Open Forum

Hello - 

I am looking for some advice on choosing a grad program for a MA in Museum Studies. I have been accepted to two schools in London and I am having some difficulty choosing between them. 

The first is University College London, which is an excellent school and I do know I like the program there very much. My only scruple is that the program seems geared a little bit more towards the archaeology and collections side of museums in addition to the theoretical ideas of cultural memory and heritage, and while those subjects to fascinate me I am not sure how well prepared I would be for the actual practice in working in the museum sector.

The other school is University of Westminster, which from what I can tell is not as high on the higher education index but I think I would like the program a little more. It seems that the core modules focus more on current issues museums are facing, as well as museum education and collections management. The only drawback is that there seems to be a focus on London museums, and I would like to work back in the States after earning my degree.

If anyone has any thoughts or advice, I would really appreciate it. I guess my main question would be does the school itself matter quite as much to potential employers or does practical experience and work matter more?

Thank you so much.

-------------------------------------------
Kathryn O'Brien
Detroit, MI
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I would say, go to the school that feels like it's going to best meet your professional goals. Are you more interested in working in education or collections? I got my M.A. from John F. Kennedy University in Beekeley, CA. We had the choice to focus on education (my focus), collections, or business. But, with all three we were encouraged to get as much hands on experience as possible through projects and internships. I'm really glad we looked at the more theoretical side of the museum world, but also had the opportunity to gain hands on experience. Go with your gut! Both sound like great opportunities, but where do you feel most drawn? It may seem silly, but have you made a pro/con list for each school? Might be helpful. Choose the program that feels right for you. I hope this helps! Best of luck in your decision making process!!
-------------------------------------------
Amber Parham
Museum Educator/Performer
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Denver CO
-------------------------------------------



Original Message:
Sent: 2/27/2015 4:43:33 PM
From: k.obrien934@gmail.com
Subject: Choosing Grad Programs

Hello -  I am looking for some advice on choosing a grad program for a MA in Museum Studies. I have been accepted to two schools in London and I am having some difficulty choosing between them.  The first is University College London, which is an excellent school and I do know I like the program there very much. My only scruple is that the program seems geared a little bit more towards the archaeology and collections side of museums in addition to the theoretical ideas of cultural memory and heritage, and while those subjects to fascinate me I am not sure how well prepared I would be for the actual practice in working in the museum sector. The other school is University of Westminster, which from what I can tell is not as high on the higher education index but I think I would like the program a little more. It seems that the core modules focus more on current issues museums are facing, as well as museum education and collections management. The only drawback is that there seems to be a focus on London museums, and I would like to work back in the States after earning my degree. If anyone has any thoughts or advice, I would really appreciate it. I guess my main question would be does the school itself matter quite as much to potential employers or does practical experience and work matter more? Thank you so much. ------------------------------------------- Kathryn O'Brien Detroit, MI -------------------------------------------

Sad but true that unless you have a personal network that can link you to prospective employers, the people deciding on your future job applications will need to rely on other kinds of networks when looking at dozens of resumes from unknown quantities, such as the reputation of the school where you earned your degree. By that logic, you should pick the school that will be most impressive. That said, however, if you think you will be working in the U.S., I would guess that most people won't know very much about the differences between these 2 schools in the U.K. Just how rigid is the curriculum at the school which seems to emphasize theory? Are there so many required courses that you will be unable to focus on your own interests by taking some electives? Or can you work those interests into any class that requires a research paper or a literature review? That might be the best of both worlds. 

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Deborah Smith
Development Director
Eastport ME
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-28-2015 09:47 AM
From: Amber Parham
Subject: Choosing Grad Programs


I would say, go to the school that feels like it's going to best meet your professional goals. Are you more interested in working in education or collections? I got my M.A. from John F. Kennedy University in Beekeley, CA. We had the choice to focus on education (my focus), collections, or business. But, with all three we were encouraged to get as much hands on experience as possible through projects and internships. I'm really glad we looked at the more theoretical side of the museum world, but also had the opportunity to gain hands on experience. Go with your gut! Both sound like great opportunities, but where do you feel most drawn? It may seem silly, but have you made a pro/con list for each school? Might be helpful. Choose the program that feels right for you. I hope this helps! Best of luck in your decision making process!!
-------------------------------------------
Amber Parham
Museum Educator/Performer
Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Denver CO
-------------------------------------------

Hello Kathryn,

I know UCL has a fantastic programme in Doha, Qatar and "practicals" are part of it - maybe you can mix locations.  In addition, if you have any interest in art from the Islamic World or general museum development, Qatar would be a good place to be.  Also, from experience I can tell you that there are more opportunities in these emerging markets than in established place like London, so internships are potentially a lot more exciting there.  Finally, if you've got experience/education in the UK, it might be helpful to add experience/education in a different part of the world.  I promise you, even a few months in a place like Qatar will add a lot.

Good luck!
Sue

-------------------------------------------
Susan Day
Education and Communications Consultant
-------------------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 02-27-2015 04:43 PM
From: Kathryn O'Brien
Subject: Choosing Grad Programs

Hello - 

I am looking for some advice on choosing a grad program for a MA in Museum Studies. I have been accepted to two schools in London and I am having some difficulty choosing between them. 

The first is University College London, which is an excellent school and I do know I like the program there very much. My only scruple is that the program seems geared a little bit more towards the archaeology and collections side of museums in addition to the theoretical ideas of cultural memory and heritage, and while those subjects to fascinate me I am not sure how well prepared I would be for the actual practice in working in the museum sector.

The other school is University of Westminster, which from what I can tell is not as high on the higher education index but I think I would like the program a little more. It seems that the core modules focus more on current issues museums are facing, as well as museum education and collections management. The only drawback is that there seems to be a focus on London museums, and I would like to work back in the States after earning my degree.

If anyone has any thoughts or advice, I would really appreciate it. I guess my main question would be does the school itself matter quite as much to potential employers or does practical experience and work matter more?

Thank you so much.

-------------------------------------------
Kathryn O'Brien
Detroit, MI
-------------------------------------------

I am yet to see the final results of my hard work, as I am in my final semester of my Masters, however I believe that the experience is what finds us jobs, and not so much the school name.

I attend Eastern Michigan University's Historic Preservation program, in which is seeded a Museum Studies concentration. Our advisor for this program is the most wonderful professor I have ever had- she is an advocate for her students in a way that I have never seen in a professor before, in addition to being extremely experienced and knowledgable in her field.

Going through this program has been fantastic for me- I have had internships with both the Michigan Historical center and Toledo Museum of art. Also, I believe the placement rate of the program into jobs is extraordinarily high.

Anyway, not sure if that helps at all- but just in case you would consider something closer to home :)
-------------------------------------------
Briannon English
-------------------------------------------



Original Message:
Sent: 2/27/2015 4:43:33 PM
From: k.obrien934@gmail.com
Subject: Choosing Grad Programs

Hello -  I am looking for some advice on choosing a grad program for a MA in Museum Studies. I have been accepted to two schools in London and I am having some difficulty choosing between them.  The first is University College London, which is an excellent school and I do know I like the program there very much. My only scruple is that the program seems geared a little bit more towards the archaeology and collections side of museums in addition to the theoretical ideas of cultural memory and heritage, and while those subjects to fascinate me I am not sure how well prepared I would be for the actual practice in working in the museum sector. The other school is University of Westminster, which from what I can tell is not as high on the higher education index but I think I would like the program a little more. It seems that the core modules focus more on current issues museums are facing, as well as museum education and collections management. The only drawback is that there seems to be a focus on London museums, and I would like to work back in the States after earning my degree. If anyone has any thoughts or advice, I would really appreciate it. I guess my main question would be does the school itself matter quite as much to potential employers or does practical experience and work matter more? Thank you so much. ------------------------------------------- Kathryn O'Brien Detroit, MI -------------------------------------------

Hi Kaitlyn,

I overall don't think that employers care as much about the name of the school; the degree itself and your past work experience are the most important.

I received my Masters in Arts Administration at Indiana University Bloomington, which is fairly close you and is a great school. Their Arts Admin program is close to 40 years old, so I'm really finding that the alumni base has become the most valuable takeaway for the money and hard work I spent on grad school. I'd be happy to chat with you more about that program if you'd like. They don't have a specific Museum Studies program, so it may not be for you, but there are lots of museum-interested students and professors in the program. I work with some people who did their Museum Studies degree at the University of Washington here in Seattle, and I could connect you with them if you'd like.

Good luck!

-------------------------------------------
Clare Canzoneri
Marketing + Communications Associate
EMP Museum
Seattle WA
-------------------------------------------

Excellent point about IU Bloomington's Master's in Arts Admin through SPEA -- it's well established and seems to attract excellent students.  And while IUB doesn't offer a complete Museum Studies degree itself, it has related courses in various departments (such as Anthropology, History of Art, Folklore & Ethnomusicology, Arts Admin...) that can be combined as electives in other graduate degrees .... ALSO:  Check out the M.A. and the Graduate Certificate programs just up the road in Indianapolis, at the joint IU/Purdue campus, IUPUI -- I hope this link will go live and maybe someone from there will reply as well:

http://www.iupui.edu/academics/degrees-majors/degree.html?major-program=museum+studies.

That program has excellent faculty connected to various museums in the city, and we routinely send our graduate students up there for coursework and internships.

(Sorry if I seem to have posted twice here, tried to delete a first incomplete reply...)
-------------------------------------------
Elizabeth  (Beau) Vallance, Associate Professor of Art Education (retired) and former museum educator
Bloomington IN
-------------------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 03-02-2015 12:59 PM
From: Clare Canzoneri
Subject: Choosing Grad Programs

Hi Kaitlyn,

I overall don't think that employers care as much about the name of the school; the degree itself and your past work experience are the most important.

I received my Masters in Arts Administration at Indiana University Bloomington, which is fairly close you and is a great school. Their Arts Admin program is close to 40 years old, so I'm really finding that the alumni base has become the most valuable takeaway for the money and hard work I spent on grad school. I'd be happy to chat with you more about that program if you'd like. They don't have a specific Museum Studies program, so it may not be for you, but there are lots of museum-interested students and professors in the program. I work with some people who did their Museum Studies degree at the University of Washington here in Seattle, and I could connect you with them if you'd like.

Good luck!

-------------------------------------------
Clare Canzoneri
Marketing + Communications Associate
EMP Museum
Seattle WA
-------------------------------------------

I completed my MA in Learning and Visitor Studies in Museums and Galleries at the University of Leicester in the UK. I enjoyed their program. I went in to the program with museum experience and found the different perspective on museums was actually helpful. That being said, the program included information about museums and organizations in the US as well as UK. I appreciate the broader perspective and don't feel that it has limited my opportunities. If you would like to know more feel free to contact me. 

-------------------------------------------
Ly Foor
Manager of Visitor Studies
Ohio History Center - Ohio History Connection
Columbus OH
-------------------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 02-27-2015 04:43 PM
From: Kathryn O'Brien
Subject: Choosing Grad Programs

Hello - 

I am looking for some advice on choosing a grad program for a MA in Museum Studies. I have been accepted to two schools in London and I am having some difficulty choosing between them. 

The first is University College London, which is an excellent school and I do know I like the program there very much. My only scruple is that the program seems geared a little bit more towards the archaeology and collections side of museums in addition to the theoretical ideas of cultural memory and heritage, and while those subjects to fascinate me I am not sure how well prepared I would be for the actual practice in working in the museum sector.

The other school is University of Westminster, which from what I can tell is not as high on the higher education index but I think I would like the program a little more. It seems that the core modules focus more on current issues museums are facing, as well as museum education and collections management. The only drawback is that there seems to be a focus on London museums, and I would like to work back in the States after earning my degree.

If anyone has any thoughts or advice, I would really appreciate it. I guess my main question would be does the school itself matter quite as much to potential employers or does practical experience and work matter more?

Thank you so much.

-------------------------------------------
Kathryn O'Brien
Detroit, MI
-------------------------------------------

I am currently in my second semester at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee as a master's student in  Anthropology with a Museum Studies graduate certificate. The museum program here is in its 50th year of operation and I have found it to be a very holistic approach to museums. Our courses are held at the Milwaukee Public Museum, providing a more immersion style experience. Furthermore, our director, a museum professional herself, has been teaching in the program for 20 years and constantly forwards opportunities for internships and other professional development activities.Though I have not been applying to museums for jobs yet, the placement rate for graduates of my program (worldwide) gives me confidence in the quality of education I am receiving. I don't think the name of the school will matter so much in the long-run. It will likely be the breadth of your education and the number, and quality, of extra-curricular experiences you have in the process. I would go with whichever school is more established, with better networking opportunities and a higher professional placement rate. Good Luck!

-------------------------------------------
Nikita Sessler
Milwaukee WI
-------------------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 02-27-2015 04:43 PM
From: Kathryn O'Brien
Subject: Choosing Grad Programs

Hello - 

I am looking for some advice on choosing a grad program for a MA in Museum Studies. I have been accepted to two schools in London and I am having some difficulty choosing between them. 

The first is University College London, which is an excellent school and I do know I like the program there very much. My only scruple is that the program seems geared a little bit more towards the archaeology and collections side of museums in addition to the theoretical ideas of cultural memory and heritage, and while those subjects to fascinate me I am not sure how well prepared I would be for the actual practice in working in the museum sector.

The other school is University of Westminster, which from what I can tell is not as high on the higher education index but I think I would like the program a little more. It seems that the core modules focus more on current issues museums are facing, as well as museum education and collections management. The only drawback is that there seems to be a focus on London museums, and I would like to work back in the States after earning my degree.

If anyone has any thoughts or advice, I would really appreciate it. I guess my main question would be does the school itself matter quite as much to potential employers or does practical experience and work matter more?

Thank you so much.

-------------------------------------------
Kathryn O'Brien
Detroit, MI
-------------------------------------------

Kathryn,

 Sorry I am coming in a little late to the game but the issues of choosing a Masters program is a big one and for several reasons you might not be considering. The most direct answer I can give is that I think practical experience, hard work, and variety on your resume are the best things you can have. Many of the nation's museum directors today did not go through an actual museum studies program. They went through anthropology or history, etc. Some schools are better known than others, that does not mean they have better programs.

I finished my Masters in Museum Professions at Seton Hall (a great school with a very old program and wonderful instructors!) in May 2012 and almost immediately took a position as the executive director of four museums in Iowa. Though I am young, I had already been working in museums for 13 years and am convinced my variety of positions and knowledge is what landed me this position, not the school I went to. The reason I went to school in the first place was not to be able to put a degree on my resume, not to impress my colleagues or to attract employers. I wanted to get my Masters 100% because I wanted to know how to do my job correctly and to do it well. I wanted to do right by my profession and not take the "just make it up as I go" approach of, unfortunately, many of the home-grown museums here. Having worked for a time in the British Museum, do know that the European approach and education on museums is quite a bit different in some ways to what you may be familiar with in the U.S. I'm currently considering a PhD from an England based school purely because of their specific academic based specialties.

 So do you want to go to a school that has the power to teach you what it is you want to learn in order to better yourself for your profession, or do you want to go to a school whose name employers will recognize regardless of if their program will be the most interesting and informative to you? There are topical/area (Chinese history, children's education) approaches to museum work, but I have found that the actual mechanics of museum work are very important and have served me well (fundraising, collections management, administration, exhibition development).

 Lastly, if you are from the States and want to work in the States, why are you only considering schools in London? There are many wonderful programs here which will still afford you the opportunity to travel, etc. In the end, go with your gut, you gain something from every experience in the field! If you care to chat more feel free to e-mail me pam-schwartz@hotmail.com

------------------------------
Pam Schwartz
Executive Director
Boone County Historical Soc.
Boone, IA
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 02-27-2015 04:43 PM
From: Kathryn O'Brien
Subject: Choosing Grad Programs

Hello - 

I am looking for some advice on choosing a grad program for a MA in Museum Studies. I have been accepted to two schools in London and I am having some difficulty choosing between them. 

The first is University College London, which is an excellent school and I do know I like the program there very much. My only scruple is that the program seems geared a little bit more towards the archaeology and collections side of museums in addition to the theoretical ideas of cultural memory and heritage, and while those subjects to fascinate me I am not sure how well prepared I would be for the actual practice in working in the museum sector.

The other school is University of Westminster, which from what I can tell is not as high on the higher education index but I think I would like the program a little more. It seems that the core modules focus more on current issues museums are facing, as well as museum education and collections management. The only drawback is that there seems to be a focus on London museums, and I would like to work back in the States after earning my degree.

If anyone has any thoughts or advice, I would really appreciate it. I guess my main question would be does the school itself matter quite as much to potential employers or does practical experience and work matter more?

Thank you so much.

-------------------------------------------
Kathryn O'Brien
Detroit, MI
-------------------------------------------

American University in Washington D.C. offers an Arts Management program, as well as excellent programs in Film and Media Arts and Anthropology. I recently developed a course with a history professor on Producing the Historical Documentary. One of the films from this course is now on permanent display at a museum in Iowa. Many students combine majors or pursue major/minor degrees. (History, Anthropology, Environmental Sciences, Film/Media). There is a robust internship program with Smithsonian others museums, and reciprocity with a number of other academic institutions in the D.C. area so specific courses not offered by AU can be taken at GWU, Georgetown, George Mason, etc. Happy to provide more information. stogner@american.edu

------------------------------
Maggie Burnette Stogner
President
Annapolis MD
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 02-27-2015 04:43 PM
From: Kathryn O'Brien
Subject: Choosing Grad Programs

Hello - 

I am looking for some advice on choosing a grad program for a MA in Museum Studies. I have been accepted to two schools in London and I am having some difficulty choosing between them. 

The first is University College London, which is an excellent school and I do know I like the program there very much. My only scruple is that the program seems geared a little bit more towards the archaeology and collections side of museums in addition to the theoretical ideas of cultural memory and heritage, and while those subjects to fascinate me I am not sure how well prepared I would be for the actual practice in working in the museum sector.

The other school is University of Westminster, which from what I can tell is not as high on the higher education index but I think I would like the program a little more. It seems that the core modules focus more on current issues museums are facing, as well as museum education and collections management. The only drawback is that there seems to be a focus on London museums, and I would like to work back in the States after earning my degree.

If anyone has any thoughts or advice, I would really appreciate it. I guess my main question would be does the school itself matter quite as much to potential employers or does practical experience and work matter more?

Thank you so much.

-------------------------------------------
Kathryn O'Brien
Detroit, MI
-------------------------------------------