ArtHistoryandMuseum

People on GradCafe have said in the past, it is only over when it is officially over.

I have a Master's degree, and I'm 28. While I wish I was younger matriculating into grad programs, the time I spent working with museum collections focused my discipline and subdisciplines I'm pursuing.

Also for financial reasons, I did part of my my master's while at my parents' house. There is likely no way to avoid completing some studies at home, but I found myself often in coffeehouses and sometimes the library to work, because parents unfortunately interrupted me. Taking out the dog and doing the dishes always had be done right now, lol The advantage of the strategy I did is concentrating on your work elsewhere... and returning to the house to do whatever you need to do, or want to do. Plus, once your tasks for the day are in a good place, or finished, you'll feel more up to doing household chores, and anything else. While you mention getting along with your folks, should that change or become strained during your stay there, I wonder if arriving early, or staying longer, on campus would also do the trick for your sanity/normalcy/clearheadness. Giving your parents space may also be helpful to them to keep sane/normal/clearheaded! Finally, while returning to live with the parents is a more commonly elected choice these years, the decision will probably feel like a regression, a failure -- all with the possibility to erode deeply into your self-esteem. You may feel judged by others, in addition. That in mind: keep your head high, the brain focused, and remember the temporary pain is for the long-term good!

Similar circumstance: I have a master's in Museum Studies, and there are things I "could do," but I need more academic background of art and artifacts to do exactly what I want to do in the field. As I have the basic skill set and passion, without that experience of advanced study, I'm kept in limbo: I cannot progress further as I'd like, and elsewhere I'm overqualified/not long-term fit. The GradCafe "is full of people just learning how to stay afloat, myself included." Absolutely agree!

For "Aesthetics" nestled under "Philosophy," you may wish to look to the United Kingdom! I googled "aesthetics phd uk" -- my first hit was a guide listing universities in a PDF. From a glance at the "quick view" option of this document, I see that for each university there is a note on the orientation (whether the study is "analytic," "historical," and/or "continental"), as well as whether a PhD and/or MA is offered. Also, the faculty is listed... you may recognize a name or two, or more. ... hope this may help!

Thank you so much MyWorkIsDone, 42ed, elsie.kay, and Minnow, glad my job hunting has been of terrific use! haha Best of wishes for your conversation, elise.kay, and good luck!!!

Wow -- Fletcher offers a simplified application for re-applicants, with requests for additional information which make sense. I agree, it would be nice if all schools offered the same thing!

Welcome to GradCafe! I'm a Fall 2013 applicant, so I have never had a conversation with a POI by phone or by Skype. However, I have used both for job interviews. The advantages of the phone include not stressing what you are wearing (although, dressing up can mentally make you feel prepped!). However, the conversation can be awkward, such as when there are pauses during the conversation and you and your POI speak at the same time. The benefits of Skype are seeing each other, where you both will be able to tell visually when to speak and when to listen. Also, you will also have the chance on Skype to pick up on non-verbal cues from your POI, which can indicate interest, e.g. nodding, smiling. If you decide to go forward with Skype, I recommend trying it out someone else first, to see how it works, and to practice responding to the questions looking into the webcam (rather than looking at the interviewer or down). You'll look on the screen like you are looking straight ahead at the other person. Also, fiddle around and place your computer so that the background behind you is appropriate for the conversation. Good luck!

Thanks for asking this question! I am visiting a grad school soon (they set it up for me), and I would like to know how best to prepare for such situation, so I can make the most of my visit and ultimately for my application.

The actual differences between the two are dependent on your field. However, I have a somewhat "academic", but ultimately "professional" master's degree (museum studies), and I am seeking an academic degree now in Art History. This is requisite for my career path of curating and working ideally in a university setting. That said, if I were to go into collections management or other admin museum roles, the PhD in Art History is not needed, required, or desired; and if I were to go into conservation, museum management, or museum ed, I would likewise seek an appropriate program, e.g. conservation master's, art admin master's, or museum ed graduate programs, respectively.

I am definitely in the boat of having to earn further degrees to get the job. Recently, I read a salary survey for my profession in my region of the US, which stated many senior-level curators have only BAs. For some lowly paid curatorial fellowships these days, for top museums, often you need ABD or PhD in Art History.

I cannot help you out with your questions as I am not a PhD candidate, and I am personally unfamiliar with this group, but I have seen, in my quick research, that there is a Facebook page for the Inter-disciplinary.net, with photos which may give you a sense about the program. It's at least more information?

While I do not know your employment history, and whether or not you live in New York, I do have extensive museum experience and a MA in Museum Studies. Skill-wise: Do you have all or many of the professional skills listed in the job description? (Be honest with yourself!) That said, sometimes if you apply for a museum position, you get a chance even if you are not highly or totally qualified; you may bring something else to the table attractive to the employer. With the MoMA, however, I expect there are lots of professionals applying who do have the qualifications. Location: Do you live in NYC? Unless you bring all the qualifications MoMA seeks, I would think that professionals with residential addresses in proximity to the City would be preferred. That said, I have never worked for a NY museum, and I could be wrong on this; also, funds may not be an issue for you and you can provide in your applications your plans to move to NY. Advanced degrees: My MA has helped me land museum interviews. Yours might too. However, if you ever go more curatorial, and "assistant archivist" tends that way a little, I have to say the more prestigious the museum, the more there is the desire for MA in Art History, generally speaking. (Unless, of course, the degree relates to emerging media, and the professional job involves a new media installation, or something; for there are definitely exceptions to the rules. Every employer is different, too.) I have also heard that the more business the job is, or the more data entry it is (e.g. Collections Management), there is a discrimination against those with upper-level degrees, like PhDs. The advanced degree says so much: "that the candidate is clearly over-qualified, and they may leave us for something better." For curatorial positions in prestigious museums, all the more publishing, exhibiting, and research the better; MA, ABD, PhD is all sought. Your situation (my guess of it, anyway): For the MoMA, I think you would have a greater shot at Assistant to the Dir. of Comms, especially with your English background and extensive transferrable PR experience, than Assistant Archivist -- the Archivist position job description indicates MoMA desires a professional with an Art History background. You don't have that. The job's tasks may appear easy, but it may be actually a stepping stone job to a curatorial post. Which is strange in a way, because archives are more tending to those with history and library science backgrounds, but not so strange, because the museum professional sought may need to draw on a 20th century art, from a background in Art History, to do the position well. Final notes -- If you have time, sure, apply. You never know what could happen out of it. That said... Unless you have many of the qualifications, I think you are better off finding museum roles which more closely relate to your skill-set. Second, I would recommend volunteering or interning in a museum first, even just to get a museum on your resume/cv, to start building experience to be competitive. Museums are extremely competitive. While I do not have proof of this, but it would be reasonable to say: the more skilled the museum position (e.g. job requires reading in German, seven years of experience in management, desires a ABD) there are likely fewer applicants; the more entry-level it is, the more applicants. Lastly, for public relations, grants, and other business-like roles in a museum, museums are open to "outsiders", with extensive backgrounds in the qualifications sought. (I would say you would have to build up more experience in museums for roles like archives, curatorial, and collections management, which "show" you can do the job. This is not as true for PR, et al. because you are bringing something museums don't teach.) These suggestions, you can take it or leave it, but hope these thoughts help a little with your processing!

You'll find a home at Champlain then! People there are about ideas and creating... things. Their graduates get jobs. The college itself has also really taken off in a powerful direction the last few years. It is no Seattle, but Burlington, Vermont is gorgeous; the city is set on the lake, and the city has proximity to Montreal, QC and to Boston, MA.

If you are seeking East Coast and New York, while not as fancy name brand as MIT, Champlain College in Vermont offers a MFA in Emergent Media. From the website, the school appears interdisciplinary and Professor Esckilsen over there teaches interactive story-telling. I am in the museum field, and I am aware the school does a lot with video games and apps.

The Fulbright award is prestigious. It is also a challenge in this market to land full-time, well-compensated employment, which could lead to professional growth (in the company or not). What I see in your questions is decision between: approaching the employer with "I am so sorry, I just found out I was awarded for a Fulbright in Singapore. The grant has been a huge dream of mine to obtain, and unfortunately, I will have to withdraw my application at this time. Please do keep me in mind for future opportunities" or connecting with your Fulbright contact, apologize, "unfortunately, I will have to decline my research grant, I have accepted employment in the States, which is a perfect fit for me, and it is important to me to keep my word and my commitment" ...what it seems like what you are leaning towards. That said, would this employer allow you to do the Fulbright grant and come back to start the position?

Library Science is not my field nor am I seeking a degree in it, but I did take several courses in Book Arts as an undergrad (yay - history of the book), and I can comment on the value of completing internships which may not immediately seem connected to future career/job searching. Passionate about it or not, technology is the present and likely our future. I am in the museum field, but occasionally, I stumble on posts for archives work and rare collections; I have in the process seen some library posts. So many seem to require several esoteric databases. I suspect you can always focus on book history and print culture, and certainly you can do a project or thesis on it, but you will be missing out on the technological requirements which might set you more competitively for library jobs in the future. Again, my scope is museums and not libraries, but might as well prepare yourself skill-wise in technology that contemporary employers are seeking. That is, unless you are thinking a career in a university and knowledges of book history and published research on it is essential....? As for the internship, unless you can snag a job or internship in your field of interest, which obviously it seems like you desire and you *should* seek ideally, remember that internships are terrific short-term opportunities to learn, and to try something new. I am in the museum world; I took a short-term opportunity once in a military museum. Although my passion is early American history and decorative arts, I have no academic interests in the military. However, that was the lone experience I hold on my resume in a university museum, which is my current career trajectory. The point is you never know what you might obtain in that health science internship which may diversify your resume.

Is the remote work in the US or UK? I assume you are American studying in the UK on a taught degree. That can make a difference if you are an American in an English postgraduate program. I would contact your academic department or the uni's "student registry" on the specific details about working jointly to the degree (knowing 20 hours is "allowed" is not enough information), and absolutely read up on the rules of your work visa. You do not want to do anything to violate the terms of your course or visa permit. When you embark on a taught course in the UK you are supposed to be there primarily to study; also, you are supposed to have ALL your funding in place before you start your postgraduate studies. Nothing is supposed to interfere with your studies, and you are urged usually only to take on work related to the taught degree. I am American, I did a UK master's, but I am no expert on UK immigration/student visa law; I would take my suggestions only as inspiring springboard, you should pursue a professional, and legal, opinion on your work plans. This is not a matter of "can I handle it?" -- you may be able to "handle it", but legally, it can get ugly. Furthermore, I would suspect HIGHLY that Americans in one year programs in United States cannot speak to the British master's work load and the unique visa requirements, as in regards to American hopeful to work and study in English postgraduate programs. I would definitely say make all the money you can now and have it in place before you start your taught program in the UK; I would recommend you focus on the one year program which you are supposed to do, and second, you are burdening yourself with a lot of loans for.

There is AAM's Jobs HQ. If you have a membership with CAA, I would scout out there. Check your regional museum organization's website. I am from New England, thus I look at NEMA's museum jobs a lot (NEMA updates the jobs about once a week), http://www.nemanet.org/nemajobsonline.htm

After reading this forum, I realized I took naming far too seriously; I named my name for my interest in finding Art History PhD/MA programs which accept curating in a museum particular -- as viable alternative to a life-long career in academia. (That said, my dream site of employment is a university museum.) I chose this work from the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, as I too like to think about the decorative arts! Although, Paul Revere was a silver smith... slightly different :-)

Syracuse is a blah city compared to NYC, but the university aesthetic is not bad; I would expect the living costs to be much lower. Plus, having a stipend is a terrific aspect to consider when comparing the schools, whereas burdening yourself with loans as you study, and after you study, is not good when you are trying to crack into the field. You can also fly inexpensively on jetBlue between Syracuse and New York to make contacts. I have flown SYR>JFK personally, and it is an easy flight. There is also Megabus and Amtrak as alternatives, I believe. Check with the department in Syracuse whether they have the professional connections in New York you seek. Like what dntw8up said, make the most of your opportunities.

Tangent but related: I questioned my mom (who has two BAs) on a detail for my taxes, and she replied, you should be able to figure it out, you have your master's degree! Yes, mom, I hold a MA, but not in employment law! People assume those with advanced degrees are smart in everything. We may know a lot, and in detail, but a couple of years doesn't imbue us with all knowledges of all the world. Nor does the process automatically provide us a job. PhD may be one credential necessary, but there is so more to the process of applying, interviewing, and accepting work.

Thanks on the congrats for the interview! I was and am still so excited. I started my career in a museum with an eclectic collection of decorative arts. When I left a few years later for a job opportunity, I photographed so many objects of that very collection I loved to look at: pewter, ceramics, and glassware. I remember those days at the museum; I recall presenting a tour to my boyfriend of the time and pointing out to him Staffordshire spaniels. We departed the museum in separate vehicles and upon arrival at the shared destination, I found I had arrived first; so, I looked up the answer, in one of my decorative arts books I had in the car, to his question he asked about the Staffordshire. That experience came to me because I love the subject, and the stories of material culture, very much. The interview is an hour and half because I will be speaking with three staff; a half hour with each person. It does sound a bit different and more intense than the graduate interview, as this is a full-year internship and not a two year graduate program, but keep in mind that I did not send in SOPs, recommendations from my professors of Art History, and submit a writing sample(s). Thus I have a lot more information to provide about why I am absolutely interested in Winterthur, and what my academic interests are. I feel fortunate to have the luxury of time, then -- I do not think I shine as well on paper. Sure, I have conferences I attended and presented, and won some scholarships, but I am more importantly creative, persistent, and ebullient. I see relations to contemporary design today. I also talked with an Art History professor tonight, through which I realized how decorative arts is not widely known or understood; there is a lot of scholarship to do to study and share. I see starting a lifetime career in the subject of American art and design, and this internship would be a wonderful beginning of that journey. Although I care a lot about the subject of decorative arts and its relevance in today's society, I also know that I have a lot of work to do in the field; my experience studying decorative arts is strong but only a few years' worth. this would be a terrific opportunity to continue exploring American material culture full-time. Now as for the preparation of the interview, I am studying the collections from what I can see online, and I certainly have my art history books out... Many thanks for speaking up, and I hope to see you too!

The second point I discuss, perhaps too early, is one of practicality. I have been interviewing lately for museum and art-related work, too. However the positions are not the dream for me that Winterthur is, although the positions offer some short-term financial benefits, as well as other advantages as I apply for MA/PhD in Art History during Fall 2012, such as those discussed in the OP. I also may not be accepted into Winterthur. I expect my competition to be tough. I have come to realize, though, if I end up elsewhere and if I am accepted into Winterthur, I can always take it.

Thanks for speaking up Greenepony. She or he may have interacted with the curators I will be speaking with, as they too participate in the MA in American Material Culture program. Personally, I would be over the moon to have the internship; it is ABSOLUTELY in line with my academic interests. I get to work with my subfocus, which is most exciting. I just never had a quasi-academic conversation like this before -- I have interviewed in the past for "professional" museum positions -- and I want to best prepare for what I expect to be a rigorous interview.