Florida

Through the Department of History, students can earn an MA in Public History with a specialization in Museum Studies or a Certificate in Historic Preservation. The Public History program provides students with an M.A. degree in history from the Department of History with a public history specialization. The Public History track within the UWF Department of History trains students in the various aspects of public, or applied, history.

The specialization in Museum Studies emphasizes Museology including exhibit conception, interpretation, design and construction, museum administration, working with missions, budgets, collections, and boards. Electives provided by courses offered within the department and with the departments of Art History.

Master's students may also earn a certificate in Historic Preservation. The certificate program is geared to individuals interested in acquiring a general focus in the field of historic preservation and to current practitioners in the field who wish to add a historic preservation certification to their academic or professional credentials.
The certificate program in historic preservation requires the completion of eighteen (18) credit hours of courses at the Master’s level. These courses provide students both the breadth and depth necessary for a basic understanding of the diverse field, while also allowing students to gain some expertise in certain areas of the field through their selection of the elective courses, and, in some cases, by providing an opportunity to work on faculty grant projects. Courses are multi-disciplinary, including coursework in anthropology, archaeology, art history, environmental studies, traditional history, and public history.

The MA in Museum Studies consists of both academic preparation and practical experience. Students select and pursue a disciplinary emphasis of their choice (for example Anthropology, Art Education, Art History, Education, English, History, Historic Preservation, or Tourism, Recreation, and Sports Management) while participating in comprehensive museum studies seminars, practica, and internships. At the same time, students complete a concentrated study in professional museum practices. Upon completion of the program, graduates will have attained the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue careers in a variety of institutions, including art museums, natural history museums, history museums, anthropology museums, children's museums, historic sites, and various other interpretive sites and institutions.

Museum Studies at Florida State University is a certificate program with a broad understanding of museums and practical experience in museum work. The program prepares students for museum careers by adding specific museum instruction to their departmental studies. Students gain critical intelligence and the ability to analyze and achieve objectives in the professional museum field through a combination of discipline-based knowledge and practical training.

The certificate is granted as a supplement to a graduate degree program. This dual approach follows the American Association of Museums’ recommendations that specialized museum training be combined with one or more academic disciplines as the ideal preparation for a professional career.

The program includes students from the arts, humanities, and sciences. The following degree programs grant the certificate: Art, Arts Administration, Art Education, Art History, Classics, Dance, History, History and Philosophy of Science, Information Studies, Interior Design, Recreation and Leisure Services Administration, Retail Merchandising and Product Development, and Theatre. Graduates of the program will be qualified to seek employment in science centers, art museums, history museums, historic sites, ethnographic museums, natural history museums, and related institutions. Those who have already obtained a graduate degree may enter the program as a non-degree seeking student.

The program enjoys a collaborative relationship with museums in London, Florence and cities throughout Belgium. FSU’s extensive network of international study programs affords additional opportunities for course work and internships. Students in the program can also benefit from the unique opportunity of studying at the FSU Ringling Center for the Cultural Arts in Sarasota, with its world-renowned fine arts museum, circus collection, historic home, and Asolo Theater.

FIU Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies is an 18 credit program intended to prepare individuals for employment in museums, historic preservation, and collection management. The programs offers graduate level courses in various associated academic disciplines with special project and on-line courses appropriate for specific museum work. Courses are for students interested in museum careers and for people currently employed in museums who want to expand their theoretical base and their knowledge of best professional practices. The program is designed to provide the students with a strong theoretical basis and a broad understanding of museum practice and history.