Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Museum Studies

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The Museum Studies Certificate, offered in association with the Atlanta History Center, is designed for individuals who hold a B.A. in History or a related field and would like to gain additional training in museum studies to prepare for a career. It requires three museum studies seminars, the Material Culture Seminar, and a museum internship. Students may elect to take these classes as part of the M.A. program, or they may add this certificate to an existing B.A. or M.A. degree in history.

Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the Museum Studies Certificate program will demonstrate proficiency in the field of museum studies in three out of four content areas: museum education; museum collections management; museum exhibits; and museum education and interpretation.
Students will also demonstrate an understanding of material culture as evidenced through their ability to analyze and interpret historic artifacts.
Students will demonstrate the application of their understanding of the field of museum studies by completing an internship in a museum setting under the supervision of a museum professional.

Requirements: 15 hours

The museum studies seminars stress our commitment to practical experience as well as discussion of contemporary ideas and challenges in the museum field. Assignments focus on tasks that students will undertake in the real world of museums, from processing a museum collection and preparing an interpretation plan to evaluating educational programs, writing a foundation proposal or marketing plan, and developing an exhibit proposal. In each class, students prepare portfolios that assist them in marketing their skills to potential employers.

Students who have been employed at a museum full-time for at least a year may replace the internship requirement with a fourth museum seminar, an additional public history course, or an internship at another museum.

HIST 6202 - Theory and Method of Material Culture Studies 3 Credit Hours (and)
Choose three of the following:
HIST 6301 - Administration of Museums and Historic Sites 3 Credit Hours
HIST 6302 - Collections Management in Museums 3 Credit Hours
HIST 6303 - Education and Interpretation at Museums 3 Credit Hours
HIST 6304 - Exhibits at Museums and Historic Sites 3 Credit Hours
(and)
HIST 6486 - Public History Internship 3 Credit Hours