Museum Anthropology Program Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are some commonly used Museum Anthropology acronyms?
A: ASUMA—ASU Museum of Anthropology
ARI—Archaeological Research Institute
DVRAC—Deer Valley Rock Art Center
SHESC—School of Human Evolution and Social Change
Q: Who benefits from the Museum Anthropology Program?
A: The Museum Anthropology Program is useful for a full range of students with diverse interests. The certificate program is useful to both current museum professionals who wish to gain more museum training and to graduate students outside the master's program who want to supplement their degrees with a Certificate in Museum Studies. The M.A. degree is useful for those students who wish to earn a full degree studying museums and issues surrounding the institution. These students have included, but are not limited to, individuals straight out of undergraduate work who may or may not be interested in pursuing a Ph.D., museum professionals who wish to earn a degree and older professionals switching careers.
Q: What are the strengths of this program?
A:The Museum Anthropology Program is designed to give students a firm foundation in thinking critically about museums. Rather than focusing on one area of museum practice, we offer courses that range in topic from practical Collections Management to theories and issues of representation. Our core Museum Anthropology courses are heavy in anthropological and sociological theories; even our practical courses emphasize theory as an underlining and omnipresent base from which to start. Having a program heavy in theory is useful for those students who wish to continue on to Ph.D. work, but also for those who are going straight from our program into museum work, as they will carry with them tools to think critically about the future of museums. We do not focus solely on theory, however. The program requires an internship in a museum, hours spent volunteering with our own collections or museum and practical classes on exhibition design and curation, to name a few.
Q: What are the requirements for the M.A. in Anthropology with a concentration in Museum Studies?
A: The degree program is designed to span two full academic years and one summer or 36 credit hours, six of which come from the internship. To earn the M.A. degree the student must take a core set of anthropology and museum studies courses offered by the School of Human Evolution and Social Change. This coursework is supplemented by classes in other schools and departments that connect with the student’s research interests and are approved by the student’s advisor. The student is required to participate in an internship at a museum or other approved museum organization; this is usually done during the summer between the first and second year. A volunteer requirement of 40 hours, spread over four semesters, with the ASU Museum of Anthropology, the Deer Valley Rock Art Center or the School of Human Evolution and Social Change collections also accompanies the program. The combination of hands-on experience and academic coursework helps prepare students to work successfully within the museum community.
Q: How does the Certificate in Museum Studies differ from the M.A. degree?
A: The Certificate in Museum Studies can be completed in as little as two semesters or over the course of a few years. Requirements for the certificate include four of the core anthropology and museum studies courses in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, a volunteer requirement of 20 hours in the ASU Museum of Anthropology, the Deer Valley Rock Art Center or the School of Human Evolution and Social Change collections and an internship at an outside museum. Many program courses are offered at night for the convenience of working professionals and also to accommodate daytime class requirements of graduate students from ASU who wish to add the certificate to their own M.A. or Ph.D. programs.
Q: Who teaches the Museum Anthropology courses?
A: Both Anthropology professors and current museum professionals from the Phoenix metro area teach the core courses for the program. Many professors throughout the university offer courses that share research interests with our students, and we encourage enrollment in those courses, as well. Some areas that have contributed useful courses in the past include Art History, History, Education and Nonprofit Leadership and Management.
Q: What do our graduates go on to do?
A: Many of our M.A. graduates have gone on to work in museums across the country. Of our last graduating class 50% are working in museums or conservation laboratories, 33% decided to hold jobs in other fields and 17% continued on to doctoral studies. Of those working in the museum field our graduates hold positions such as curatorial assistants, curators and research anthropologists.
Q: How do I apply for the Museum Anthropology Program?
A: For both the M.A. and the certificate, you must apply online through the Graduate College. More instructions are available at this Web site and also through the School of Human Evolution and Social Change Web site. If you are already a graduate student at ASU you must fill out a separate application through the online system for the certificate.
The application deadline is January 1 of each year for admission in the fall of that year. There are no spring admissions. To avoid any delays in the processing of your application, it is recommended that you have your application, transcripts, test scores and application fee to the Graduate College’s Admissions Office by December 1. Admission to the program is highly selective and dependent on such factors as qualifications of the student and space availability.
Important Museum Program Admissions Update: Due to faculty vacancies, we are not currently encouraging applications for the M.A. in Anthropology with a concentration in Museum Anthropology for fall 2010 or the Certificate in Museum Anthropology for spring or fall 2010. A request to replace these faculty is now under consideration by the university. Students interested in applying for either of these programs should monitor this Web page for updated information.
Q: Who do I contact with questions about the Museum Anthropology Program?
A: Please e-mail any questions to Elizabeth Heath, graduate program assistant.
