Museum Studies

Launch or advance your museum career with practical skills and insider connections. The Museum Studies Certificate Program prepares you for immediate impact in the museum field through five graduate-level courses that combine current best practices with hands-on experience. You'll complete a 125-hour practicum at a museum of your choice anywhere in the world, build your professional network through guest speakers and New England Museum Association membership, and gain expertise in areas like exhibition planning, collections care, education programs, and interpretation—all while learning from faculty and peers who share your passion for museums.

As a Museum Studies Certificate student, you will choose a concentration in Art History, Classics, Education, or History depending on your career goals and interests. You'll take two required courses (Museums Today: Mission and Function and the Practicum) and select three electives in your concentration. The program can be completed in as little as one year or extended up to four years.

Program Outcomes

This certificate teaches current issues and trends in the field of museums and cultural organizations. Graduates of this program go on to work in museums, educational settings, and affiliated institutions.

Certificate students interested in continuing on and enrolling in one of the museum studies masters programs must apply directly to that program. If accepted, up to four museum studies courses can be counted towards your degree requirements.   

Museum Studies Graduate Programs