Jill, I'll throw my opinion into the mill... Of the ones you mentioned, I know the most about the University of Leicester and its programs. I have heard of the others, but they have not found their way onto my radar in the same way. I am not sure if that relates directly to international reputation or not. As to getting a job in the US when you are done, I am not sure it will make any difference. I personally do not get the impression the US museum field has moved into a prestige hiring phase, that biases toward any particular school, or toward an international education. There is certainly a big difference between certificate programs and full degrees, as well as quite a difference between the various degree programs, but there does not seem to be a trend(of which I am aware) toward preferential hiring of one over another. Most employers seem to conclude that one museum degree is the same as another, perhaps indicating a failure on our part to properly inform them. But then, perhaps I have been out of the loop for too long, or am just naive. I would think a degree from the UK would be an interesting element on your CV, which might pique an employer's interest and get your foot in the door. It certainly can not hurt, and I imagine it would be quite fun to be there for a couple years. In any case, you should go with the program that impresses you the most, not the one you think will impress employers when you return. When it comes down to the nitty-gritty of competing with many other qualified individuals for museum jobs, especially at the entry level, it is the person and their demonstrated understanding of the field that gets the job not their credentials. Good luck. Mark Janzen Registrar/Collections Manager Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection Wichita State University (316)978-5850 Jillian Pazereckas <jpazereckas@LOYO To LA.EDU> [log in to unmask] Sent by: Museum cc discussion list <[log in to unmask] Subject SE.LSOFT.COM> MA Museum Studies programs 05/24/2004 08:39 PM Please respond to Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask] SE.LSOFT.COM> I've recently been accepted to four MA Museum Studies programs in England: University of Leicester, University of Leeds, University of Manchester, and University of Newcastle. As I'm planning on returning to the U.S after the program, I'm trying to figure out which one has the best international reputation. Does anyone know about these programs? Would one carry more weight than the other in hiring? I appreciate any insight you all might have. Thanks, Jill Pazereckas ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes). ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).