Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Museum Studies
New skills, better salary, and great learning experiences are just a few of the reasons museum professionals, graduate students, and others aspiring to a museum career will want to earn a Museum Studies Certificate.
The University of West Georgia and the Atlanta History Center partner to offer an exciting graduate-level Museum Studies Certificate program. This innovative, collaborative program helps students new to the field prepare for museum jobs and assists those already in the field to advance their careers and improve their knowledge and skills in the museum world.
For more information, please see the Academic Catalog.
University of West Georgia faculty and Atlanta History Center professional staff co-teach the museum seminars, offering students a variety of perspectives on the field. Additional guest speaker help students expand their professional networks. We teach the museum seminars at the Atlanta History Center and utilize the resources of this premier historical organization as a laboratory for course assignments and projects.
The museum studies seminars stress our commitment to practical experience as well as discussion of contemporary ideas and challenges in the museum field. Assignments focus on tasks that students will undertake in the real world of museums, from processing a museum collection and preparing an interpretation plan to evaluating educational programs, writing a foundation proposal or marketing plan, and developing an exhibit proposal. In each class, students prepare portfolios that assist them in marketing their skills to potential employers.
Program Location
Carrollton Campus, Atlanta History Center
Method of Delivery
Classes are 100% face-to-face.
Accreditation
The University of West Georgia is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Credit and transfer
Total semester hours required: 15
Maximum Hours Transferable into program: 3
A transfer credit evaluation will be completed by the UWG Transfer Team (transfer@westga.edu). Course application to a program is subject to review by the department.
Graduate students may be able to reduce their cost through prior learning, previous degrees earned at UWG, or transfer credits. We have created a tool to help students estimate their tuition costs.
Full-time graduate students are eligible to apply for a Graduate Research Assistantship, which provides a stipend and tuition waiver. Assistantships may be on the UWG campus or at museums or other public history organizations in the immediate region. For more information on assistantships, please contact Dr. Ann McCleary at amcclear@westga.edu.
This program may be earned entirely face-to-face. However, depending on the courses chosen, a student may choose to take some partially or fully online courses.
Save money
UWG is often ranked as one of the most affordable accredited universities of its kind, regardless of the method of delivery chosen.
Details
- Total tuition costs and fees may vary, depending on the instructional method of the courses in which the student chooses to enroll.
- The more courses a student takes in a single term, the more they will typically save in fees and total cost.
- Face-to-face or partially online courses are charged at the general tuition rate and all mandatory campus fees, based on the student's residency (non-residents are charged at a higher rate).
- Fully or entirely online course tuition rates and fees my vary depending on the program. Students enrolled in exclusively online courses do not pay non-Resident rates.
- Together this means that GA residents pay about the same if they take all face-to-face or partially online courses as they do if they take only fully online courses exclusively; while non-residents save money by taking fully online courses.
- One word of caution: If a student takes a combination of face-to-face and online courses in a single term, he/she will pay both all mandatory campus fees and the higher eTuition rate.
- For cost information, as well as payment deadlines, see the Student Accounts and Billing Services website
There are a variety of financial assistance options for students, including scholarships and work study programs. Visit the Office of Financial Aid's website for more information.
Coursework
The museum studies seminars stress our commitment to practical experience as well as discussion of contemporary ideas and challenges in the museum field. Assignments focus on tasks that students will undertake in the real world of museums, from processing a museum collection and preparing an interpretation plan to evaluating educational programs, writing a foundation proposal or marketing plan, and developing an exhibit proposal. In each class, students prepare portfolios that assist them in marketing their skills to potential employers.
Students who have been employed at a museum full-time for at least a year may replace the internship requirement with a fourth museum seminar, an additional public history course, or an internship at another museum.
General
Examines methods and theories for studying material culture from an interdisciplinary perspective, analyzing what material culture reveals about the culture and society in which it was created with an emphasis on America. Required for Museum Studies Certificate.
Study of administrative functions: governance, financing, grant-writing, public relations, marketing, human resources, accreditation, and museum law and ethics. Taught in association with Atlanta History Center.
An examination of the processes by which a museum manages it collection. Taught in association with Atlanta History Center and involves a practicum experience.
Studies include interpretative principles and techniques, school programs, adult and community programs, staffing, marketing and other programming logistics. Taught in association with Atlanta History Center.
An examination of how museums create exhibits using various interpretive techniques, from planning and research through exhibit design, display techniques, script-writing and installation. Taught in association with Atlanta History Center.
Guidelines for Admittance
- All graduate applicants must complete the online Grad Application. A one-time application fee of $40 is required.
- Applicants should also review the Graduate Studies Website for individual program specific requirements and tasks that must be completed prior to admission. See Graduate Studies Application Process.
- International applicants are subject to additional requirements and application deadlines. See Procedures for International Students.
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended are required and should be sent directly to the UWG Graduate Admissions Office.
Program Specific Admittance Guidelines
Students enrolled as MA students at West Georgia: Students who are currently enrolled in the MA program may take courses that count for the Museum Studies Certificate as part of the Public History concentration in the M.A. degree, but they may need to take one or two additional classes to complete the Certificate requirements. If students complete the Certificate after earning their M.A. degree, they will need to apply to the Museum Studies Certificate and be admitted before enrolling to complete these classes. Interested individuals should submit an application and all college transcripts.
For individuals who already possess a B.A. or M.A. degree: Individuals holding a B.A. or M.A. degree in History or a related field may apply for the Museum Studies Certificate. Those with a field outside of history but a B.A. or M.A. in an academic area they hope to curate (e.g. Art History, Anthropology, or Archaeology) may apply for the Museum Studies Certificate. Interested individuals should submit an application and all college transcripts.
Application Deadlines
Specific Graduate Admissions Deadlines are available via the Graduate School
* Application, app fee, and document deadline
See The Scoop for more specific deadlines.
Admission Process Checklist
The Graduate Studies Application Process checklist is available here
One exception: If you will not ever be traveling to a UWG campus or site, you may apply for an Immunization Exemption. Contact the Immunization Clerk with your request.
Contact
Graduate Admissions
graduate@westga.edu
678-839-1394
For more information on the Museum Studies Program, please contact:
Dr. Ann McCleary, History Department
University of West Georgia
Carrollton, GA 30118
678-839-6041
amcclear@westga.edu
Specific dates for Admissions (Undergraduate Only), Financial Aid, Fee Payment, Registration, Start/End of Term Dates, Final Exams, etc. are available in THE SCOOP.
Specific Graduate Admissions Deadlines are available via the Graduate School
- Students who complete the Museum Studies Certificate program will demonstrate proficiency in the field of museum studies in three out of four content areas: museum education; museum collections management; museum exhibits; and museum education and interpretation.
- Students will also demonstrate an understanding of material culture as evidenced through their ability to analyze and interpret historic artifacts.
- Students will demonstrate the application of their understanding of the field of museum studies by completing an internship in a museum setting under the supervision of a museum professional.