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. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -