Ariane,

My two cents, for what it is worth, is that a graduate degree is not
necessary to be a registrar, but that most curatorial positions these days do
require at least an M.A. if not a Ph.D.  I am from the group that does NOT
have a grad degree; I started out in a small university museum 20 years ago
as the receptionist, doing a little exhibition design on the side, with a
B.A. in art history.  I worked my way up through the ranks, moving on to
bigger jobs in bigger museums, and for the past ten years have been
development director at my museum here in Southern California.  Over my
career, I've hired many people; granted, the development function depends a
lot on "track record," but I often have hired people without graduate
training but who DO have some practical work experience in internships or
entry-level jobs.  Our registrar began as a registrar's intern, then
assistant, and has now held her position as Registrar for over 10 years.
 She, too, only has a B.A. in art history.  However, we are in the process of
hiring some junior curatorial staff,and those definitely require an M.A.,
with additional practical experience a big plus.

In terms of certificated programs, I'm not that impressed with them,
personally.  I think the time would be better spent actually working in a
museum, even at the most entry-level job.  However, I do think that the few
graduate programs that combine academic training and an academic M.A. with
the museum studies curriculum are good -- one that comes to mind is at USC in
Los Angeles (although its focus is art history, not anthropology).  I know
that UCLA has a great museum of cultural history (it was where I had my first
museum job!) and that many of the anthro students work or do projects with
the museum; there is also an informal museum studies program, I believe.

Hope this helps.  Good luck!

Anne Farrell
Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego