I recently wrote an article on this very topic, as it applies to jobs in
exhibits.  (Exhibitionist, vol. 25, no.1, Spring 2005)  I surveyed a number
of directors, department chairs and managers at various museums.  While by
no means an exhaustive or mathematically rigorous survey, the pronounced
tendency of my subjects was a strong preference for experience over
education, and in some instances even a mistrust of education.

I agree with Martin -- every institution is going to be different.  (In a
large institution, you may even find differences department-to-department. 
And smaller museums tended to have a greater mistrust of museum studies
education.)  But in general, when looking for a job in exhibits, two years'
experience working is worth a lot more than two years of study.

Eugene Dillenburg
Exhibit Developer
The Science Museum of Minnesota

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