Thanks Marc.  Just a bit about why I asked the most recent permutation of 
this question.

Each year, I have several upperdivision students from a variety if 
disciplines ask me for advice about pursuing their graduate degree in Museum 
Studies, and each year I work with them to help them determine exactly the 
sorts of things that have been mentioned (their interests, ideas about 
future careers, if they want only a museum degree or are looking for a 
degree in a discipline with a museum concentration, where they think they'd 
want to live, availability of funding, etc.) and then i proceed to give them 
my very biased opinions on what programs i think are best.  I was just 
hoping to sort of "take the pulse" of those of us in the museum profession 
as to your own personal thoughts and opinions on not only the "best" 
programs out there, but what exactly it is that you think they offer that 
makes them the "best" and how you determine the "best."  So please, any and 
all biased opinions are welcome, as I want to be sure I'm offering the 
"best" advice to my students, who will hopefully be those future 
professionals who will be looking to you to hire them in the not to distant 
future.

Thanks,
Keni

Keni Sturgeon
Curator
Mission Mill Museum
1313 Mill Avenue
Salem, OR 97306
503-585-7012, ex. 232
[log in to unmask]





>From: Marc A Williams <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] A question about US Museum Studies Programs
>Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2007 17:26:23 -0400
>
>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]
>>
>>
>_________________________________________________________________
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