The Museum Studies Program at the George Washington University combines
traditional academic training in both academic subjects together with museum practices and
the practical experience that is necessary to begin a successful museum career.
We are known for our academic excellence, the strength of our faculty and
incredible local internship opportunities.
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Established in 1976, we are the largest Museum Studies Program and one of
the first of this kind in the United States.
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Our faculty is drawn from a pool of practicing museum professionals working in
the Washington D.C area. Each member of our team brings many years of experience in all aspects of
museum operations. They teach what they practice, often on location in the
very museums where they are employed.
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Our program is flexible. It is tailored to each student’s interests and needs,
allowing them to specialize in one of three Museum Studies areas: collections
management, exhibition development/design or museum administration. Some students who plan to work in a small museum take a combination of classes drawn from our core specialties.
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To gain scholastic depth, students are also required to focus on an academic core, such as
Anthropology, American Studies or History. These courses, taught by GW's
nationally acclaimed graduate faculty, provide each Museum Studies student
with a solid foundation in an academic subject. Interdisciplinary cores also are permitted.
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We are located in the heart of Washington, D.C. - the museum capital of the
world!
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Students gain practical working experience through our internship
affiliations with over 60 museums and cultural organizations.
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With over 800 alumni, opportunities for networking, internships and job
placement are plentiful. Annually we offer our employment roundtable to
graduating students looking for positions in the museum field.
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Through attendance at annual AAM conferences and other events, we work to connect current students
with alumni by regions for informational interviews and networking.
