Museum Studies

Recommended Plans of Study in Museum Studies – Option B (two minors)

Our faculty representative for Museum Studies is Prof. Kariann Fuqua – Director of the Museum Studies Minor

Museum Studies is an interdisciplinary field that explores the world of museums and all they encompass: collections, exhibitions, education, archives, research, and more. Our faculty from five departments—Art and Art History, Anthropology and Sociology, Classics, History, and Southern Studies—teach a broad range of courses to introduce students to the history and culture of museums and their basic functions as well as current topics and issues facing museums today.

When pursuing Museum Studies through the Interdisciplinary Studies major, we recommend Option B (two minors) to provide each student with a solid foundation in Museum Studies.

Career: Gallery Owner

Minors: Museum Studies and Art History

Additional Courses: Business Management, Accounting, Marketing

Rationale: Most independent galleries are for profit businesses that would require knowledge not only in Art and Art History but also in basic business practices.  Budgeting, accounting, advertising, marketing, and best practices would be essential for this career path.

Career: Historic House Manager

Minors: Museum Studies and History

Additional Courses: Southern Studies, Public History, Architecture, Preservation, Hospitality Management, or Marketing

Rationale: Depending on the region, a student interested in working in a historic home would need to be knowledgeable not only the history of the time period and location, but be aware of preservation and architectural considerations of a site.  Marketing would be a beneficial skill in order to increase visitorship.

Career: Museum Curator

Minors: Museum Studies and Classics, Art History, History, or Anthropology

Additional Courses: Languages

Rationale: Museum curators need graduate level studies to enter this field.  To make students more competitive when applying to graduate programs, a minor in Museum Studies and area of interest, plus additional language courses would be necessary.

Career: Cultural Heritage Site

Minors: Museum Studies and Anthropology or African American Studies

Additional Courses: History, Archaeology, Land Management and Ecology, Law

Rationale: Students interested in this field would need content expertise in the area of interest as well as understanding how to work with different artifacts and objects found on these sites.  Understanding property law and land management would also be beneficial.

Louvre Museum at Night, Paris