I've had some problems sending mail to lists but I think everything
   should be OK now.  We'll see :)!!
 
   Now my internet link appears to be up and running SMOOTHLY (is the
   key word), I thought it was about time to summarize the responses
   to my question way back in September regarding the location, if
   any, of PhD programs in Museum Studies.  Although most of the
   responses were posted directly to the list, I did receive some
   personal replies as well.  So I thought I'd give people the lowdown
   on a discussion I promised to summarize--in case any of you
   interested people deleted your messages in anticipation of this
   one!
 
   The first general observation I made note of was the fact that
   there are MANY people out there who would be interested in
   something like this.  It's good to know I'm not the only one.
   Perhaps in a few years, if this kind of interest continues to be
   generated, the United States will have a PhD program for us
   SOMEWHERE!
 
   Secondly, a number of people asked me WHY I wanted to get a PhD in
   Museum Studies.  The most common phrase I heard was "it's too
   restricting", which may be why no U.S. institution has set a
   program up.  But IS it restricting?  I think the reason many of us
   want PhD's is because our Masters programs weren't restricting
   enough.  I, for one, feel like there is so much more to learn about
   the philosophy, administration, and collecting methods, etc. about
   museums--primarily because I could only take a maximum of 7 courses
   in my program at GW (plug, plug!!).  The other half of my program
   was focused on some related academic field (archaeology).  I really
   do think there is much more I could learn to make myself MORE
   marketable as a museum professional.  I think that even though a
   PhD program may be restricting, that doesn't stop people from
   researching and gaining knowledge about the fields that brought
   them into a museum in the first place, right?  (i.e. history,
   anthropology, palaeontology)  Plus, aren't there very different
   philosophies involved in the care and administration and PHILOSOPHY
   of different types of collections?
 
   But I digress...
 
   The next most common response was "Go to the University of
   Leicester in the UK."  Other than this institution and Manchester
   University, also in the UK, there is only one other institution
   (that any of us know of at this time) that has a PhD in MSTD--and
   this is apparently the University of Delaware-Winterthur.  I think
   this program is much more restrictive than most of us want,
   however, because I think it is a program in Conservation.  [Can
   anyone out there clarify this for us?]
 
   Following this, the response was to find a PhD program in your
   academic area of interest with a museum emphasis.  Some suggestions
   here were:
          University of North Texas in Denton:  History with Museum
                emphasis
          University of Delaware:  History concentrating in Museum
                Studies
          University of Delaware at Winterthur:  Possibly--poster
                wasn't positive--a program in American Civilization
                with material culture focus
          Texas A&M:  Has no "major" per se but apparently has some
                very supportive, museum friendly faculty who would be
                 willing to help you design your own
                 interdisciplinary degree (kudos to
                you!!!!  Clap Clap)
          Indiana University--Bloomington:  The faculty in certain
                museum related fields are also apparently quite
                supportive and flexible. However, a museum focus for a
                PhD only counts for a minor, rather like some Masters
                programs where you get a degree in something related
                and a certificate or minor in MSTD.
 
   The one problem with the above suggestion, at least my problem with
   it, is that those of us who have a masters degree in Museum Studies
   may feel really unprepared to jump into a PhD program in
   archaeology or palaeontology or anthropology or history, for
   example.  Those two years (or more) in the program more than likely
   gave you little more than an extended background in the field--not
   an EXTENSIVE one...which is OK.  I was in it for the museum aspect,
   not the anthropology one anyway.  But in a PhD program in
   Anthropology, for example, I would be so lost because I got to take
   what interested me.  I didn't have to take seminars on this and
   that--the BASICS.  Oh I got some, but not enough to help me write a
   dissertation!  I have a feeling that many are in the same bind.
 
   So, maybe by the time I pay off my student loans (GASP) there WILL
   be a program for us wayward Doctors out there.  Hope to see you all
   there!!!
 
   Jennifer Schansberg
   new email address:  [log in to unmask]