and recommendations, heritage tourism, heritage education, exhibit development, research and publications, and museum and visitor services. Go to the Center’s website, www.mtsuhistpres.org, to review Center programs. In your cover letter, describe your interest in, and possible contribution to, the Center’s work.

Create files in Microsoft Word or convert to PDF. (Application for Student Academic Support is already an editable and saveable PDF form.)


Rename each file according to the format below: 

APPLICATION [INSERT YOUR FULL NAME]
example APPLICATION JANE SMITH


RESUME [INSERT YOUR FULL NAME]
example RESUME JANE SMITH

SAMPLE [INSERT YOUR FULL NAME]
example SAMPLE JANE SMITH

LETTER [INSERT YOUR FULL NAME]
example LETTER JANE SMITH

Email all four (4) files as attachments to histpres@mtsu.edu.  Depending on file size, you may need to submit in more than one email.  You will receive a confirmation by email.

If you have any questions about the application process, please call us at (615) 898-2947.