I would like to echo what others have said regarding experience. The PhD is a research oriented degree. It isn't just like an M.A. but more of it. Or at least it shouldn't. It is meant to produce people who can do original research in a specialized field. Museum studies as a field typically is meant to produce professionals for museums, very few of which need a PhD (curator in a specialized field is all I can think of, actually, and not even always then.) and, as others have pointed out, could be a real waste of time and money.
Take the 4-5 years a PhD program will take and get experience in a museum.
If you still want to do a PhD in museums or Public History, then you need to decide what area of museums and public history you want to do research in. THEN you look for a professor or program that will help you meet your needs. One that has a history of producing the type of researcher/teacher you want to be using the methodology and in the field you want. If you are interested in education theory in museums you won't go to the same program that is stronger in Oral History or archival studies or historic editing.
Getting a degree of any type is a means. You need to decide what your ends are.
And this advice comes from a guy who stepped out of the museum world after 20 years to get his PhD in History. Not museum studies or public history, although I have done course work in those areas and have practiced them for decades, but straight up History. It is right for me and what I hope to accomplish.
(seriously, regardless of what you want to be "when you grow up" if you want to do ANYTHING in the museum field, even if it is to teach museum studies and/or do research, get some decent experience under your belt. Know what it is like work in a museum day in and day out for years. That will make you so much better at whatever job you get someday and much more marketable. Studying museums is not the same as working in them)
Matthew White
Graduate Student
Department of History
[log in to unmask]
http://web.mac.com/mattadolphus
On Dec 1, 2009, at 4:25 PM, William Denius wrote:
> Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee has a
> Ph.D. program in public history. I got my Master's in public history
> there, and it's not very far from Tuscaloosa. :)
>
> William Denius
>
> On 12/1/09, Kimberly Tucker <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> Dear all,
>>
>> I am currently a Master's student in History at the University of Alabama. I
>> will be graduating in May, and plan on getting my Ph.D. in Public History
>> with an emphasis in Museum Studies. I was wondering if anyone had any advice
>> on the best progams to apply to. I was also wondering if anyone could give
>> me any advice on pursuing this career path. I have already interned at the
>> State Department of Archives and History, but would it be best for me to get
>> experience in the field and then get my Ph.D? I would greatly appreciate any
>> advice ya'll have for me! Thank you so much for your time and help!
>>
>> Thank you,
>> Kimberly Tucker
>> University of Alabama
>> Master Student in History
>> [log in to unmask]
>>
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