The Museology Program requires the following for completion of the Master of Arts in Museology degree. The Museology Program has recently undergone the process of revising the curriculum to respond to dramatic and important changes which the museum field is undergoing. Research from a variety of disciplines continues to extend and expand what we know about learning and about museum practice. Our new curriculum reflects these changes and provides our students with more control and flexibility over their academic experience in preparation for a meaningful career. All information on this page is available in the Museology Student Handbooks.

Degree Requirements

  • All students must complete the required list of courses for a minimum total of 60 credits (see Required Courses below).
  • A minimum cumulative GPA (grade point average) of 3.00 is required for a graduate degree at the University of Washington.
  • All students must complete 10 credits (15 recommended) of interdisciplinary (non-museology) coursework at the 500 or 600-level. Under some circumstances, courses at the 400 level may be accepted with your Advisor’s approval. Please keep documentation of approvals for your files.
  • Successful public defense of thesis or master's project.

 

Course of Study

You must complete the minimum number of credits in each cluster, but may choose to take as many courses in each cluster as you desire. A minimum of 36 of your credits must be at the 500 level or higher. To check your progress in the program you will complete a degree audit for each year of graduate study.

Required Courses Credits

MUS 580: Introduction to Museology (5) 
MUS 599: Careers and Social Capital (3)
MUS 590: Museum Management and Administration (5)
MUS 700/710: Master's Thesis or Master's Project (10 credits required)
Museum Internship:  (180 total hours or 6 credits of MUS 601)*

*Enrollment in MUS 601 is not required to fulfill this requirement. Agreement and Evaluation forms are required to fulfill the 180 hour requirement. Internship forms and hours completed are tracked by the Internship Coordinator. See Internship FAQ for more details.

Communication and Public Engagement

A minimum of 12 credits required.
MUS 594: Seminar in Museum Education (5)
MUS 592: Social Issues and Museums (3)
MUS 588: Planning for People in Exhibits (3)
MUS 588: Community-based Museum Model (3)
MUS 593: Seminar in Museum Exhibition (5)
MUS 588: Public Engagement in Science (3)
MUS 588: Public Engagement in Art (3)
MUS 588: Introduction to Learning Sciences for Museum Practitioners (3)
MUS 588: Legal Issues in Museums (3) 
MUS 596: Introduction to Audience Research in Informal Learning Settings (3)
MUS 597: Directed Fieldwork in Audience Research (up to 5 credits)
Others to be announced.

Leadership and Administration

One of the following or other university leadership class approved by your Advisor (min. 3 credits required).
MUS 588: Leadership in Museums (3)
EDLPS 570: Critical Views on Educational Leadership (3)
 

Understanding and Caring for Collections

One of the following required.
MUS 581: Preservation and Management of Collections I (5)
MUS 582: Preservation and Management of Collections II (MUS 581 Prerequisite) (5)
MUS 586: Issues and Philosophy of Collections (3)

Research Methods

One of the following or other research class approved by your Advisor (min. 3 credits).
MUS 598: Research Design and Museology Practice (4)

Museology Electives

You may take as many electives as you want to get your total of 60 credits. 
MUS 588: Changing Dynamics of Curation (3)
MUS 588: Relationship-based Fundraising (3)
MUS 588: Historical Research Methods (3)
MUS 588: Oral History Research (3)
MUS 583: Directed Field Work in Museum Operations
MUS 584: Directed Field Work in Archaeology
MUS 585: Directed Field Work in Museum Collections
MUS 597: Directed Field Work in Audience Research

Interdisciplinary Electives

You must take at least 10 credits (15 recommended) of interdisciplinary classes outside of Museology. Electives should be approved by your advisor. Any 500 level credits will count towards your 60 credits and 400 level courses may count if approved by advisor.

Click here for a list of interdisciplinary courses taken by museology students in the past.