Graduate Programs
Certificate Programs
Museum Studies
The Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies provides students with interdisciplinary training in museum practice and a knowledge of contemporary issues in the museum field. It trains students in specialized aspects of museum practice such as education, exhibit planning and design, collections care, and museum administration by combining museum studies course work with curriculum in other IU schools. Students are given an introduction to the history and philosophy of museums and an opportunity to focus on particular aspects of museum practice.
The graduate certificate may be taken as a freestanding credential or paired with graduate work in another related discipline (e.g., history, philanthropic studies, education, library science, nonprofit management). Because it offers an opportunity to specialize the graduate certificate is also a suitable credential for current museum professionals who wish to enhance their professional training or develop new specialties. For specific requirements and options for cross-listed courses, see the museum studies Web site or meet with an academic advisor.
The Museum Studies Graduate Certificate consists of 18 credit hours of course work, including a required museum studies core course (3 cr.), an internship (3 cr.), and a choice of four additional courses (12 cr.) from a list of museum studies courses and electives. All courses must be passed with a grade of B– or above in order to count for the certificate. Electives not on the approved list must be approved by the director of museum studies before registration. Internships must be approved by a faculty advisor prior to registration.
Museum Studies, an interdisciplinary program in the School of Liberal Arts, offers an 18-hour graduate certificate that can be completed in conjunction with the M.A. in History. The Museum Studies Program offers several courses, including museum education, exhibit planning and design, visitor studies, and collections management, that are designed to prepare graduate students for professional work in museums. In order to complete the certificate while simultaneously completing the M.A. in History, students must be admitted to the graduate programs in history (public history track) and museum studies and complete the following courses: H500 History of Historic Thought or H501 Historical Methodology (4 cr.), H543 Internship: Practicum in Public History focused on Museums (4 cr.), Colloquium in U.S. History (4 cr.), Seminar in U.S. History (4 cr.), one non–U.S. course (3 cr. min.), Thesis (2 cr.), H542 Public History (4 cr.), MSTD A503 (3 cr.), one additional MSTD core course (3 cr.), H547 Historic Administration/Museum Administration (3 cr.), and one additional H547 Special Topics in Public History (3 cr.). Students must apply to both programs in order to enroll in this joint M.A. in History/Certificate in Museum Studies program. GRE scores are required for admission to the graduate programs in history and museum studies.
Graduate Certificate Requirements (18 cr.)
- MSTD A503 Introduction to Museum Studies (3 cr.)
- MSTD A508 Museum Internship (3 cr.)
- Three core courses (9 cr.) chosen from MSTD A505, A510, A512, A516, and MSTD A548 or HIST H548
- Elective (3 cr.)