To either clarify or complicate matters (depending on how you look at
it), according to a recent survey (as of yet unpublished), 59% of
respondents stated that, if they were hiring for a position, specialized
training would be "Important" or "Highly Important."  Asked about the
ideal educational background for entry level employees, 34.7% responded
BA w/Museum Studies certificate, and 32.7% responded MA w/Museum Studies
Certificate, although administrators were more likely to respond that a
BA with training was ideal.

These results are based on 162 responses from museum professionals in
Arkansas and the adjacent areas of Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma, Kansas,
Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. (I'm still working on the final
report, stay tuned).

"Ciotola, Nicholas P." wrote:

> This decision making process, it should be noted, is further complicated by
> the existence of public history programs and history programs that offer
> certificates in museums studies.
>
> Best of Luck.
>
> Nicholas P. Ciotola
> Curator, Italian American Collection
> Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center
> Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
> 1212 Smallman Street
> Pittsburgh, PA 15222
> (412) 454-6433
> [log in to unmask]
> www.wpaitalians.com
>

--
James H Tichgelaar
Registrar, Arkansas State University Museum
http://museum.astate.edu

"All we ever wanted was everything.  All we ever got was cold."

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