Museum Studies

MASTER OF ARTS

Immerse yourself in the art of theatre — its techniques, history and criticism — with an emphasis on learning by doing

Established in 1976, the Master of Arts in Museum Studies at the George Washington University responds to the evolving museum profession by combining hands-on training with future-focused theoretical engagement. Students gain foundational knowledge about the state of museum work today, practical skills and the ability to critically engage with developments in the field. Our location in the nation’s museum capital offers a unique opportunity to connect to national and global conversations at the cutting edge of museum practice.

Coursework offers both breadth and depth in Collections Management, Museum Management, Exhibitions and Visitor Experience, and Public Engagement. Our students come from a range of academic disciplines, from history and anthropology to art history and the natural sciences.

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INFORMATION SESSIONS

MA in Museum Studies

Date: Thursday, March 2, 2023
Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Location: Online

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WHAT YOU'LL STUDY

The MA program of study is flexible so students can personalize their academic experience to help accomplish their own goals. Our 36-credit program can be completed by full-time students in two academic years. Part-time study is also permitted, but the program must be completed in a maximum of four years

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:

All students will complete:

one core course entitled Museum Ethics & Values
one internship
five (5) courses as required in the selected concentration
five (5) electives which may be drawn from within Museum Studies (including a second internship) or from outside the program. Up to four (4) non-museum studies courses are permitted.

Throughout your program, you should work with your advisor to ensure that you will meet program requirements and your own career and educational goals.

MUSEUM STUDIES CONCENTRATIONS

Every student in the MA program selects a Museum Studies concentration in one of four areas of concentration:

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Students must complete a Museum Studies comprehensive exam in their concentration, fulfill the graduate writing requirement and complete an oral presentation related to their internship.

Students interested in submitting a paper for the Marie C. Malaro Excellence in Research & Writing Award may submit the same paper for both the Writing Requirement and Malaro Award.

Writing Requirement in Five Easy Steps

Choose a paper you wrote while in graduate school or choose a research topic for your paper.
Meet with the professor for whom you wrote the original paper or meet with a faculty member who has an area of expertise in your research topic.
Revise or write the paper, incorporating notes and comments from the faculty member who has an area of expertise in your research topic
Once the faculty member says the paper is sufficient for your writing requirement, fill out the Writing Requirement Form and have that faculty member sign it.
Turn in your paper (with the signed Writing Requirement Form) by the due date.

INTERNSHIPS

All students are required to complete at least one internship. Students typically intern within their area of concentration (Museum Management, Collections Management, Exhibitions and Visitor Experience, or Public Engagement) and may choose to intern in the D.C. area or in another location.

Utilizing the connections of our faculty and the proximity of our campus, our students have found opportunities at many acclaimed cultural institutions. While we recommend that most students take two 3-credit internships, we recognize that this will not be appropriate for everyone.

Students should read the Internship Information Packet for all internship requirements and procedures. If you have any questions, please contact the Museum Program at [email protected].

NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE OPTION

Master’s candidates are eligible to receive a certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration. Museum studies students may graduate with both an MA in Museum Studies and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management at no extra cost.

With coursework in fundraising, governance, public-private partnerships, lobbying, social entrepreneurship, leading diverse and inclusive organizations, and much more, students learn to become well-rounded professionals in nonprofit leadership. The certificate requires the completion of four courses (two required; two electives) from the Nonprofit Management program at the Trachtenberg School. For more details, visit https://tspppa.gwu.edu/certificate-nonprofit-management.

Department approval is required. Please speak with your advisor if you are interested in this option.

ADMISSIONS

All applicants must have an undergraduate degree and follow the graduate application process by the appropriate deadlines. The deadline for fall admission is February 1. The deadline for spring admission is October 1.

Admissions Requirements

COSTS & FUNDING

The Student Accounts Office provides up to date cost information on our program. We do offer some partial fellowships to MA students each year. To be considered for a fellowship, you must apply for fall admission. You may also find fellowships through the Office of Fellowships & Assistantships. The Office of Student Financial Assistance also has more information on aid opportunities.

WHERE YOU'LL GO

STRONG NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

Our students benefit from a strong alumni network working in museums throughout the world. In addition, practitioners from some of the nation’s leading museums and policymakers at the forefront of cultural debates are frequent participants at discussions in the classroom. The program’s affiliations with more than 60 museums and cultural organizations enables students to immerse themselves in world-class venues as they learn from some of the nation’s leading museum professionals.

THROUGH INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCES, MUSEUM STUDIES STUDENTS HAVE WORKED ON

Film preservation at the Archives Center at the National Museum of American History;
Collections management at the British Museum in London and at the National Museum of Natural History;
Exhibition development and marketing at the Newseum and George Washington’s Mount Vernon;
Curatorial research for exhibits at the National Postal Museum;
and provenance research at the National Gallery of Art.