COVID-19 University Plans

The pandemic has changed our world.

This includes pursuing higher education. The following is a list of schools with programs featured on this website that have plans in place for the fall semester of 2020. I did not include schools with museum studies programs that are online. The name of the school is hyperlinked to their plans to keep students, staff, and faculty safe during the academic year.

Please contact me if you are a program director and want to speak to how you are changing your program to respond to our tumultuous world, outside of university requirements.

Stay safe, stay sane, wash your hands, check your sources, wear a mask.

• Baylor University
• Eastern Michigan University
• George Washington University
• Indiana University-Purdue University Indiana (IUPUI)
• Kent State University
• San Francisco State University
• Seton Hall University
• SUNY Oneonta
• Syracuse University
• Texas Tech University
• Tufts University
• University of Colorado Boulder
• University of Kansas
• University of Leicester
• University of Maryland
• University of North Carolina-Greensboro
• University of Oregon
• University of Toronto
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Wright State University

Tufts University, Department of Education

This is the review for the Museum Education program offered by Tufts University. This is a two-year program through the Education Department that includes Museum Studies courses in its curriculum. This program includes the Museum Studies Graduate Certificate program that can also be completed by itself.

• About 35 students are accepted yearly
• The two-year program requires students to complete five museum studies courses, two education courses and four elective courses on a topic of the student’s choice
• The GRE is required

This information was found here and here.

Wright State University

This is the review for Wright State University’s graduate program in History with a concentration in Public History. For starters, here are some facts about the program and university:

• The concentration is designed by those interested in working in archives and/or museums. Students can focus on either archives or museums studies or are able to take a little of both, according to the Director, Dr. Drew Swanson.
• The History program offers graduate tuition scholarships for incoming graduate students and graduate assistantships for second-year graduate students.
• Students are required to complete a capstone project in order to graduate
• History professors teach the required classes while adjuncts who work in their field (archives or museums) teach the specialized courses
• Alumni currently have positions all over the U.S. from the National Archives in Maryland to the Jamestown Sklallam Tribe in Washington

Baylor University

This is the review for Baylor Universtiy’s M.A. in Museum Studies program. Here are some quick facts about the University and its program:

• Baylor University is the “oldest continually operating university in Texas”
• As of Fall 2016, there are 2,611 graduate students enrolled at Baylor
• The university offers scholarships and loans as well graduate assistantships through the Museum Studies program.
• Baylor University is the home to the Mayborn Museum Complex and the Martin Museum of Art

University of Washington

Updated on March 12, 2017, to incorporate additional responses and information from the Student Experience Coordinator at the University of Washington.

This is the review for the University of Washington’s Museology degree program. It is a two-year, full-time, on-campus program. Here are some other facts about the program and university:

• Offers the country’s only evaluation specialization
• A thesis or capstone project is required to graduate
• Partners with the American Alliance of Museum’s Curators Committee to organize the Excellence in Exhibition Label Writing Competition for 2017 and the Kirkland Arts Center every year for one graduate student to create an exhibition. You can read more about it here.
• 44% of students qualified for work study in the 2015-2016 academic year
• No higher, out-of-state tuition rate!

Texas Tech University

Updated on February 19, 2017 to incorporate additional responses.

This is the review for the Museum Science and Heritage Management MA program at Texas Tech University (TTU).

Here are some facts about the university and program:

• To be considered for fellowships, the deadline for applications are February 1st.
• Students may choose between an internship or thesis to complete the degree.
• Students may also choose a “subdivision” which will be the focus of their 12 elective credits. These subdivision choices change whether students choose the Museum Science or Heritage Management major.
• In addition to the general TTU application, the program requires two recommendations, a scholarship application, and a career summary statement
• The school has a pretty extensive university museum

Interview with Michelle Powers for John F. Kennedy University

Introducing Michelle Powers who received her MA/MBA from John F. Kennedy University in 2013. She is currently an independent leadership and fundraising consultant. Thank you, Michelle, for answering questions about your graduate school experience.

 

Why did you choose the John F. Kennedy University?

I chose the John F. Kennedy University Museum Studies Program for many reasons. Here are a few:

University of Missouri-St. Louis

The following is the review for the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL). This university offers a MA in History with a concentration  and graduate certificate in Museum Studies. The certificate is included in the two-year, full time, program.

To begin, here are some facts about the program:

• UMSL partners with various institutions in St. Louis: Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis Science Center, Missouri Botanical Garden, and St. Louis Zoo. Students complete assistantships at other institutions in the area such as the World Chess Hall of Fame and Campbell House Museum
• There are scholarships and graduate assistantships specifically for the Museum Studies concentration
• The program requires a separate museum studies application
• According to Dr. Maris Gillette, the director of the Museum Studies program, of the last two graduating classes, 83% of graduates from the program found a job in their field in three months, 100% in six months.

Interview with Sepp Scanlin for Johns Hopkins University

Introducing Sepp Scanlin who will finish the Museum Studies online degree program at Johns Hopkins University in December 2016. He currently works as the Director and Curator at a history museum. Thank you to him for providing this additional information about his graduate school experience.

 

Why did you choose Johns Hopkins University?

Three Reasons – online program, no requirement to specialize within the field (education, curation, fundraising, etc) and school name recognition.

Interview with Sarah Wright for Johns Hopkins University

Introducing Sarah Wright who is graduating from Johns Hopkins University in December 2016. She currently works as the Education Coordinator for Family Programs at an art museum. Thank you to her for providing this additional information about her graduate school experience.

 

Why did you choose Johns Hopkins University?

I chose this program because I could continue to gain work experience while also working towards my masters. The remote style allowed me not to worry about where I ended up geographically between the start and end of the program. I also live in Baltimore, so am familiar with the school and know its high standards.