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Museum Education

Master's

Overview

Application Requirements

Apply Request Info

Application Deadlines

Fall: May 15
Spring: n/a
Summer: n/a

School/Department

Education

Program Director

Cynthia Robinson

Contact

gradadmissions@tufts.edu

Format

On-campus

Commitment Options

Full-time
Part-time (Evenings)

Average Duration

2 years (full-time)/2-3 years (part-time)

Credits

Tuition per Credit

$1197

Eligible for Aid/Scholarship

Yes

Overview

The MA in Museum Education, offered by the Department of Education, is designed for those interested in pursuing careers in art, history, science, and children's museums. As a student in the program, you'll prepare to find your place at the cutting-edge of the interesting and varied field of museum education. 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.

Program Outcomes

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. Students take courses in education, human development, psychology, museum studies, and content areas such as history or art history simultaneously.

You'll complete a museum practicum, arranged with academic help and supervision from your faculty advisors, and get the chance to apply your skills and knowledge in the real-world setting of a museum. With its convenient location just a few miles from downtown Boston, Tufts offers easy access to opportunities at the area's many museums, academic, and cultural institutions.

Graduates of the program typically pursue careers as educators or administrators in museums of all types and sizes.

Application Requirements

Application fee.
Resume/CV.
Personal Statement: Elaborate on your reasons for wishing to pursue graduate study at Tufts and your vision of becoming museum educator. Your personal statement should be a maximum of 2,500 words and single-spaced. Describe experiences, including inspiring individuals or events that motivated you to take this path.
Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test, if applicable.
Transcripts: One official copy of each of your college transcripts.
Three Letters of Recommendation.

If you are a Tufts undergraduate interested in the Fifth-Year Master’s Degree Program, please visit this page for more information about application requirements and deadlines.

If you are a Connecticut College student and are interested in the Connecticut College/Tufts Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Combined Degree in Museum Education (BA/MA), please visit this page for more information about application requirements and deadlines.

Tuition and Financial Aid

See Tuition and Financial Aid information for GSAS Programs. Note: This program is eligible for federal loans and Tufts tuition scholarships.

Tracks

Full-Time Track

The MA in Museum Education usually takes two years of full-time study. The program requires completion of eleven courses, including five required museum studies courses, a supervised museum internship, two required education courses, and four electives relating to the student's area of interest.

Part-Time Track for Working Professionals

Using a trimester format for graduate coursework, the part-time MA in Museum Education program allows working professionals to work full-time while attending courses in the evening, on weekends, and online allowing completion of the program in two to three years. Requirements are the same as full-time study.

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 Tuesday, 5-9PM; Thursday, 6-9PM (Respectively)
Summer	Museum Practicum	Timing varies based on opportunity (125 hours total)