Students anywhere in the world interested in a career in
museums can now earn a Johns Hopkins
University master of arts degree in museum studies in an
innovative online program.
The program, offered by
Advanced Academic
Programs in the Krieger School of Arts and
Sciences, received Maryland Higher Education Commission
endorsement in October.
"The aim of the museum studies program is to provide a
perspective on the theory and practice
of museums in a changing technological, social and
political environment for current and future museum
professionals," said Robert Kargon, the Willis K. Shepard
Professor of the History of
Science at
Johns Hopkins and chair of the new program. "It emphasizes
the role of technology as a pervasive
aspect in today's museum; examines new models of education,
exhibition and business strategies; and
explores the role of the museum as an agent of social
change."
The associate program chair, Phyllis Hecht, formerly
of the National Gallery of Art and co-editor of The
Digital Museum: A Think Guide, has recruited faculty
from academia and the museum
community. "Our students will learn from the experts in the
field and will become the visionary leaders
of tomorrow's museums," she said. The curriculum features
the most up-to-date museum theory and
practice, and the online format of the program allows for
innovative teaching methods.
Sarah Steinberg, associate dean of Advanced Academic
Programs, said, "The university is
dedicated to a bold initiative of offering quality distance
learning in a robust, interactive and
asynchronous online format. The MA in museum studies is
particularly exciting because of the vast
potential to draw students from around the world, which
will create a truly rich dynamic."
Nine online classes and one onsite seminar are
required to complete the master of arts in
museum studies. All online classes are offered as
asynchronous learning experiences, allowing maximum
flexibility in a student's schedule. Course content is
delivered mainly via text notes, voice-over
PowerPoint, streaming video and threaded discussions to
provide a connection between students and
faculty through visual, auditory and text-driven
interactions. Classes are kept small to encourage
active community building among students and between
students and faculty.
A short but intensive period of on-ground museum
experience is required to complete the
degree. This face-to-face summer classroom component takes
place in Washington, D.C., where
students will visit museums, meet high-level museum
professionals, attend symposia and participate in
a hands-on project. To further encourage working with
objects and gaining hands-on experience in a
museum, the program will support and help arrange optional
supervised projects at museums in a
student's home area.
For more information on the program, go to
advanced.jhu.edu/academic/museum.