I believe that that is just the purpose of the question - the "top" programs 
are subjective opinion.  It is not possible to actually evaluate them, as 
each offers different strengths and weaknesses, and each applicant has 
different needs and desired outcomes.  So, let's all give our completely 
biased opinions!!!

The original question (back in April or whenever) was about the ability to 
get a full-time job (or better said, the current inability of the questioner 
to get a job), and the desirability of completing different programs in 
helping with this endeavor.  My response sent several days ago was from my 
observations across many institutions of the relative numbers of 
professional-level employees from different training programs.  It did not 
imply that individual graduates of these programs were more competent than 
those from other programs.  So, let's hear the opinions of the rest of you. 
Which programs are effective at getting graduates hired?

Marc

American Conservation Consortium, Ltd.
     4 Rockville Road
     Broad Brook, CT 06016
     www.conservator.com
     860-386-6058

*Collections Preservation Consultation
*Conservation Assessments & Surveys
*Low-Tech Environmental Control
*Moisture Management Solutions
*Collections in Historic Structures
*Collections Care Grant Preparation
*Conservation Treatment of:
     Furniture
     Painted Wood
     Horse-Drawn Vehicles
     Architectural Interiors

Marc A. Williams, President
     MS in Art Conservation, Winterthur Museum Program
     Former Chief Wooden Object Conservator, Smithsonian Institution
     Fellow, American Institute for Conservation (AIC)


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Simmons, John E" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 3:37 PM
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] A question about US Museum Studies Programs


A caution about opinion as to which are the best museum studies programs
in the US--there has never been a published evaluation that compares
programs in the US.  Several programs have good name recognition, or are
known by the fine students that graduate from them, or are found in
universities that are highly rated overall, but there is no comparative
listing of museum studies programs.  What are the best or the premier
programs is a matter of personal opinion, but programs vary widely in
content and requirements.  I recently wrote about this in:

2006.  Simmons, J.E.  Museum studies programs in North America.  Pp.
113-128 in Williams, S.L. and C.A. Hawks (editors).  Museum Studies:
Perspectives and Innovations. Society for the Preservation of Natural
History Collections, Washington, D.C., 281 pages.

--John

John E. Simmons
Collections Manager, Natural History Museum & Biodiversity Research
Center
and
Director, Museum Studies Program
University of Kansas
1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
Lawrence, Kansas 66045-7561
Telephone 785-864-4508
FAX 785-864-5335
[log in to unmask]
www.nhm.ku.edu/herpetology
www.ku.edu/~museumst


-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of David Naumec
Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 2:15 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: A question about US Museum Studies Programs

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the Tufts
Museum Studies Program.  It certainly has to be one of
the 'top' programs in the country.  One can pursue a
Museum Studies Certificate or one could pursue a
Masters Degree in History/or Art History/or Education
& Museum Studies, which is nice.

David Naumec
Historical Research Consultant

--- Keni Sturgeon <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> I have what may be an odd question (or two), but as
> I begin to prepare for
> the upcoming academic year and teaching my museum
> studies courses, it's
> something I've been wondering about.  A few months
> ago (though it could be
> longer...time for me is flying) there was a query
> posted to the list about
> the value of getting a graduate degree from one of
> the top museum studies
> programs, verses the lesser known ones.  I'm
> wondering in your professional
> opinion(s), which do you consider to be the "top"
> museums studies programs
> in the US and why (and I'm thinking of the more
> general museum studies
> programs as opposed to more specific ones focused
> solely on museum education
> or conservation or collections or exhibition)?
>
> Thanks for your input,
> Keni
>
> Keni Sturgeon
> Curator
> Mission Mill Museum
> 1313 Mill Avenue
> Salem, OR 97306
> 503-585-7012, ex. 232
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
_________________________________________________________________
>
http://im.live.com/messenger/im/home/?source=hmtextlinkjuly07
>
>
=========================================================
> Important Subscriber Information:
>
> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
> http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may
> obtain detailed information about the listserv
> commands by sending a one line e-mail message to
> [log in to unmask] . The body of the
> message should read "help" (without the quotes).
>
> If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one
> line e-mail message to [log in to unmask]
> . The body of the message should read "Signoff
> Museum-L" (without the quotes).
>




________________________________________________________________________
____________
Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's
Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when.
http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/222

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed
information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail
message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should
read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message
to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read
"Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at 
http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed 
information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message 
to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" 
(without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to 
[log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff 
Museum-L" (without the quotes).

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).