Museum Studies, MA
Anthropologist, Anthropology, Culture, MUSEOLOGY, Museum Professional, history, museum
The ability to steward and care for cultural collections is a critical part of the preservation and proliferation of human culture. This program equips you with the knowledge and skills to appropriately care for and represent cultural collections in a museum, repository or other cultural or professional setting.
The Master of Arts program in museum studies informs and trains learners in the ethical and legal considerations around collections care, cultural resource compliance, and collaboration with descendant communities as stakeholders in museum collections.
Students develop theoretical questions and applied skills that engage the functions, practices and critical analyses of museums. They also gain practical experience while being encouraged to challenge preconceived notions about museums and the way museums affect and are affected by societies and cultures.
Designed to be interdisciplinary, inclusive and representative, the program ensures that students understand the meaning and significance of museums in contemporary society and prepares them for diverse museum careers.
- College/school:
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Location: Tempe
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
30 credit hours including the required applied project course (ASB 593)
Required Core (3 credit hours)
ASB 573 Museum Administration (3)
Other Requirements (9 or 10 credit hours)
ASB 584 Internship (6)
ASB 579 Critical Issues Museum Studies (3) or ASB 591 Topic: Cultural Resource Compliance and Consultation (3) or ASM 555 Advanced Human Osteology (4)
Electives (14 or 15 credit hours)
Culminating Experience (3 credit hours)
ASB 593 Applied Project (3)
Additional Curriculum Information
For a complete list of approved elective and research courses, students should contact the school.
Internship (ASB 584) and Practicum (ASB 580) must be approved by the faculty advisor.
Credits for other requirements (nine or 10 credits) and electives (14 or 15 credits) vary and depend on whether ASB 555 (four credits) is completed as an option under other requirements.
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Suitable backgrounds for admission include disciplines related to museum studies, anthropology, history or art (fine art or art history).
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- personal statement outlining educational and professional goals
- current curriculum vitae or resume
- three letters of recommendation
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 12/01 | Final |
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:
- Articulate strategies to address ethical and legal challenges confronting museum and cultural settings.
- Prioritize appropriate actions that effectively address constraints in decision-making, particularly as they pertain to the ethical and legal challenges that museums face.
- Operate using the standards of professional practices and ethics during their applied internship in a museum or federal agency setting.
The demand in the job market for people with the skill set to manage cultural collections and community engaged stewardship is strong. There is a growing need for researchers and practitioners with knowledge and skills who can manage, evaluate and identify cultural materials for long-term care, repatriation and interpretation.
Graduates may also become leaders in their field, spending their time consulting for private and public organizations, directing nonprofit organizations, or directing programs in the private or public sector.
Some career opportunities include:
- museum collections manager
- museum site director
- NAGPRA repatriation specialist
School of Human Evolution & Social Change
|
SHESC 233
shesc.grad@asu.edu
480-965-6215
Admission deadlines
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
