Museum Education
The Museum Education program, offered by the Department of Education, is designed for those interested in pursuing careers in art, history, science, and children’s museums. With its convenient location just a few miles from downtown Boston, Tufts offers easy access to the area's many museums, academic, and cultural institutions.
The program is available both full-time and part-time for working professionals. All students enrolled are eligible for tuition scholarships from the university.

-
Degree Offerings
-
Full-Time and Part-Time Tracks
-
Application Requirements
-
Faculty and Program Contacts
Questions about your application?
Contact us:
Office of Graduate Admissions
Bendetson Hall
Medford, MA 02155
(617) 627-3395
gradadmissions@tufts.edu
MA in Museum Education
The master’s program in museum education prepares students to work with audiences of all ages, interests, and abilities in the informal learning environment of a museum. We seek applicants who can bring new thinking and leadership to the field at a time when museums are increasingly focusing their resources on community engagement, civic issues, and global problems.
Students take courses in education, human development, psychology, museum studies and content areas such as history or art history simultaneously. Graduates of this program typically pursue careers as educators or administrators in museums of all types and sizes.
Using a trimester format for graduate coursework, the part-time program allows working professionals to work full-time while attending courses during the evening, online and/or weekends, allowing completion of the program in two to three years.
Visit the Department of Education
Visit the Museum Studies Program
Related Programs:
- Education MA, MAT, MS, PhD
- Art History and Museum Studies MA
- History and Museum Studies MA
- Museum Studies Certificate
- Understanding of museum issues in the 21st century across the spectrum of museum types, and familiarity with all aspects of museum operations and how they support audiences and collections
- Understanding of learning and human development theories that influence museum education practice
- Ability to assess the various needs, preferences, and learning levels of multiple museum audiences
- Ability to interpret primary and secondary sources, including visual and material culture, quickly and critically and to reshape it, through exhibitions, public programs, school programs, new media, and written materials, for a variety of audiences
- Basic knowledge of the discipline of the museum field of choice (such as art history, American history, science, natural history, etc.)
- Ability to plan and implement museum-school and public programs from concept, curriculum development, budgeting and marketing to teaching and evaluation
- Understanding of the importance of evaluation and basic skills in designing and conducting evaluation studies
- Ability to write for a variety of audiences at different learning and reading levels
- Ability to advocate for an idea, project, or program to colleagues, donors, and funding agencies
- Application of skills and knowledge gained through coursework to the real-world setting of a museum
Full-Time Track
Part-Time Track for Working Professionals
Sample Part-Time Schedule*
Term | Courses | Offered |
---|---|---|
Fall Semester | ED 285: Museums Today: Mission and Function ED 280: Teaching & Learning in the Museum |
Thursday, 6-9PM Wednesday, 6-9PM |
Spring Semester | ED 281: Museum Education for K-12 Audiences Psychology of Development (e.g. ED 130: Human Development and Learning |
Wednesday, 6-9PM Evening |
Summer Session 1 | ED 287: Museum Evaluation | Online |
Summer Session 2 | UEP 191B: Philanthropy and Fundraising | Tuesday, Thursday, 6-9PM |
Fall Semester |
Education Foundation Course (e.g. ED 161: Anthropology and Sociology of Schooling; ED 167: Critical Race Theory Seminar: Issues in Urban Education) ED 287: Museums and Digital Media |
Evening Online (Tuesday, 6-9PM) |
Spring Semester |
ED 282: Pro-Seminar in Museum Interpretation ED 215: Exhibition Planning or HIST 290: The Meaning of Things: Interpreting Material Culture |
Monday, 6-9PM |
Summer Session 1 | Museum Practicum | Timing varies based on opportunity (125 hours total) |
Summer Session 2 |
Museum Practicum (cont'd) |
Timing varies based on opportunity (125 hours total) |
Fall Semester | ED 284: Museum Practicum | Timing varies based on opportunity (125 hours total) |
*This is a sample schedule. Course offerings and schedule are subject to change.
Application Deadline
Fall: January 15
Fall Round 2 Deadline: May 1
Application Requirements
> Application fee
> Resume/CV
> Personal statement
> GRE scores are not required
> Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test, if applicable
> Transcripts
> Three letters of Recommendation
For more information, visit the Department of Education.
Contact
For questions about this program, including scholarships and assistantships, please contact the graduate program director, Cynthia Robinson.
Department of Education
12 Upper Campus Road, Paige Hall
Medford, Massachusetts 02155
Email: education@tufts.edu
Telephone: (617) 627-3244
Program Faculty
- Museum Practicum, Museums Today: Mission and Function (Fall), Proseminar in Museum Education (Spring), Teaching and Learning in the Museum (Fall) Cynthia Robinson has worked at a number of museums, including the National Heritage Museum, The Bostonian Society, and Old Sturbridge Village. As the executive director of the Bay State Historical League for 10 years, she provided professional development programs and services for history museums and historical organizations throughout the state. Robinson has extensive experience in museum management, curriculum development, and exhibit planning, research, and text writing. Learn more about Cynthia > |
Director of Museum Studies
- Museums and Digital Media (Fall) |
- Curatorial Approaches to Collections Management (Fall) |
- Museums Today: Mission and Function (Fall), Museum Studies Practicum (Summer) |
- Exhibition Planning (Spring) |
- Museum Evaluation (Summer) |
- Museum History and Theory (Fall) |
Ingrid A. Neuman is a Conservator of three-dimensional artifacts in private practice. Prior to establishing her own private practice, Neuman held the position of Head of Sculpture Conservation at the Williamstown Art Conservation Center in Williamstown, Massachusetts where she also taught in the Graduate Art History Department at Williams College. |
For twelve years, George Schwartz was a curator in the Maritime Art & History and Exhibitions & Research departments at the Peabody Essex Museum, and currently serves as curatorial scholar. During his museum career, George has created exhibitions, publications, public programs, and interactive media designed to shape the way we think about our world through our interaction with material culture. |
Kenneth C. Turino Turino is responsible for developing and managing Historic New England's traveling exhibition program. Projects have included the critically acclaimed collaboration with MASS MoCA, Yankee Remix: Artists Take on New England; America's Kitchens; The Camera's Coast, and the award-winning From Dairy to Doorstep: Milk Delivery in New England 1860-1960. |
Tara Young is an independent museum professional who has worked in the field for more than 20 years. Previously, she served as Deputy Director at the Museum of Russian Icons, Director of Education at the Higgins Armory Museum, Associate Curator of Education at the Tacoma Art Museum, and Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Seattle Art Museum. |