Ariane:   Several of the responses you've already gotten are
excellent.  The real answer to your question about the need
for degrees will be based on what you want to do.  Read the
want ads in _AVISO_ to see what the market is demanding in
your field, museum size preference, etc., to get a good idea
on this.  All of our curator and registrar positions require
a graduate degree, in part because we know we can get
applicants with such degrees for what we offer.  That means
you CANNOT work your way up here without a degree.  Because
of legally mandated hiring procedures, we have to set the
standard high enough to ensure we'll get someone who can do
the work - we can't always hire the individual we think
might do best.

For what it's worth, I don't value a museum studies degree
over a degree in another academic field.  As a history
museum with a small (in number, not in heart) staff, we
often look for expertise in history, anthropology,
archeology, etc. to supplement our ability to complete
research in-house, rather than a "generalist" perspective.

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C. L. Dill, Museum Director
State Historical Society of North Dakota
612 East Boulevard
Bismarck  ND  58505-0830
P: (701)328-2666
F: (701)328-3710
E:  [log in to unmask]
Visit our Web site at: http://www.state.nd.us/hist/
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