Hi Melanie-

I’d ask – do you enjoy your current job?  Is it at a museum you could see yourself at long term?  If yes and yes, maybe stay!  

 

Personally, I got my Museum Studies Certificate a decade ago (not online) as a resume booster while working another job with the thought that if it WASN’T enough, I would roll those credits into a Masters degree, which was an option where I got my certificate (Tufts).   The certificate did end up being enough to get a job I wanted, although who knows- perhaps I’ll get my Masters at some point down the road. 

 

Carey

 

From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mike Reuter
Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2012 4:03 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Continue working in a museum vs. Museum studies Master

 

Hi Melanie,

 

As I've noticed from the other responses, it is not a cut and dry decision. While employers look for that MA as a prerequisite, I would argue that this trend is changing. In my opinion, you can learn just as much, if not more working and learning on the go, than sitting in a classroom. Admittedly, you will not get the face to face learning experience with professors, create a networking with your classmates, but through forums like Museum-L, conferences like AAM, AMM, and the like, and the countless books, blogs, etc, would you not get the same, maybe even more information or experience than a degree and spend less? 

 

As I've transitioned from a curator to a director, I've found that I've had to learn much of what is required of a director "on the fly", through books, discussions, blogs, etc.  That is what's so great about the museum field, everyone is willing and able to help each other. It is what makes the craft so unique and rewarding.

 

Good luck!

 

Mike Reuter

Executive Director

Rock County Historical Society

On Thu, Sep 6, 2012 at 2:46 PM, S Barbosa <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Hi Melanie,

 

I was in a similar situation to yours last year. I was working a great job at a museum in Boston that had the potential to develop into bigger and better positions, but also wanted to get my Master's degree. I was accepted into the Museum Education Program (MEP) at GW and pretty much knew I would enroll, but a little part of me did think, "Am I going to be so mad at myself a year from now when I am possibly unemployed?"

The answer is yes, kind of. I finished my degree in July and am still looking for work, which is a huge bummer. I often wonder where I'd be now if I hadn't taken the time out of my career to earn an advanced degree. But I still wouldn't trade my experience at GW for anything. The 14 months I spent in MEP dramatically changed the way I envision my future in museums. I now have a much clearer idea of what I want to be doing in 5, 10 or even 20 years and a better sense of how and where I can accomplish my personal goals. The opportunity to interact with and learn alongside other emerging museum professionals at such an early point in my career was incredibly valuable. For me, grad school was worth the terrible uncertainty I'm facing now, because it made me confident that when I do find the right job, I'll be great at it.

That being said, the time I spent essentially "learning on the job" in Boston greatly contributed to my success in grad school. It sounds like you also have some great experience, which I know will be a huge help should you choose to pursue your degree. 

Sorry this ended up so lengthy. I can't give you the "right answer," but I hope my story at least helps a little as you make your decision. Best of luck!

 

Samantha Barbosa

MEP '12

 

 

On Thu, Sep 6, 2012 at 11:55 AM, Melanie C Deer <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Hello everyone,

I'm stuck in a sticky situation and I was hoping some of you had some advice. I volunteered/internship/did independent studies at the undergraduate level at the Arizona State Museum (ASM) in Tucson, AZ (as Southwest archaeological museum) for about two to three years and then managed to get a student position in the Repository and held that for a year, graduated with a BA in Anthropology and Creative Writing and I am currently employed full time at ASM working on a major repatriation project as well as working on finishing an article on a research project I did with Southwestern Prehistoric pottery that I hope to get published. Before I got the full-time position I had applied to Arizona State University's Museum Studies Master program and was accepted. I am scheduled to start classes Fall 2013 (I've already postponed enrollment the max amount of time, due to a different situation). My employers already knew about my plan to attend graduate school in a year before they hired me, so that is not a factor.

I am wondering whether it would be better to stay at my full-time position and pursue a Masters later (in other words tell ASU I will not be attending classes in Fall 2013, potentially closing that door permanently) or if I should leave my full-time position to attend classes as originally intended risking not having a job when I graduate.

An idea I had was to get an online Museum Studies Certificate while still working full-time at ASM and possibly do night classes to get an Anthropology MA. But I'm not sure how highly or lowly Museum Studies Certificates are viewed in the museum world.

Any advice/opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Melanie Deer

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