After I finished the requirements for my M.A. in art history, I used the
summer to look for a museum job before I had to formally declare Ph.D.
candidacy at the end of August.  I figured that if I couldn't find a job
with just a M.A., I'd go on.  I got the third job I interviewed for.

I was reluctant to get my Ph.D. because it would have been in Egyptian
art/archaeology and at the time (1986) there were no prospects for any
jobs in museums opening up:  all the junior curators in museums with
great Egyptian collections had been hired within the past few years, and
the senior curators were nowhere near retirement age.  A Ph.D. seemed
like overkill for collections work, and I wasn't interested in anything
except curatorial work.  I also had significant coursework in
contemporary art.  After 2 years I went back to school at night and got
a M.B.A., and now I work as a hybrid of curatorial/administration, which
is the perfect place for me.

If you want the option of teaching at the postsecondary level, go ahead
and get the Ph.D.  I wasn't interested in that, so it wasn't very
important to me.  I don't think a Ph.D. is necessary for museum work,
but it is a plus in the competitive market for senior curators.

Julia Moore
Director of Exhibitions and Artist Services
Indianapolis Art Center

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