Museum Studies (MA)

University of the Arts offers a Master of Arts in Museum Studies, with optional emphases in either Education and Audience Engagement. Students of various content specialties are engaged in a cohort and community learning environment, in which they seek to build a career and are passionate about the mission-driven impact only museums can deliver.

Our master's program reflects the collaborative nature that is prevalent in professional museum settings, addressing both internal team work and external social-engagement and partnerships. Coursework spans the broad landscape of museum work and is designed to be hands-on in the construction of knowledge and solutions to issues facing museums today, including diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion, and emerging technologies in cultural institutions. The foundation of this program is learning to listen to, engage and understand your audiences. And choosing either our Education or Engagement emphasis allows you to deepen your knowledge in a range of rewarding museum career fields.

Careers

Students choose this master's degree to either enter or advance in the field, and to work as educators and advocates for museums and other cultural institutions. Our alumni lead the development and delivery of educational programs, shaping public engagement and events, craft and execute strategic plans, and pursue funding initiatives to financially secure the ongoing work of museums.

Multidisciplinary Programs

Our Museum Studies master’s degree programs are purposefully multidisciplinary. Working alongside students in our MFA in Museum Exhibition Planning and Design and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in Visual Arts students from across disciplines work and learn together in collaborative coursework. Students have opportunities to develop a personalized learning experience with graduate-level courses through the School of Graduate and Professional Studies.

Overview

The Masters in Museum Studies program prepares students to apply critical thinking and strategy in the museum field. As expert storytellers, creators and designers, our grads lead the way for museums, creative agencies, and nonprofits to communicate their missions, expand their audiences, reach out to communities and increase their financial resources. This 36-credit master's program takes one year, full time, to complete, featuring two-degree emphases, Education and Engagement.

The program allows for greater networking opportunities and a scaffolded approach to experiential learning—from coursework and curriculum integrated in museums and cultural institutions, to a culminating internship that can take place anywhere. Our cohorts model provides a boutique educational experience: Class sizes are kept small to allow for personalized attention from an impressive faculty of working museum professionals. Studies frequently delve into current topics such as diversity advocacy, accessibility for all, emerging technologies, and staff equity. Students will engage in design and strategic thinking in order to generate solutions and applications to the current challenges facing museums. Students put theory into action through inclusive practice with opportunities to work with real-world clients and in cross-disciplinary teams.

Our classroom is Philadelphia, the nation’s first UNESCO World Heritage City, with behind-the-scenes access to hundreds of museums, cultural institutions, and historical sites—the latter of which are as lively and active today as they were in the 1700s. Our national network of alumni and partnering museums provides students with valuable and practical internship experiences.

Museum Programs at UArts

MA Museum Studies

Museum Studies students become powerful advocates for museums and other institutions. Our graduates craft and execute missions and strategic plans, expand and educate audiences through education, marketing and community outreach, write grants and raise money to fund vital museum efforts. This 36-credit master's degree program takes one year, full time, to complete.

MFA Museum Exhibition Planning & Design

The MEPD program prepares students to be critical and strategic thinkers in the world of exhibition and program development and design. Our graduates are expert storytellers, content creators and designers for a broad range of audiences, and go on to work in museums, creative agencies and nonprofits. This 60-credit master's degree program takes two years, full time, to complete.

Explore the MEPD curriculum.

Who Should Apply?

Museum Studies students include those who love museums and nonprofit institutions. We look for team-oriented people with a strong desire to successfully connect museums and similar cultural organizations with diverse audiences, external stakeholders and partners. Students might focus on education, public programs, marketing, development and visitor services. Students gain a skill set that is easily transferable to other sectors by focusing on audience studies, collaborative work and opportunities for practice in professional communication and writing.

Our students recognize the need for interdisciplinary and cross-functional skills and approaches in museum workplaces. Some students come directly from college; others have been in the workforce in related fields (sometimes in the for-profit sector). We want you to bring your own perspectives, experience and academic expertise to our program.

Apply now.

Faculty

Our faculty are all working professionals who are well-known in their respective fields ranging from exhibition design to public program curation and have extensive networks with prominent professionals and institutions. Contact Museum Studies Program Director Daniel Tucker at datucker@uarts.edu

See more faculty

About the Curriculum

The foundation of this program is learning to listen to, engage and understand your audiences. You’ll connect with them through public programs, marketing, fundraising and special events and examine the empathy needed to do that work within complex organizations of different scales. You will hone your skills in crafting and communicating content of all kinds for youth in Pre-K through grade 12, teachers, young adults, seniors and others. You’ll practice being a socially-engaged community advocate and partner with a wide range of communities. 

Students learn from experience designer Ben Baker about accessibility in museums.
An accessibility workshop with experience designer Ben Baker.

Across one calendar year (Fall/spring semesters and a remote summer term) in  small class sizes with robust faculty interactions, this program thrives on individual relationships with the program director that allow for advising and customization in your academic plan.

Skill-building is balanced with real-world challenges through partnerships with museums, nonprofits and other cultural institutions. Weekly field trips provide behind-the-scenes experiences through Philly’s wealth of amazing museums and historic sites.

Our national network of alumni and partner museums provide students with valuable and practical experiences and internships. Designed for collaboration, UArts’ program offers you the opportunity to apply all you will learn about traditional and contemporary approaches to independent and complex team-based projects, working to the professional standards of the museum field. 

Sample Curriculum

Total Credits: 36
Duration: 1 year, full-time

Expand all Collapse all
Education Emphasis

Fall Semester: 10.5 credits
Museums: History and Theory (1.5 c)
Museum Learning: Theory and Practice (3 c)
Museum Audience and Evaluation (3 c)
Creative and Cognitive Development (3 c)

Spring Semester: 15 credits
Collaborative Exhibition–Museum Studies (3 c)
Art and Inclusion (3 c)
Thesis/Capstone Research (3 c)
Exploring Education in Philadelphia Museums (Practicum) (3 c)
Community and Outreach (3 c)

Summer Semester: 9 credits
Museum Internship (3 c)
Museum Management (3 c)
Museum Studies Thesis/Capstone (3 c)

Open: 1.5 credits
Elective in studio (1.5 c) (fall or summer semester)

Engagement Emphasis

Fall Semester: 10.5 credits
Museums: History and Theory (1.5 c)
Museum Visitor Experience Seminar (3 c)
Museum Audience and Evaluation (3 c)
Museum Graphic Principles (3 c)

Spring Semester: 15 credits
Collaborative Exhibition–Museum Studies (3 c)
Branding and Marketing Principles (3 c)
Thesis/Capstone Research (3 c)
Museums and Society (Seminar) (3 c)
Community and Outreach (3 c)

Summer Semester: 9 credits
Museum Internship (3 c)
Museum Management (3 c)
Museum Studies Thesis/Capstone (3 c)

Open: 1.5 credits
Elective in studio (1.5 c) (fall or summer semester)

Explore the Full Curriculum

Career Preparation

A student talks to a museum working professional during an information fair.

The small cohort size in the Museum Studies program allows for personalized mentorship from faculty and the program director in order to guide you toward your anticipated career path. 

Internships are an opportunity for students to gain practical experience and mentorship outside of the program in a variety of museum fields. Seminars and guest speakers allow students to learn from and network with industry professionals. Over the course of the program, students’ portfolios are developed through projects, internships and thesis.

Internships

Internships, including a required six-week summer internship, foster important professional experiences, including networking, tackling real-world problems and the role museums play in solving them, and making a social impact. These workplace experiences provide students with professional insight and connections.

Under the guidance of faculty, students receive individualized support as they seek out and apply to internships at professional organizations that range from museums to firms to other cultural organizations. The University aims to support our students and makes stipends available during this important professional experience. A number of alumni have found mentors and permanent employment with internship sponsors after graduation.

Recent summer internship sites include

  • Art-Reach, Philadelphia;
  • Baltimore Museum of Art;
  • Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, MA;
  • Philadelphia Museum of Art;
  • Philadelphia Magic Gardens;
  • Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, Philadelphia; and
  • Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

The Museum Studies von Hess Internship Fellowship

With the generous support of the Richard C. von Hess Foundation, UArts is pleased to offer three, fully funded internship opportunities to UArts Museum Studies students in partnership with three acclaimed institutions. In the MA in Museum Studies program, students are awarded funded internships to the Baltimore Museum of Art and Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. Successful students professionally benefit from a ten-week internship experience tailored to their area of study, as well as a living stipend of $7-$8K, depending on the internship placement.

How to Apply

Graduate students must be enrolled and be in good standing (3.0 or above) in one of the two Museum Studies degree programs. Students apply at the start of their second semester (February) and complete the Von Hess application by the due date (resume, essay of professional purpose and goals, 2 letters of recommendation from MS faculty, and an official UArts transcript). Grad students are put forward by the department to the host museums that make the final decisions.

Community Engagement and Social Impact

Museums have an important role to play as a catalyst for new dialogue and potential action. Drawing from the most impactful work happening in the museum field today, we strive to expose students to how to be change agents in their jobs and in their communities through innovative public programs, socially-engaged initiatives and cultural organizing strategies. 

Museums and institutions in Philadelphia that have hired UArts alumni include:

  • Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University,
  • The African American Museum in Philadelphia,
  • The Barnes Foundation,
  • Fleisher Art Memorial,
  • The Franklin Institute,
  • Philadelphia Magic Gardens,
  • Museum of the American Revolution,
  • Mütter Museum at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia,
  • Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and
  • Penn Museum.

Want More? Explore Our Network

Our more than 25 years at UArts means we have over 300 graduates practicing in the field. You can see our graduates on LinkedIn. You can also follow us on Instagram. We invite you to explore the range of activities our department is engaged in and the array of careers our graduates secure. Common museums and institutions Museum Studies graduates can become employed at include

  • art museums,
  • corporations,
  • government agencies,
  • history museums and sites,
  • national parks,
  • private organizations,
  • science museums,
  • special topic of themed museums,
  • technology museums and
  • zoos.

Facilities

As a student in Philadelphia, you’ll have access to everything the city has to offer. The Museum Studies program provides behind-the-scenes access to hundreds of museums, cultural institutions and historical sites. During your studies, you’ll gain hands-on experiences through field trips and internships.

Philadelphia Art Alliance

Housed in the historic Wetherill Mansion on the perimeter of Rittenhouse Square in Center City Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Art Alliance offers an intimate, audience-focused setting with which to engage with the work of contemporary makers, performers and practitioners.

Learn more about the Philadelphia Art Alliance.

Center for Immersive Media 

UArts’ new Center for Immersive Media (CIM) is a 5,600-square-foot facility dedicated to exploring the fields of virtual and mixed reality, performance motion-capture, and human-computer interaction. The space includes

  • optical motion capture system for full body performance capture and location-based VR applications;
  • a four-channel audio system, multiple video projectors and lighting, as well as a control station;
  • 16-station computing classroom with PCs optimized for real-time graphics rendering; and
  • two large project rooms with ceiling grids for the development of installations and virtual environments.

Learn more about CIM.
 

Makerspace

The University of the Arts’ Albert M. Greenfield Makerspace is a 3,500-square-foot digital and traditional fabrication studio that brings together the entire university community and serves as a catalyst for the collaboration, experimentation and innovation that’s characteristic of UArts.

The Makerspace houses state-of-the-art digital and analog equipment that allows students to create virtually anything they can imagine. It is outfitted with

  • 3-D printers and scanners;
  • a router and a mill;
  • laser, vinyl and substrate cutters;
  • printed circuit board and decal printers; and much more.

Learn more about UArts’ Makerspace.
 

Costs, Aid & Scholarships


Museum Studies (MA) Tuition and Fees

Total cost of attendance for 3 semesters (Fall/Spring/Summer)

Tuition: $56,700
Loan Orig. $436
Student Services: $290
Housing*: $15,768
Meals*: $6,864
Books*: $1,980
Transportation & Personal*: $3,360
Program Total: $85,398
No FAFSA Total: $84,962
International Total: $89,203

 

*These costs are general estimates for the purpose of budgeting. 

Cost of attendance includes annual tuition and can include on-campus housing, meals, books and supplies, laptops, transportation, a student services fee, lab fees (for certain courses), health insurance, and personal expenses. Many of our graduate students receive financial aid and scholarships to help offset these costs.

See graduate tuition and fees.

 

Scholarships

Graduate merit-based scholarships are awarded based on academic performance and professional experience. We recognize graduate school is a significant and serious investment in your future, and we have increased our merit-based scholarships to aid in your journey. The Trustee’s, Dean’s, and Director’s scholarships are highly selective awards and range in amount up to approximately 46% of tuition.

All scholarships are awarded based on entrance materials, no separate application is required.

The Museum Studies von Hess Internship Fellowship

With the generous support of the Richard C. von Hess Foundation, UArts is pleased to offer three, fully funded internship opportunities to UArts Museum Studies students in partnership with three acclaimed institutions. In the MA in Museum Studies program, students are awarded funded internships to the Baltimore Museum of Art and Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. Successful students professionally benefit from a ten-week internship experience tailored to their area of study, as well as a living stipend of $7-$8K, depending on the internship placement.

How to Apply

Graduate students must be enrolled and be in good standing (3.0 or above) in one of the two Museum Studies degree programs. Students apply at the start of their second semester (February) and complete the Von Hess application by the due date (resume, essay of professional purpose and goals, 2 letters of recommendation from MS faculty, and an official UArts transcript). Grad students are put forward by the department to the host museums that make the final decisions.

Financial Aid

Most graduate students enrolled on a full-time basis are eligible for some type of need-based aid. Additionally, some scholarship opportunities take need-based criteria into account. All students who are US Citizens or eligible non-citizens and are enrolled in a degree program are encouraged to apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Learn more about graduate financial aid.

How to Apply

MA in Museum Studies applicants must select either the Education or Engagement emphasis when completing their application.

Application Deadline

Fall 2024 priority deadline: Applications received by Feb. 15 will be among the first considered for admission and scholarship. We will not accept any applications or materials after August 12.

Review graduate tuition, financial aid and scholarship information.

Application Requirements

  • Start or resume your application.

  • $60 nonrefundable application fee

    • If the cost of the application fee is a barrier, contact Admissions to request a fee waiver code.

  • Official undergraduate transcript

    • Official transcripts must be sent directly from the college where you have earned, or will earn, your undergraduate degree by mail, email or a secure electronic document-delivery service. 

    • If you have earned, or will earn, your undergraduate degree outside the U.S., see our transcript requirements for international graduate applicants below.

  • Two letters of recommendation

    • Two letters of recommendation from professors or professionals in your field, who are familiar with your capabilities, are required. In the case that these recommenders are not available, you may request letters from colleagues, collaborators or peers, if necessary.

    • Applicants must enter contact information for their recommenders on the application. An email will be sent to recommenders providing a link for them to upload their letter. Letters of recommendation may also be submitted by the recommender via email to gradcredentials@uarts.edu.

  • Essay

    • An application essay of between 500 and 1000 words outlining key issues in the museum field that motivate your pursuit of the Museum Studies degree. This can include personal anecdotes as well as references to relevant literature. The essay should include reference to at least one exhibition or museum initiative and one reference to an article, study or book about museums or adjacent fields. Incorporation of visual content is welcome but not required.

      • Your essay may be uploaded during the application process or added after submission via your applicant status portal.

  • Résumé

    • Your résumé should highlight all your professional accomplishments, including employment, internships, honors, exhibitions and publications.

    • Your résumé may be uploaded during the application process or added after submission via your applicant status portal. 

  • Interview

    • After the application has been processed, each applicant is contacted for a personal interview conducted by the program director. Interviews may be conducted on campus or by phone or Zoom.

International Applicants

In addition to the requirements listed above, international applicants or those with foreign credentials must submit

  • Official undergraduate transcripts

    • Applicants who have academic documents from institutions outside the U.S. are required to provide original, attested or certified true copies of academic records from the institution where they have earned, or will earn, their undergraduate degree. These records should be in the original language in which they were issued.

    • For postsecondary school records that are not in English, applicants must also submit an official translation of all their academic documents. Translations must be a complete, literal, word-for-word translation in the same format of the original academic document. Transcripts cannot be translated by the student or any members of their family. Acceptable translators include English teachers or other school officials, professional translators, or a local EducationUSA office

    • Admissions might request that students obtain a course-by-course credential evaluation if we are not able to confirm the equivalent level to a U.S. undergraduate degree.

  • Proof of English proficiency

    • For international applicants whose primary language is not English, and who have not completed two semesters of college-level English in a college/university where the language of instruction is English, proof of English proficiency is required. 

    • Recommended minimums for English proficiency exams are as follows. 

      • TOEFL iBT: 79
      • TOEFL essentials: 8.5
      • IELTS: 6.5
      • Pearson PTE Academic: 53
      • Duolingo: 100
    • Applicants who meet the academic and creative requirements for admission but whose scores do not meet the English proficiency requirement for degree study might receive an offer of conditional admission that requires enrollment in the university’s English as a Second Language Institute (ESLI). Applicants who successfully complete ESLI will then be able to begin their degree program studies in the fall semester.

    • In special circumstances, applicants who do not have access to the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English tests can request a waiver of this requirement. The request should be submitted by email to admissions@uarts.edu. Requests will then be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and might require an interview.

  • I-20/F-1 international student visa information: Upon acceptance, students will be contacted by University of the Arts’ International Student Programs office, regarding visa counseling and all materials required to create an I-20 in order to obtain an F-1 visa. Contact Mara Flamm, director of international student programs, with any questions regarding your I-20 or F-1 visa.

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