Museum Studies vs. History vs. Public History

[Tartaras]

I am about to start my senior year of undergraduate coursework and am considering graduate school. I am stuck between History, Museum Studies, and Public History. I have been searching the web and asking people in the field for months for information. Here is the way I see it:

If I go with Museum Studies, I will have very limited career choices, with my goal to become a history museum curator. The job market is apparently terrible (considering that federal and state budget cuts usually start with the humanities) I am also concerned that, should I get a job at a specific type of museum, such as a naval museum, there would only be a very limited number of museums that I could be employed at.

For History, the possible career paths are more numerous, but there are many MA history degree holders. Also, I don't know how marketable I am to non-academic institutions. On the bright side, this degree leaves the door open for a PhD. From professors I've talked with, it seems that only an MA in History from a top-50 school is valuable and marketable. With this degree, I hope to be a history consultant, professor, or genealogist, though the list is endless.

Public History is the option that seems to be a bridge between the other two. Information on these programs has been confusing and contradictory. For example, some graduate program websites proudly claim that their grads have landed jobs as curators, but curators I've talked to say they wouldn't hire someone with a public history degree because the education does not prepare them for the job.

How bad is the history curator job market? Is an MA in History from a non-top-50 school worth getting? What careers can I aim for with an MA in Public History? Which major/career above has the best job outlook?

I am pretty lost at the moment. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[elsie]

It looks like we have similar interests. I haven't started grad school yet so I'm not sure how much help I can be but most of the job listings I've seen for curators do want a Ph.D. For what it's worth I'm planning to go for an MLIS with a concentration in archival studies and then possibly a grad certificate in public history. I'm hoping for a job within a museum or historical society but not necessarily as a curator. I'll definitely be watching this thread. Best of luck to you.

[TMP]

You actually need to have a PhD in history to become a curator or a historian in residence. But pay lip service to PhD programs about your career goals because many of them, as a whole, are still very old-fashioned about their expectations for their PhD students' careers. A MA in history or museum studies (along with networking) will get you the door... for an interview to start with, that's for sure.

[estargrl88]

Hi,

I'm also having the same dilemmas and I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one! There really doesn't seem to be a lot of easily accessible advice, which has been frustrating to me.

Here are my current thoughts, so take what you will from them:

With my interest in curation, I have decided that some type of public history MA makes the best sense at the moment because I can gain practical skills for a first job and then have an academic side which may eventually lead to a PHD. There are also a lot of History MA programs with public history concentrations out there which I think are also a good medium.

I've decided that museum studies programs won't work for me because the focus is primarily practical. I think they probably work well for certain jobs within museums, and some programs are quite good, but if you want to have a more senior level historian position, you need more academic training. Someone also told me that practices change, but academic theory remains.

Overall, I think it really depends on the type of organization you want to work for. The smaller they are, I think the more open they are to different degrees, but larger institutions probably require more academic and specialized staff.

I would be interested in hearing anything more about what degrees or skills are most desired in curators. I have heard that it's good to be caught up on current trends (digitalization, for example), but does it matter if you've taken a course on it or not?

Also, if anyone has any recommendations for specific programs, or, perhaps more helpful, any programs that are not recommended!

Edited August 23, 2011 by estargrl88

[Katzenmusik]

My advice is to apply to History and Public History MA programs, then go with the one that gives you the most financial support. (Funded and discounted MAs ARE out there.) Bonus points if the university offers a few museum studies courses, or if at least a couple of the professors have a track record of being interested in public history. Try to land yourself in the most welcoming environment possible. (Certain professors--perhaps even whole departments?--can be very elitist and disdainful of any historian-in-training who does not want to become a professor. They think of museums and other historical things geared toward the public as being light-weight, watered-down, and uninteresting. One clue: if the department's web site states multiple times that it prepares students to be professors and have academic careers, and that's it -- chances are, it's unfriendly to public history.)

Museum Studies degrees though, in my opinion, are more limiting. Typically they lean either very theoretical (studying the role of museums in representing culture, museums and power, etc.) or extremely practical (you'll take courses on how to store objects, how to create an educational program, etc.). At the end of the day, you'll have a general degree, but you won't be a specialist in a traditional museum discipline, like science, anthropology, history or art history. The museum blogosphere is brimming with write-ups on the problems of museum studies programs -- here's just one example: http://museumtwo.blo...rams-spawn.html

and another: http://colleendilen....ms-going-wrong/

If you get a degree in history, you're becoming a historian. Knowledge of history probably won't make you rich, but it is still a more portable and flexible subject than museology. With your degree in history, you can be a museum curator--or you can write books, do research for the government, work in an archive, create history podcasts, be a consultant for documentaries, etc. There may not be TONS of jobs in these areas. But they are all things you'd be more qualified to do than someone with a degree in museum studies. Furthermore, one would hope that with the more sophisticated understanding of history that comes along with intensive graduate study, you would be able to create more nuanced, interesting, up-to-date exhibits and be more skilled at conducting historical research.

(This post is probably enraging any museum studies folk out there reading it. And I apologize! I'm being blunt rather than polite.)

Finally, you can do museum internships over the summer no matter which type of degree you decide to go with. Internships are where you really learn the most, make contacts, have something real to put on your resume, etc. And very few jobs require a museum studies degree, specifically. Historical organizations will usually phrase the qualification as: "a graduate degree in history, museum studies or a related field."

One word on public history programs. Many of them seem good, and for what you want to do, they may be ideal. But again, keep in mind that the word "public" may trigger some snobbish attitudes among academics and that many people out in the world have no idea what "public history" even is. That doesn't mean public history isn't worthwhile and valuable, though.

If you have any questions, or if you'd like to read some more ravings by me on this topic, feel free to PM me!

Edited August 25, 2011 by Katzenmusik

[TrojanHog]

While I'm biased, I think Public History is the way to go just because of the additional hands on experience you can get in archives and museums. My program allows you to choose one of four paths as far as coursework goes. Museums, archives, historic preservation, and research. I'm only in my first week of the program, so I haven't quite figured out my path yet. I will say that anyone interested in Public History should check out my program. It's a small group, but located in a metropolitan area with TONS of museums (including a Presidential Library) and historic societies. PM for more details.

[Tartaras]

Thanks to all that replied! It is nice to finally get some straight answers on the subject.

[Katzenmusik]

You're welcome!

I just noticed also that you asked if it was worth going to a school ranked lower than 50 for your history MA.

YES, if it's less expensive or if it gives you funding. I cannot emphasize this enough!

Think about it this way:

1) You choose to go to an Ivy League school for your history MA. You rack up crushing debt simply to have a prestigious university's name on your resume. You are definitely NOT automatically guaranteed entry to the PhD program (which is more likely to look on you as a cash cow than as a serious scholar). You end up competing with people from the state school down the road for public history jobs, because they are just as qualified.

2) You go to a funded (or less expensive), low-ranked program. You have a chance to demonstrate excellence in research and writing and make connections with professors who know others in your field. When it's time for PhD applications, you're ready. Or you could go work in public history without that pesky crushing debt stuff.

[abenson115000]

Wow! I'm glad I found this topic! Like Tartaras, I am also in my senior year of undergraduate school and looking at graduate programs. However, I was looking at possibly working and going to graduate school at the same time. Would working in a museum setting and going to school be a good (or even plausible) idea? I'm getting my undergraduate degrees in History and International Studies and I have no idea if working for a few years then going to grad school is a good idea or try to do both at the same time? I'm really torn on this.

And I really want to go into Museum Studies. After my internship at my town's local museum this summer I have decided that the museum setting is where I want to be. What would you all suggest? What is the most logical way to approach this?

Also, I've seen many art historians around when doing research about jobs. However, I am not an art historian and want to focus my studies on Japanese history. I know this makes my options slimmer, but again, what is the best approach?

I'm sorry if this sounds jumbled and vague. I can clarify more if need be. Thank you for any help!

[eastvillager]

Former curator and museum professional here. While there are a few good public history programs out there, I think many of them are not a good choice for someone seeking a job as a curator. Too many programs depict themselves as a golden ticket to a curatorial job, yet most of those same programs do not do an adequate job of preparing their students to actually work with the material. There tends to be a focus on objects as illustration, not objects as original source material. I've also spent a great deal of time around public history professors in recent years, and have been surprised at the level of disconnect that often exists between academia and the in-the-trenches museum world; not all programs are like that, of course, but given the rapidly increasing popularity of public history programs, you do need to be careful and pick one that actually meets your needs. If you're looking for more practical museum training, not all programs are going to be able to give you that, even if they claim to do so. Be cynical during your search. Public history programs seem to be cash cows these days, and too many students enter them thinking they are more "practical" and therefore marketable. Some are, some aren't, and definitely not all are created equal.

I'd second the advice to go with the program that offers the most funding. I'd probably veer towards the history degree (perhaps with public history concentration) supplemented with internships and some museum studies courses.

And to the poster who says you need a PhD to be a curator -- definitely not true.

Also be aware that the job market is very tight, that many positions pay very little. In other words, do not rack up debt pursuing a degree in public history that may or may not get you a job, and may or may not get you a job that will allow you to pay off your school loans.

[EAJONES]

I know this post is a few years old but this is exactly how I'm feeling!  I graduated with a Bachelor's in History with a minor in public history earlier this year. However, I learned little in the public history minor because it was one of the first students to pursue the minor. 

 

 

I want to get a Master's in history with a concentration in public history because I think that would make me marketable to become a researcher, archivists, or museum professional. Do you think I am on the right track of thinking?

 

 

I am looking into universities that are not too expensive because I do not want to have a tone of debt hanging over my head with this job market. I also would rather be a big fish in a small pond. I would rather get great recommendations from professors who know me personally and can hook me up with good connections than be a mediocre student at a great university. Once again, is this a crazy thing to think?

 

 

Public history programs (or related fields) I'm looking into are:

1. Washington State
2. Middle Tennessee State
3. Oklahoma State
4. Idaho State
5. University of Arkansas
6. University of Northern Iowa
7. Western Washington
8. Texas State
What do you all think about the accreditation of these schools and everything else I've said?     Thanks!!!

 

 

 

 

[Need Coffee in an IV]

@EAJONES Hey I'm in a similar situation! I rather be a big fish in a small pond as well and I would like to work in a museum or a nonprofit in a very small city vs a big city. I can't really say anything about those schools since I'm applying for next fall.  Also it seems like some of the universities I'm applying too are huge but the actually cohort will be small. So I think that's a better situation for me than a small school but big cohort. It seems like the programs we are applying to are barely mention on gradcafe.

[TMP]

Make sure you can find out their job placement record-- where did their graduates end up?  If the programs aren't willing to give you the data, move on.

[verycunning]

Adding another option to anyone reading this thread - there are some American Studies departments with great public history/museum studies classes and opportunities (unsurprisingly, most of them are concentrated around the D.C. area). I've got colleagues in American Studies who do all the things mentioned upthread (museum work, genealogy, nonprofits, archives, library, historical consultation, etc), and when I spent some time working at the Smithsonian I found that a lot of the newer hires among the history museums had degrees in more interdisciplinary fields (American Studies, Afro-American Studies, Gender and Race Studies, Cultural Studies, etc). So my point is, don't be scared off by fields that don't have history in the title!

[Need Coffee in an IV]

@verycunning I've actually noticed that trend too. I had volunteer experiences and internships where I worked with a variety of degrees. Of course the curators were PhDs, but everyone else had masters or bachelor degrees. TBH, no one really talked about their degrees that much and we all did our jobs pretty well. From my short time, networking has given me opportunities while my education was an added bonus. I'm still in undergrad and hopefully off to grad school if the fall. So my opinion may change! Plus I have a geology background so I also don't know if the history world is different.