Admission Information

To check on the status of an application contact Sadie Thayer at 202-994-9936 / E-mail musede@gwu.edu

Admissions Requirements

One recommendation. (From a faculty member or preferably from a museum professional supervisor.)
One official transcript from each institution attended, whether or not a degree was conferred. An undergraduate degree with a 2.75 G.P.A. from an accredited institution of higher learning is required.
Your resume.
Your Statement of Purpose. In an essay of 250 to 500 words, please state your purpose in undertaking graduate study in the Museum Studies Program at The George Washington University. As part of your Statement of Purpose, describe your current and past experience working with museum collections, your academic objectives and career plans. Also discuss your related qualifications and any other substantial accomplishments not already mentioned on the application form. You must have staff-level access to museum collections and related policies for some of your assignments. (For example, we will ask you to post your museum’s Collections Management Policy on-line for discussion.) Please indicate in your statement which museum will allow you to have such access.
A completed GW Online Application

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is NOT required.

Applicants will expedite the application process by using the following information in the spaces provided on the on-line application:

Please indicate Full time in the space provided. The MCMC Certificate courses are taken one course per semester over four consecutive semesters (fall, spring, summer and fall). This is considered full-time.
Please specify the campus you plan to attend: Off campus
If off campus, please specify location: Distance Education
School: Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
Field of Study: Museum Collections Management and Care (Distance Education)
Concentration: No concentration
Degree: Graduate Certificate

All additional documentation (not submitted online) should be mailed to the address indicated on the on-line application. A committee of Museum Studies faculty will review all completed applications and make decisions on a rolling basis. Final decision rests with the Graduate Dean of the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.

Application Deadlines

The admissions for the Online Graduate Certificate in Museum Collections Management and Care at the George Washington University Museum Studies Program is accepting applications beginning January 1, 2009. The deadline for applications is June 1, 2009.

Financial Support

Several half-tuition fellowships will be available for staff from small museums (with annual budgets of under $150,000) and for staff from museums in underserved communities, such as tribal museums. To apply, please mark the appropriate box on the online application requesting finanical support and include an explanation in your personal statement of why you qualify for a half-tuition fellowship under these guidelines.

Museums are also encouraged to apply for outside support for staff training, such as grants for professional training from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) 21st Century Museum Professional grant program (http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/21centuryMuseums.shtm)

and the African American History and Culture grant program (http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/AfricanAmerican.shtm).

The MCMC also qualifies under the Teri Loan program for Continuing Education. For more information, see http://www.teri.org/loan-center/loan-programs/continuing-ed/continuing-ed.asp . The MCMC does not qualify for federal loans.

Fall Admission:

Quality:

Study collections management at the graduate level from nationally recognized authorities.

Flexibility:

Study at your pace and to suit your schedule with a totally on-line curriculum.

Distance Education

@ Museum Studies