Museum Studies: Study Resource & Degree Program Information

General Information About Museum Studies Degree Programs

Students who pursue a museum studies degree will become extremely well-versed in human culture. They will learn the ethics surrounding museum collections and how museums edify, elucidate and enlighten. Students will become experts on art, history and culture and learn how to share their expertise with others.

Museum Studies Degree Study Options

Students who plan for a museum career will usually start by earning a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Fine Arts in a related field, such as art history or history, to give them a base of knowledge to work from. Once they graduate, the student can opt for a master's degree or doctoral degree in museum studies or a related field.

Advanced Museum Studies Degrees

Students who are interested in being museum curators can earn a master's degree with a focus on arts administration and management. Those planning to be museum directors may also want to add courses in finance and in management to their curriculum. Those who plan to be museum guides or to acquire pieces for museum collections will need to take additional art history, art appreciation and possibly anthropology, archaeology and/or sociology courses. Students should be prepared to sharpen their research and analytical skills in pursuit of their museum studies degree.

Master Of Arts In Arts Administration

The Master of Arts in Arts Administration or some management degree will be required for museum curators. These degree candidates will become experts in the running of a complex system like a museum and in effective leadership and public relations. Curricula will also touch on fundraising and volunteer management.

Masters Of Library Science

Masters of Library Science degrees teach students how to archive and find collections of items, as well as touching on how to identify, recover and restore deteriorated documents and items. These degrees are ideal for library work, of course, but also for a museum archivist.

Choosing A Degree In Museum Studies

Students who grew up enjoying and appreciating museums may wish to pursue a career in museum studies. The four main types of museums are art, science, history and nature, so an individual with an interest in the history, development and current state of any of these areas may enjoy being surrounded by a collection of relevant items in a museum. A museum studies degree is one of the best ways to become a part of this enriching environment.

Career Opportunities In Museum Studies

Many students who pursue higher education in museum studies go on to become museum directors or curators. Other museums studies experts may become educators, archivists, conservation specialists, designers of museum exhibits or museum guides.

Earning Potential For Museum Studies Careers

Museum curators, who oversee collections and acquisitions, earn an average of around $46,000 a year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Archivists, who analyze and catalog the collections, earn roughly $40,700 on average. Government archivists make considerably more, with an average annual salary around $79,000 per year. Conservators, who preserve and restore damaged works, reported a median income of $34,340 in 2006.

Getting Your Museum Studies Degree Online

Students who already have a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts degree can usually earn a Masters of Arts in Arts Administration, Master of Arts in Museum Management or Master of Library Science in two years or less with little inconvenience. These degrees are ideal for continuing education students, as they can get a top distance learning education from an accredited online university with little disruption to their current schedule.

Getting Your Museum Studies Degree Offline

Students who are foreseeing a career in the museum world can start with a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Fine Arts from one of the many top brick-and-mortar colleges or universities that offer them. Students should major in a field that best relates to the type of museum they would like to work in and the position they would most like to attain. Once the BA or BFA is earned, students can proceed to a master's degree in arts administration, library science, art history, art management or any related field. Students can consult with departmental advisers to help plan a curriculum that will make them most appealing to potential museum employers. The master's degree is usually obtained within around two years. Some students may choose to move on to a doctoral degree in museum studies or a related field in order to maximize their appeal as a museum employee.