Program Overview
The master’s degree in Museum Studies is a 36-credit-hour program built around 3 fundamental components – Foundational courses and experiences, Topical inquiry and application in relevant disciplines, and Professional specialization and expertise. Students who earn a master’s in museum studies will have acquired mastery of the professional and conceptual dimensions of museums in the broadest sense, while also developing the specialized skills necessary for success in the field.
Designed as one of the leading museum studies master’s programs in the region, KU’s program emphasizes the evolving role of museums in public life. Students explore how museums create knowledge, shape cultural memory, and serve diverse communities.
Throughout the museum studies curriculum, students gain substantial hands-on experience and collaborate with museum professionals across campus and beyond. The program draws on KU’s extensive museum and archival resources, offering opportunities to work directly with collections and exhibitions while developing research and analytical expertise. Key features of the program include:
- Hands-On Experience: Students complete supervised internships and practical projects with museums and cultural organizations.
- Interdisciplinary Curriculum: Students take a combination of core courses, skills-based museum professional courses, and topical courses in disciplines ranging from History of Art to Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
- Access to Resources: KU’s campus museums, archives, and special collections serve as laboratories for applied learning.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with regional and national professionals in museums and cultural heritage.
As interest grows in cultural heritage leadership and public history, KU continues to be recognized among strong and innovative options for students researching the best museum studies master’s programs.
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Graduate
For more information about the program, visit the program page below.
Museum Studies, MAKU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
The Museum Studies Program is housed in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, home to a collaborative and creative community making the world better through inquiry and research.Master’s in Museum Studies Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Museum Studies master’s, graduates will be able to:
- Apply a critical understanding of museum functions as institutions, bodies of knowledge, and communicators with a public audience.
- Apply an understanding of professional standards including ethics and cultural awareness.
- Show knowledge, application, and analysis of museological scholarship (historical and contemporary).
- Display practical experience in museum leadership, collections, exhibitions/interpretation, and education.
- Synthesize scholarship, professional standards, and practical experience to create new museological research or tools of use to the profession.
What Careers are Possible with a Master’s in Museum Studies
Graduates of the Museum Studies master’s program are prepared for a wide range of professional paths across museums, galleries, historic preservation organizations, and nonprofit cultural institutions. Potential career paths include:
- Museum Collections Manager
- Exhibitions Manager
- Museum Educator
- Conservation Specialist
- Cultural Heritage Consultant
According to Lightcast, employment in museum and related cultural heritage occupations is projected to grow approximately 9% over the next decade, with median national compensation around $56,000 per year. Career outcomes for graduates of museum studies master’s programs reflect the increasing demand for professionals trained in collections stewardship, community engagement, and institutional leadership.
Tuition and Financial Aid
While the Museum Studies Program does not have funding to offer, many of our students connect with Graduate Teaching Assistantships, Graduate Research Assistantships, and Graduate Assistantships in other units on campus.
Please visit Museum Studies’ Program Costs & Financial Aid page for more information.
Admission Requirements
Students begin in the Museum Studies Master’s program only in the fall semester. Required application materials include:
- A copy of your official transcript, issued by the Registrar’s Office of the institution from which you have (or will have) earned your bachelor’s degree (and master’s degree, if applicable).
- One essay not to exceed five double-spaced pages.
- Please respond to this prompt: How has a museum experience shaped your outlook on the function and relevance of museums? Explain how you have seen museums engage with their various audiences, stakeholders, or communities. Feel free to draw from personal experiences of visits to museums, volunteer/paid positions you have held, or current events or other instances of museum engagement you have learned about in your studies. For full details on this prompt, please visit the Museum Studies application page.
- A personal statement outlining your museum studies interests, professional goals, relevant experience, fit with KU’s Museum Studies Program, and any additional information, including context for academic performance if applicable.
- Three letters of recommendation. At least two of your letters should come from professors, instructors, or other individuals who can speak directly to your academic ability.
- A resume or curriculum vitae listing your education, employment history, volunteer experience, internships, scholarships/fellowships, and academic awards.
For complete details on the application process, visit Museum Studies.
Student Life and Learning Experiences
Students in the museum studies master’s program engage in collaborative, research-driven, and practice-oriented learning.
Internships and practica are integral components of the program. Students gain direct experience in museums, archives, and heritage organizations, strengthening professional competencies in collections management, public programming, and administration.
Master’s in Museum Studies Sample Courses
The museum studies master’s program at KU offer courses designed to prepare students for diverse roles in museums and cultural heritage organizations. Sample courses include:
- The Modern Museum: Institutions, Knowledge and Audiences
- The Museum Profession: Ethics, Standards and Cultural Awareness
- The Contemporary Museum in Practice: Debates and Research Methodologies
- Managing Museums
- Introduction to Collections Management and Utilization
- Preventive Conservation in Museums
For a full list of courses, please visit the KU Catalog.
Master’s in Museum Studies Frequently Asked Questions
When should I apply?
We admit students for fall entry only. The application opens in early September each year with an application deadline of Feb. 1.
How long will it take to complete the degree?
Students typically complete this degree in two years.