Museum Studies Certificate Program

Museum Studies is a broad interdisciplinary program that explores the role of museums in shaping society's knowledge about art, culture, history, science, and the natural world. The Museum Studies Certificate Program is designed to introduce students to careers in all types of museums, including cultural arts centers, historical sites and houses, science centers, environmental education centers, exhibit design firms, auction houses, planetaria, aquaria, zoos and botanical gardens. The program is open to students from all majors. Students who successfully complete the program will receive a certificate at graduation.

The program offers:

•     An introduction to the foundations of museology with a critical perspective on museum history, theory, and practice.

•     Occasions to visit and analyze a diverse range of museums and exhibitions.

•     Study of community-museum relationships through on-site observations and interaction with museum professionals.

•     A survey of museum skills and operation, including curation, exhibition design and implementation, collection management, conservation, administration, publication, fundraising, and educational programming.

•     Special opportunities for internships, volunteer work, and training at local museums.

The program consists of four components: a foundation course, two elective courses, a summer or semester internship at a museum, gallery, historical society or related organization (approved by the Director of Museum Studies), and a Senior Integrative Project.

Students may enter the Museum Studies Program through the first semester of the junior year, by contacting the Director of Museum Studies.

Criteria for Entry into the Museum Studies Program:

•     Minimum 3.0 grade point average.

•     A meeting with the Director of Museum Studies to review a working or tentative plan that should include possible elective courses to be taken, a proposed museum internship, and initial thoughts for a topic/project for the senior integrative project.

Criteria for the Certificate:

•     An overall 3.0 grade point average in foundation and elective courses.

•     Successful completion of foundation and elective courses.

•     Successful completion of an approved museum internship.

•     Successful completion of the Senior Integrative Project.