MA in Museum Studies and MA/PhD in Art History (candidates, students, graduates)

[addiebella16]

If I want to be competitive for a certain positions in a museum which require academic credentials, should I seek a MA/PhD in Art History to complement a MA in Museum Studies (which I already have)? If so, should I seek a MA or a PhD?I am investigating all my options to advance my career in museums, and I could go in several directions, especially

Comments

[cosmicwonder]

You should consider re-posting this on museumpeople (there haven't been that many posts lately, but when there are, people do reply to them) as you are more likely to reach people who can give you an expert opinion on your particular issue

[addiebella16]

I really appreciate your time to answer my query. Thank you. There is a post now on the LJ community, Museum People. Also, I am an American; I am seeking graduate programs in the US

[cosmicwonder]

Thanks for the clarification! As I said in my original comment, I'm not in art history or museum studies, so what I said might not apply. I do see a similar trend with those who become archivists (I'm in a history-related field), they also tend to need PhDs to get anywhere

[addiebella16]

Wow - thank you. I really appreciate your help. I never thought I had a Plan B... but I do. I SHOULD aim for the stars with Plan A. As for "Plan A

[addiebella16]

I hope my examples illustrate why a MA/PhD may be an asset for work in a museum. Did my prior comment clarify your questions

[cosmicwonder]

I do think it is good that you are laying out your options, but yes, I do think you need to pinpoint what exactly you want to do to help decide between the MA or PhD route. Your application will be stronger, especially for the PhD, if you focus on one career route and one particular subdiscipline. Remember that in the PhD you will be spending A LOT of time working on one topic, not many. It's good that you are thinking about this now as it gives you a few months to make your decision before applications are due :). Since a professional career at a university museum excites you the most, you might consider having some informational interviews with those who work there. I bet that will help in narrowing your career goals.

[addiebella16]

Again, thanks for the feedback. Informative interviews just might help me narrow my career goals. Good point also about long-term commitment to study a single topic. I will have to think VERY carefully about a focus.

University museums are especially a good fit for inter-disciplinary minded me because exhibition topics vary. Exhibitions can be university-supportive (e.g. MIT Museum). They can also be like the museum at University of Vermont, as UVM's museum director has a specialty on Picasso, yet curated an exhibition on Andy Warhol.

Lastly, in a way, I think doing a MA is just satisfying my interdisciplinary interests. Unless the program really allows for a comfortable jump to a PhD program [like there is one available on campus], I should seek to apply mostly to PhD. I might mix up with a couple MA applications, just to keep the options open in case review committees think I am best suited to start at the MA level.