CoffeeMug

Don't worry, what you want does in fact exist. You want this: http://www.saic.edu/degrees_resources/gr_degrees/manaj/index.html#overview

(This is for the current and post grad students. I thought about putting it in "Already Grads" but decided this was more specific here. Anywho....) I finish my MA next May and am starting to think about life after school. I would like to get a museum-based fellowship in the North East (preferably in NYC) and am wondering when these positions get posted, and how much time is needed to prepare. I am interested in museum education, visitor studies and digital media. Also, are there fellowships I should specifically look for? Thanks!

Perhaps Visual and Cultural Studies at the University of Rochester? Theres a PhD and MA en route.

Arts Administration and Museum Studies programs are really what you make of it, which was appealing to me. As my cohort and I begin out thesis this summer, we have a really wide variety of topics. Yes, there are a lot of business-y ones like membership programs, fundraising and governmental support for the arts, but theres also some curatorial thesis topics, and education. Mine will be about how museum educators can use different types of technology to teach. As Fullofpink says, there are a lot of administrative courses (which at times i dislike) but if I ever want to run an education department, i sure better know how a multi-million-dollar budget works, etc. If you go the Museum/Administration route, see how long the program is. A 2 year program has intro classes the first year and a sub-specialization the second year, whereas the one year programs are *very* general. Also, be aware that a Masters in Art History will not get you too far in museum curatorship. Curators and their assistants also have phds. Now, if you would want to curate something like a residency program or be an independent curator, the masters would be enough. Part of this, you must also remember is who wants you, meaning, what are your past experiences? Have you ever worked in a gallery? That might land you a spot in an Arts Admin program. Have you assisted with an exhibition catalogue? that might get you into art history.

You want to work in a museum, but not do the research part for exhibitions? Then AH programs aren't what you are looking for. I originally was looking at AH programs too, but I found what I was looking for (and perhaps you as well) in Museum Administration. Here are some schools to look at: NYU: Visual Arts Administration & Museum Studies GWU: Museum Studies Georgetown: Museum Studies Seton Hall: Museum Professions Carnegie Melon University: Museum Studies CUNY: Art History and Museum Administration Columbia: Arts Administration Brown: Public Humanities Hopkins: Museum Studies (Online, Technology focus) Bank Street: Museum Education I go to one of the above schools and am fairly knowledgeable (or at least opinionated!) about the rest. Feel free to ask questions.