Established in 1999, the Museum Studies graduate degree at the University of Florida is a two-and-a-half year interdisciplinary program that emphasizes rigorous academic training and practical museum experience. The curriculum requires students to complete graduate coursework in both an academic discipline (art history, anthropology, history, education, or the natural sciences, for example) and museum studies while pursuing focused study of professional museum practices in a museum setting. Several on-campus sites provide students in the program with laboratories for museum training, including the University Galleries, the Harn Museum of Art, and the Florida Museum of Natural History.

In addition to their coursework, students are required to complete a project-based, 320-400 hour internship at an approved museum. While facilities on campus may be able to oversee a few of these interns, students are encouraged to apply for internships at institutions throughout the United States and abroad. To date, students have completed internships in such museums as: the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, the Guggenheim Museum, the National Gallery of Art, the National Museum of the American Indian, and the National Museum of American History. A thesis project or a written thesis must also be selected, approved, researched, and carried out under the direction of a supervisory committee.

The School offers this interdisciplinary program that consists of both academic and practical work. The curriculum allows students the opportunity to do graduate work in a disciplinary emphasis (art history, anthropology, history, education, or the natural sciences) and at the same time complete a concentrated study in professional museum practices. The MA in Museum Studies requires 48 credit hours including: 15 credits of museum studies courses (seminar - 3 credits; collections - 3 credits; education - 3 credits; exhibitions - 3 credits; elective - 3 credits); 15 graduate credits in disciplinary focus; 6 credits internship; 6 credits electives; 6 credits thesis project.

A project-in-lieu-of-thesis (or thesis) will be selected, researched, and carried out under the direction of a supervisory committee.

For detailed information about the Museum Studies graduate program at the University of Florida, please see the program’s website at http://www.arts.ufl.edu/mstudies/.