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

[addiebella16]

I appreciate your insight. Thank you for taking the time to answer my query. I have a friend who completed her MA in Art History at Williams. She is currently obtaining a PhD at a tier 1 research university. I can ask about her transition and if she was set back in credits.

Locally, the university museum hired a curator with a PhD, http://www.7dvt.com/2004/big-city-bright-light

A quick scan through the postings on AAM's job bank -- curatorial job posts can vary in the strictness of advanced degree sought (for instance, there are museums which only seek candidates with a MA in History/Art History in a particular subfocus e.g. American Art, and there are museums which just want a MA in Museum Studies or Art History). Scholarly and top-ranked museums, e.g. Peabody Essex Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, however, demand much more: PEM wants an MA, PhD preferred if there's extensive museum experience, and the Met wants at least a MA but PhD preferred, see the posts respectively, http://www.jobtarget.com/c/job.cfm?job=9678223&vnet=0&str=51&site_id=8712 and http://www.jobtarget.com/c/job.cfm?job=9777419&vnet=0&site_id=8712

Lastly, your comment also helped me by focusing on graduate programs with strong ties to regional museums. Thank you.