M.A. Museum Studies
The Master of Arts in Museum Studies taught in Florence, Italy offers students an advanced, in-depth exploration of how museums operate within their social and cultural contexts. Museums are studied from an international comparative perspective, with a special emphasis on examining the ways in which these institutions engage with the public. Guest lectures by museum professionals expose students to a wide variety of international perspectives, widening their horizons, while visits to museums, historical monuments, archives, libraries, and relevant non-profit institutions essentially use Florence as a classroom, integrating students within the city and offering them hands-on exposure to real world museum research and practices. Special emphasis is placed on internship experience where students prepare to manage collections, organize exhibitions and museum events, develop management principles, and/or assist in public outreach and marketing. The lectures, visits and internships facilitate the important transition from student to museum professional at the termination of the degree.
Degree Requirements
Course Descriptions
Museum Studies Faculty
Italian Language Assistance Program
Academic Calendars
Graduate Handbook
Graduate Forms
Degree Requirements: Master of Arts in Museum Studies
Note: A minimum of 34 credits is required.
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1.0 Course Requirements |
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ART 501L: Museums and the Public I: People and Ideas |
3 cr |
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ART 502L: Museums, Galleries, and the History of Collecting |
3 cr |
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ART 503L: Museum Development, Management, and Leadership |
3 cr |
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ART 504L: Art and Objects in Museums and in Context |
3 cr |
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ART 507L: Research Methods I: Methodology and Resources |
1 cr |
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ART 601L: Museums and the Public II: Objects and Audience |
3 cr |
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Pick Three from:
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9 cr |
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ART 607L: Research Methods II: Thesis Proposal |
1 cr |
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ART 620L: Internship |
4 cr |
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ART 625L: Thesis |
4 cr |
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34 cr |
Please NOTE:
- The Master of Arts degree requires completion of a minimum of 34 credit hours, comprising at least 15 hours of 500 to 600-level courses, including the master’s thesis.
- No more than 6 credits may be transferred toward this degree. Only grades of B or better will be accepted as transfer credit.
- Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale).
- Students must pass a Foreign Language Competency Exam before engaging upon the internship and thesis. Foreign Language Competency must be demonstrated in either French, Italian, German, or an advisor-approved language. Students may not demonstrate Foreign Language Competency in his or her native tongue. Although the MA program is taught in English, certain internship options will require competency in Italian: students are therefore encouraged to study and practise their Italian during the program, and may enrol on existing LdM Italian language courses.
- Master of Arts (M.A.) candidates must complete a thesis and must orally defend it to the satisfaction of the principal adviser.
Recommended Program Sequence
Session One (Fall):
- ART 501: Museums and the Public I: People and Ideas, 3 cr
- ART 502: Museums, Galleries, and the History of Collecting, 3 cr
- ART 503: Museum Development, Management, and Leadership, 3 cr
- ART 504: Art and Objects in Museums and in Context, 3 cr
- ART 507: Research Methods I: Methodology and Resources, 1 cr
Session Two (Spring):
- ART 601: Museums and the Public II: Objects and Audience, 3 cr
- Pick Three from: 9 cr
- ART 602: Transcultural Aesthetics, Ethnography, and Cultural Bias
- ART 603: Museum Spaces and Technologies
- ART 604: Museum Education
- ART 605: Conservation and Historic Preservation
- ART 606: Museum Ethics and the Law
- ART 607: Research Methods II: Thesis Proposal, 1 cr
- ART 620: Internship, 4 cr
- ART 625: Thesis, 4 cr
Information on Museum Studies Faculty (Bios)
Graduate Handbook
