Dual Degree: MA in Museum Studies and African and African-American Studies
Museum Studies and African and African-American Studies offer dual master’s degrees with coordinated curricula so a student can complete 2 M.A. degrees in 3 years. 15 graduate credit hours are applied to both programs, allowing students to complete a 33-credit-hour AAAS degree and a 36-credit-hour Museum Studies degree with just 54 graduate credits.
This program of study enhances and diversifies opportunities for graduate students who are motivated to enter the cultural heritage field as specialists in African and African-American Studies. It also allows students to expand their contacts with faculty, enhance their professional networks, and deepen their knowledge of both fields of study.
Admission to Graduate Studies
An applicant seeking to pursue graduate study in the College may be admitted as either a degree-seeking or non-degree seeking student. Policies and procedures of Graduate Studies govern the process of Graduate admission. These may be found in the Graduate Studies section of the online catalog.
Please consult the Departments & Programs section of the online catalog for information regarding program-specific admissions criteria and requirements. Special admissions requirements pertain to Interdisciplinary Studies degrees, which may be found in the Graduate Studies section of the online catalog.
Students seeking admission to the dual degree will complete just 1 application but must meet the admission requirements for both programs. We only offer fall entry, and the application deadline is February 1.
Museum Studies M.A. - Admission Requirements
African & African-American Studies - Admission Requirements
Students who have begun coursework in either Museum Studies or African & African-American Studies can apply to be a dual degree student prior to completing all coursework requirements for the first degree. In consultation with each department's Director of Graduate Studies, they may be able to receive credit for coursework already completed. However, the student may be required to take more than the required 54 credit hours of coursework to obtain both degrees if the application for admission to the second degree program is submitted after the student has completed courses that will not count toward the second program's requirements.
Please see the Admission to Graduate Study policy for additional information on admission requirements.
Students completing the dual degree take all of the required courses in both programs, as well as fulfill each program's requirements to gain a breadth of knowledge. Coordination in advising between the two programs enables students to take courses that satisfy the degree needs for both programs. To earn both degrees, students complete 54 graduate credit hours, 15 of which are applied to both programs. Because the required courses are offered regularly, students are able to complete the required courses in the first four semesters of the program, using the final two semesters to complete the remaining credit-hour requirements. The programs' curricular requirements follow; further details on program expectations are available in the respective Graduate Student Handbooks.
Museum Studies Requirements for Dual M.A.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Museum Studies Core | 9 | |
The Museum Studies Core ensures that all Museum Studies students gain a comprehensive understanding of the theories, history, techniques, and problems common to museums, historical agencies and related institutions. MUSE 803, taken in the student's third semester of study, is a research course that enables students to conduct research or other creative activities that advance the discipline of museum studies. | ||
| The Nature of Museums | ||
| Culture of Museums | ||
| Seminar in Current Museum Topics | ||
| 2. Museum Professional Areas | 9 | |
Students will develop expertise in the principal specialties of museum work by completing at least three professional area courses (9 credit hours), at least one of which must be a Museum Studies (MUSE) course. Many courses in other departments may fulfill requirements. It is the responsibility of students, and their faculty advisors, to ensure that individual courses meet program requirements based on the general relevance of the course and assurance that the student's work will be applicable to museum studies by meeting with instructors and examining syllabi. Additional detail of Museum Professional Areas courses and completion requirements can be found on the Master of Arts in Museum Studies Degree Requirements page. | ||
| 3. Museum Experience | 3 | |
While enrolled in the Museum Studies M.A. Program, students are required to gain at least 500 hours of museum experience, of which at least 250 hours must be in an approved, professionally supervised internship. Students enroll in 3 credit hours of MUSE 799: Museum Internship to meet this requirement. | ||
| Museum Internship | ||
African & African-American Studies Requirements for Dual M.A.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 4. African & African-American Studies Core | 12 | |
| Introduction to Africana Studies: African-American | ||
| Introduction to Africana Studies: African | ||
| Research Methods in Africana Studies | ||
| Seminar in Africana Studies | ||
| 5. African & African-American Studies Area of Specialization | 6 | |
Students are expected to choose 2 courses in their area of specialization. Courses must be numbered 500-level or above, have a AAAS course number, and be selected in consultation with the student's faculty advisor. | ||
Shared Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 6. Dual Degree Electives | 15 | |
Any graduate-level MUSE or AAAS course may count as an elective. Out-of-field courses must be approved by the Directors of Graduate Study for both programs. | ||
| 7. Final Project or Thesis | ||
Students completing the dual-degree program are required to defend either a final project or thesis in their final semester. The student should consult with their African & African-American Studies and Museum Studies faculty advisors to identify a project or thesis topic that effectively incorporates both areas of study. Faculty advisors from both programs will oversee and evaluate the project or thesis. Students who choose to complete a thesis must enroll in 3 credit hours of AAAS 899 in their final semester in lieu of an elective course. Students who choose to complete a final project will take 15 credit hours of dual degree electives as described above. | ||
Each student will successfully defend their final project or thesis as their master's examination. The final exam committee, chosen by the student, must have at least four members; at least two from the Museum Studies area and at least two from the African & African-American Studies area. | ||
If a student decides to complete only the MUSE M.A. or AAAS M.A. and withdraw from the other program, they must complete all requirements for the stand-alone degree.
Course-Level Requirement and Selection Process
Courses must be taken at the 500-level or higher to count for graduate credit. Students pursuing a Dual M.A. in Museum Studies and African & African-American Studies must take 50% or more of their coursework at the 700-level or above. Core courses and thesis hours (if applicable) count toward this requirement.
All courses, aside from the core, must be selected in consultation with the student's faculty advisors (one in MUSE, one in AAAS). The Museum Studies Program maintains a list of professional area and elective course options, and it is available, along with the Graduate Student Handbook, on the MUSESTUDENTS Microsoft Teams site or upon request. African & African-American Studies maintains a list of graduate electives on its website.
Graduate Policy
Students are encouraged to review Graduate Studies' policies related to master's degree programs for information about other requirements that may apply.