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Course Requirements

All students earn an M.A. in Museum Studies.

CURRICULUM

The core curriculum offers grounding in the theory and practice of museums in a changing technological, social and political environment emphasizing the role of technology throughout the museum. Elective courses address all aspects of the museum, from collections and exhibitions to marketing and development. Subject areas range from history and philosophy of museums to ethnically specific museums and cultural understanding. Within this varied curriculum, students work with an advisor to design a course of study that best suits their needs and interests.

Students must take a total of 10 courses

Introductory course: 460.601 Exploring Museum Professionals or 460.602 Museums in the Digital Age
At least three core courses
Five elective courses
460.610 Onsite summer seminar
Optional internship (An internship or project at a student's local museum, approved by the associate program chair, may be substituted for one elective course).

Course Requirements

Exploring Museum Professions or Museums in the Digital Age
Onsite Summer Seminar
A two-week, intensive, period of on-ground museum study in Washington, DC, including practicum opportunities in a variety of museum settings; conversations with local museum professionals; observation of and interaction with museum visitors; and class sessions to integrate the learning experience. Students must have successfully completed a minimum of two courses in the program to register for this class.

Core Courses (select at least three of four)

Introduction to Museum Education
Exhibition Strategies
The Business of Museums
Museums in a Global Perspective

Electives (select five)

History and Philosophy of U.S. Museums
Management of Technology in Museums
Museum Controversies: Ethical Issues in Museums
Internet Strategies for Museums
Curatorship: Principles and Practices
Creating Online Learning Environments for Museums
Educational Programming for Museum Audiences
Evaluation Theory and Techniques for Museums
New Technologies, Old Dilemmas: Ethics and the Museum Professional
Ethnically Specific Museums
Collection Management
Collection Information Management Systems
Cataloguing Museum Collections: History, Trends, and Issues
Expanding Roles of Museum Marketing and Communications
Fundamentals of Museum Fundraising
Communication.org: Not-for-profits in the Digital Age
Architecture of Museums
Procurement, Project Management, and Collaborations
Museums and the Economy
The Practice of Museum Publishing

Students may take up to two related courses in other Johns Hopkins University departments subject to the approval of the associate program chair.