Graduate
Degree Programs
Museum Studies
The Museum Studies Program provides an integration of museum history and theory with hands-on instruction in museum techniques and practices. It encompasses the scholarly exploration of museums, including their history, operations, ethics and role in society from interdisciplinary perspectives, while also training students in the technical aspects of museum work such as collections care and management, administration, education, exhibit planning and design, curatorial practices, visitor studies and technology. The program offers a master’s degree and a graduate certificate. Students considering application to the certificate or degree program are welcome to take classes prior to formal admission. Students admitted to the graduate program may apply to count 8 or 9 credits earned as a non-degree student toward their M.A. in Museum Studies.
The Museum Studies M.A. curriculum (36 credit hours) consists of a required introductory course, a set of integrated core courses which provide a broad-based interdisciplinary training in museum practice, a choice of elective courses that allow the student to develop a particular specialty, and a capstone colloquium course preparing students for entry into the museum workforce. The course work is complemented by an internship that provides an opportunity for an intensive applied learning experience in a museum. The interdisciplinary curriculum and flexible structure allow students to achieve either a generalist breadth suitable for those working in smaller museums or to focus on a particular area of museum practice appropriate for a specialist on the staff of a larger museum.
M.A. requirements (36 cr.)
The Master’s degree program consists of 36 credit hours of course work.
Core courses (18 credits):
- MSTD-A 503: Introduction to Museum Studies (3 cr.)
- MSTD-A 510: Museum Education (3 cr.)
- MSTD-A 512: Exhibit Planning and Design (3 cr.)
- MSTD-A 516: Collections Care and Management (3 cr.)
- MSTD-A 530: Museum Colloquium (3 cr.)
- MSTD-A 548: Museum Administration (3 cr.)
Internship (6 credits): Proposals must be approved by internship advisor prior to registration.
- MSTD-A 508: Museum Internship (1-6 credits)
Capstone (3 cr.) MSTD-A 530: Museum colloquium
Electives (12 credits)
Select 4 courses from the following list of approved courses. Electives not included in the list below must be approved by your academic advisor. Additional New Media Courses, Anthropology, and Herron Visual Communication and Fine Arts graduate courses will be added as electives as their courses are approved.
- MSTD-A 514: Museums and Technology (3 cr.)
- MSTD-A 518: Museums and Audiences (3 cr.)
- MSTD-A 560: Museum Ethics (3 cr.)
- MSTD-A 560: Current Topics in Museum Studies (3 cr.) (may be repeated)
- MSTD-A 511: Ct. Tpcs. in MSTD: Object-based learning (3 cr.)
- MSTD-A 513: Ct. Tpcs. in MSTD: Curatorial Practices (3 cr.)
- MSTD-A 521: Ct. Tpcs. in MSTD: Museum Theatre (3 cr.)
- MSTD-A 531: Ct. Tpcs. in MSTD: Critical Approaches to Museum Education (3 cr.)
- MSTD-A 540: Ct. Tpcs. in MSTD: Issues in Cultural Heritage (3 cr.)
- MSTD-A 560: Ct. Tpcs. in MSTD: Caring for Native Objects (3 cr.)
- MSTD-A 560: Ct. Tpcs. in MSTD: Indians of North America (3 cr.) MSTD A560 Ct. Tpcs. in MSTD: Museum Communication Strategies
- MSTD-A 560: Ct. Tpcs. in MSTD: Museum Education Research Methods (3 cr.) MSTD A560 Ct. Tpcs. in MSTD: Museum Ethics
- MSTD-A 560: Ct. Tpcs. in MSTD: Modern Material Culture (3 cr.)
- MSTD-A 560: Ct. Tpcs. in MSTD: Native Americans and Museums (3 cr.)
- MSTD-A 595: Indep.. Learning in Museum Studies (1-4 cr.) (may be repeated)
Approved electives from other departments
Please discuss electives with your advisor or other faculty member.
Anthropology
- ANTH-A 560: Variable Topics in Anthropology
- ANTH-A 565: Anthropological Thought
- ANTH-E 501: Fundamentals of Applied Anthropology
- ANTH-E 509: Modern Material Culture
Journalism/Public Relations
- JOUR-J 528: Public Relations Management
- JOUR-J 531: Public Relations for NonProfits
Education
- Psychology of Teaching and Learning
- EDUC-P 540: Learning and Cognition in Education
- EDUC-P 640: Thinking and Learning in Social Contexts
- Theory of Education
- EDUC-H 520: Education and Social Issues
- EDUC-H 530: Philosophy of Education
- EDUC-Y 520: Introduction to Educational Research
- Curriculum Development
- EDUC-J 500: Instruction in the Context of Curriculum
- EDUC-T 550: Cultural/Community Forces and the Schools
- EDUC-Y 535: Program Evaluation
- Inquiry and Educational Research
- EDUC-Y 520: Strategies for Educational Inquiry
- EDUC-Y 510: Action Research (pre-requisite Y520)
Library and Information Science
- LIS-S 502: Acquisitions and Management of Knowledge and Information
- LIS-S 511: Database Design
- LIS-S 548: Archives and Records Management
Herron
- HER-H 560: Visual Culture: A Visual Studies Approach
- HER-H 610: Art Theory and Criticism
- HER-V 501: Intro to Design Thinking (1.5 cr)
- HER-V 511: People-Centered Design Research (1.5 cr)
- HER-Z 508: Issues in Art Education
NonProfit Management
- SPEA-V 522: Human Resource Management in Nonprofit Organizations
- SPEA-V 525: Management in the Nonprofit Sector
- SPEA-V 526: Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations (V525 pre-req recommended)
- SPEA-V 557: Proposal Development and Grant Administration
- SPEA-V 558: Fund Development for Nonprofit Organizations
- SPEA-V 652: Managing Workforce Diversity
History
- HIST-H 542: Introduction to Public History
- HIST-H 547: Special Topics in Public History: Historic Preservation
- HIST-H 547: Special Topics in Public History: Archival Practices
- HIST-H 547: Special Topics in Public History: Historic Site Interpretation
- HIST-H 547: Special Topics in Public History: Digital Public History
Philanthropic Studies
- PHST-P 512: Human & Financial Resources for Philanthropy
- PHST-P 521: The Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector
- PHST-P 523: Civil Society & Philanthropy
- PHST-P 542: Ethics and Values of Philanthropy
Sociology
- SOC-R 551: Quantitative Methods in Sociology
- SOC-S 659: Qualitative Research Methods in Sociology
- SOC-S 652: Textual Analysis
