Graduate
Certificate Programs
Museum Studies
The Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies (18 credit hours) provides students with interdisciplinary training in museum practice and 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, curatorial practices, philanthropy, and nonprofit management by combining Museum Studies course work with curriculum in other IU schools (e.g., Public History, Philanthropic Studies, Education, SPEA, Library Science). 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. Because it offers an opportunity to focus on specific areas of museum practice, 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. Students in other graduate programs who wish to add the Graduate Certificate to their program of study must formally apply to the Museum Studies program separately.
Students in the Public History Program who add the Museum Studies Certificate can combine certain Public History Courses with Museum Studies offerings to complete the certificate with just one additional course. Students should consult with advisors in both programs to establish their program plan.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students completing the Museum Studies M.A. curriculum will:
- Develop their abilities as critical thinkers by questioning the role of museums in society and think critically and creatively to evaluate and improve that role.
- Develop self-reflective understanding of their own vocations and professional ethics in the museum field.
- Develop mastery of professional skills through using a variety of approaches to create original products, such as educational programs, exhibit concepts, strategic plans, of relevance to museums in the community.
- Develop necessary knowledge and skills to meet professional standards in one or more areas of museum practice including collections, education, exhibit development, administration, curatorial practices, evaluation, and interpretive planning.
- Engage in and conduct creative research problems that, over time, yield new insights into museums, their missions, their collections, and their engagements with communities and
- Engage in hands-on learning in an area of the museum field through an internship experience.
- Become skilled at effectively presenting their work through oral presentations and in written work in formats relevant to the museum profession (ex. exhibit concept documents, object labels, press releases, research papers, catalogue entries, curriculum).
Course Requirements
The Museum Studies Graduate Certificate consists of 18 credit hours of course work, including an introductory course MSTD-A 503 (3 cr.), an internship MSTD-A 508 (3 cr.), four core courses from list of approved core courses (6 cr.), and a choice of elective courses from list of approved elective courses (6 cr.) from the Museum Studies electives or approved courses from outside the program including those in Public History, Anthropology, Education, Sociology, Public Relations, Philanthropic Studies, Non-Profit Administration (SPEA) and Herron School of Art and Design. All these courses must be passed with a grade of B– or above in order to count for the certificate. Internships must be approved by a faculty advisor prior to registration. Certificates are only awarded in the months of May, August and December.
All students should file a curriculum plan with the Museum Studies office before the end of their first semester.
Graduate Certificate requirements (18 cr.)
- MSTD-A 503 Introduction to Museum Studies (3 cr.)
- MSTD-A 508 Museum Internship (3 cr.)
- Core courses (6 cr.)
- Elective (6 cr.)
For students in the Museum Studies Graduate Certificate program and M.A. History program who choose public history as their area of concentration (18 cr.):
In order to complete the certificate while simultaneously completing the M.A. in History (Public History concentration), students must apply and be admitted to both the History MA program and Museum Studies Graduate Certificate program and complete the requirements for both the degree and the certificate. Students should consult with advisors in both programs to establish their program plan to follow the approved course of study within both programs. The certificate must be awarded before or at the same time as the master’s degree in History. Certificates are only awarded in the months of May, August and December.
The following courses fulfill requirements in both programs:
- Taking HIST-H 543 Internship: Practicum in Public History when focused on museums counts as an equivalent for MSTD-A 508
- Taking HIST-H 542 Introduction to Public History may count as an equivalent for MSTD-A 503
- Any HIST-H 547 Special Topics in Public History (3 cr.) classes are approved electives for the museum studies graduate certificate curriculum
- History MA (Public History concentration) students may use up to two museum studies courses to count as the “6 credits outside the department of History” requirement.
