Hi All,
I was interested in Angela's reply to Jane Sproull Thomson re: her
investigation of the need for a graduate museum studies course at
UofC.   I also repsonded to her, although I originally did it offline.
My comments were not unlike Angela's.  I, too, wonder at the importance
of graduate work in museum studies.  I believe that learning museum work
is easier and can be done a lot faster than can subject area work so I
lean towards on the job training to get the museum background, coupled
with distance learning opportunities and week long or weekend seminars.
To me, the absolutely most important thing for museums is to employ
people with very strong subject area skills.  We  in the museum field
need to know that our staff (and ouselves) are capable of researching
and understanding in order to handle collections, acquisitions,
exhibition design, interpretation, even security in an academically
responsible way.  There is so much information out there today, that it
takes a specialist to wade through the garbage in order come up with the
jewel.  My vote is for museum studies courses at the undergrad level,
perhaps, as Angela suggests, as a complement to an MBA program, and lots
of high level specific distance learning or short term seminar type
courses.

Good luck Jane and let us know what you decide and why.

Susan J. Wittrup
Volunteer Coordinator
Tate Geological Museum
Casper WY 82601
307-234-2447