Online Museum Studies Degree Programs

If you love visiting museums and are interested in the preservation of data and artifacts, a degree in museum studies could be a good fit. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of archivists, curators, and museum technicians is expected to increase by 20 percent from 2008 to 2018, much faster than the national average. Whether you're interested in botanical gardens or fine art, a degree in museum studies can give you the career training you need to enter the field.

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Museum Studies Degree Programs

Campus and online museum studies degrees are available at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. Generally, a master's degree or PhD is required to become a curator or archivist at a museum, but a bachelor's degree in museum studies, art history, or a related field can be sufficient for entry-level museum technician jobs.

Many curators hold bachelor's degrees in other subjects and pursue museum studies at the graduate level. In addition to the master of art in museum studies, degrees in other disciplines can apply to a museum career--for example, museum management may benefit from a master of arts in arts administration, while archivists may pursue a master's degree in library science. According to the BLS, earning one graduate degree in museum studies and another in a specialized field can give you a distinct advantage in the job market.

Museum Studies Career Paths

Many museum studies grads start their careers as museum technicians, helping curators arrange exhibits, transport artwork, and maintain artifacts. A graduate degree is often required for advancement, so most curators, conservators, and archivists hold a master's degree or PhD. Even if you can't return to school full time, online degrees can help you earn the education you need to launch a career in museum studies.