History MA, Museums, Heritage and Public History Emphasis

Overview
Requirements

The MA in History with an Emphasis in Museums, Heritage, and Public History prepares students for professional careers in museums, historic sites and societies, cultural agencies, and related organizations. The degree addresses pressing needs of museums and heritage institutions for the 21^stcentury: collaboration and community engagement, digital media and new technologies, and diversity and cross-cultural training. The curriculum includes courses on the sociocultural, historical, and intellectual foundations of museums; the theory and practice of public history and cultural heritage; professional development and practicums for multiple museum career paths; qualitative and quantitative research methods; digital media; non-profit resource development; community-based research and history; the comparative and cross-cultural study of material culture; and a strong grounding in the methods, professional protocols, and modes of analysis in History.

The Departments of History; Anthropology and Archeology; Art and Design; the Missouri History Museum; the St. Louis Mercantile Library; and other heritage sites and museums collaborate to sustain this innovative program, taught by professors and practicing professionals from St. Louis-area museums, historic sites, and cultural institutions. The degree trains students to advance the new paradigm of museum work and public history that focuses on inclusivity and the relationships between institutions and the communities that they serve. Upon completion of the program, students are prepared for immediate entry into museum careers in a variety of positions.

Career Outlook for M. A. in Museums, Heritage, and Public History

According to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, there are more than 35,000 museums in the United States, employing more than 400,000 individuals. History museums constitute forty-eight percent of the total museums in the country; there are more than 16,800 historical societies and historic preservation organizations alone. While job requirements vary among individual institutions and specific professional roles, the MA degree offered by this program qualifies graduates for a wide range of careers in the museum and heritage field. Faculty and mentors in the Museum Studies Program provide students with placement assistance, counseling, and access to information on career opportunities. Our alumni are employed at institutions around the country, from Santa Fe to Philadelphia, Minneapolis to Dallas.

Admission Requirements

Prospective students for the Master of Arts in History with an Emphasis in Museums, Heritage, and Public History must apply specifically for this program on the graduate application. Successful application for the M.A. in History does not automatically provide access to the Museums, Heritage and Public History program. Applications for the Master of Arts in History with an Emphasis in Museums, Heritage, and Public History will be accepted only for the fall semester.

Prospective students must demonstrate high academic potential. Typically, the History department admits only students with at least a 3.2 grade point average in their undergraduate major; most successful applicants have higher grades. An undergraduate major in History is not required. Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation, preferably from former teachers and/or employers, and a sample of their written work. Applicants must also complete the Museum Studies Supplemental Application, which includes a statement of career intent.

Admissions decisions are based on the undergraduate transcript, the letters of recommendation, the sample of written work, and the supplemental application.

Applications must be received by the university no later than February 1.

Program Requirements (39 hours)

All candidates for the M.A. in History with an Emphasis in Museums, Heritage, and Public History must complete the following coursework:

HIST 6001	Introduction to Public History and Cultural Heritage	3
HIST 6131	Museum Origins and Evolution	3
Plus two of the following courses:
ANTHRO 6139
ART ED 5588	Museum Education and Visitor Research
HIST 6130	Collections Management and Registration
HIST 6132	Digital Video for Museums and Community History
HIST 6133	Museums and History in the Digital Age
HIST 6134	History Curatorship
HIST/ANTHRO 6137/ART HS 6037	Museum Organization and Operations

Students may substitute other professional development courses with approval of the program director. Students must also complete an additional 20-22 elective credits as approved by the program director, of which at least 12 credits must be History courses. Students may choose electives from the preceding list, the History department curriculum, and a range of offerings in Anthropology and Archaeology; Art and Design; Communication and Media; and Nonprofit Management and Leadership. Courses address such topics as: community-based research, public archaeology, cultural resource management, quantitative and qualitative research methods, the history of visual arts in American museums, arts and visual resources management, material culture in the home, media law and ethics, documentary film-making, grant-writing, American philanthropy, and area and period studies. A maximum of six credits in courses outside the History Department may be at the 3000 level.

Candidates conclude the degree with an exit project or thesis represented by the course numbered HIST 6138, ANTHRO 6138 or ART HS 6038 (5 credits.) This capstone project will demonstrate competence in museum studies. The specific form will be customized to the interests and career aspirations of each student, as approved in advance by the candidate’s advisory committee.

In addition to these requirements, candidates for the MA in History with an Emphasis in Museums, Heritage, and Public History are required to demonstrate either oral or written proficiency in one second language (in addition to English). Proficiency at a level that enables the candidate to conduct research must be demonstrated by passing either an oral or written test, whichever is most appropriate for the candidate’s research methodology, in a language that is relevant to the candidate’s chosen specialization. The test will be designed through consultation with the candidate and the faculty of the Languages Program.