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 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.

If I read my LJ post outside the industry -- the dilemma would not make sense. Students in Art History and Museum Studies MA/PhD programs do continue in academia (e.g. Dr Viv Golding, PhD in Museum Studies, http://www.educathyssen.org/museoabierto/Icongreso/en/conferenciantes/ficha.php?id=17 ). Students in Art History and Museum Studies MA/PhD programs do turn to museum work. For some museum job posts, a MA or PhD is required.

There are also professionals working concurrently in academia and museums (e.g. university museum). University of Colorado-Boulder actually has two museums. I suspect the MA in Art History students work with its art museum and the MA in Anthro work with its Natural History Museum. See respectively, http://cuart.colorado.edu/degrees/graduate/ma-art-history/ and http://cumuseum.colorado.edu/MFS/

An interesting example of university/academic combination is University of Delaware and Winterthur Museum. See professor of American Decorative Arts, http://www.materialculture.udel.edu/faculty/jobe.html (I tried to find the academic qualifications for this professional. Terminal MA, PhD, or BA with extensive museum experience? Please let me know if you, or if anyone else, stumbles upon it.)

However, there are museum professionals who hold an academic background with MA or PhD who work in curatorial posts.

Example 1:
MFA Boston, curator, Gerald W. R. Ward, http://www.mfa.org/collections/publications/chihuly has received an PhD according to this article, http://www.capecodtoday.com/calendar-2011-08-04-event-20415.htm Not in Art History, the degree is from BU's American and New England Studies... which, from my own recent research before, I know has an art history track. (New England Studies programs might be a good fit for me as well.)

Example 2:
Syracuse University -- "Dean Lahikainen (M.A. 1977) Dean has been for several years the Carolyn and Peter Lynch Curator of Decorative and Folk Art at the Peabody-Essex Museum, Salem. His responsibilities also include the American 18th-19th century fine art painting collection. He is author of exhibition catalogues and monographs, most recently his award-winning volume on Samuel McIntire." From http://amh.syr.edu/people/maincampus_alumni.html

My reply to alegria_dreams may also provide some clarity (see below).

[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.

Anyway, I still think the large issue with your post is that it isn't quite clear about what exactly you want to do. Saying that you want to advance your career in museums seems vague to me as is quite evident in your post in the different positions you mention. You do spend a lot of time in your post saying that you are interested in a curatorial position, but towards the end you say: "Naturally, I am drawn to curatorial and exhibit work, but I am open to management of a museum and I enjoy development (fundraising). Which means, I could just remain with the M.A. in Museum Studies." I think you might have it clear in your head as to exactly what kind of museum position you want, but it would be beneficial to state this clearly and be confident about it. Deciding on what degree to get really depends on the specific career you want . At this point, I wouldn't worry so much about the Plan B (obviously you have one), but rather what is your Plan A. I think that would help a lot in making your decision, and also strengthen your applications considerably.

[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":

No, I am not clear on what I want to do. You are correct. I do not have a focus. I am interested in several subjects, unfortunately. That's what makes it difficult for me to write statement like, "I want to research [X] at [University] because I am particularly interested in [University's research of X] and I believe [blah, blah, blah]". That said, I know I prefer the studies of decorative arts, over other things, e.g. WWI paintings, and museum work e.g. fundraising. In other words, I like a lot of things, when it comes to studying in academia, but I like some things more. I should focus on what I like "more".

I also think I have a mind towards "museum management" and "development (fundraising)" because when I look at the museum job market, I see more opportunities for directors and museum development. I know the economy is encouraging some for matriculation into graduate school, but for me, I look at graduate school limiting my opportunities to find work, any work in my field. (The museum job market is ridiculously competitive. Being open is helpful.) Limits in regards to the job market can, also, be a good thing. There might not be many applicants for a top curatorial post in "American Arts", where there are lot for, say, a "development assistant".

A quick note on archivists -- many indeed hold history backgrounds, and also attract those with library science backgrounds. Sometimes, people hold a history degree and a library science degree. Silly what we will do in the humanities to find work ;-)