Re: Masters Degrees

Those who are considering futures in the history museum world should make
sure to think deeply about their graduate school decisions.  The choice, I
think, is not so much where to study but what to study.  In other words,
deciding between a Museum Studies MA and a History MA. Both Masters degrees
(and it seems that today a Masters Degree is certainly a necessity) provide
good stepping stones in the climb to that all so elusive entry level museum
position.  A museum studies degree provides extensive training in practical
and theoretical issues in public history and museums while a history degree
(concentration in US History) provides knowledge of the trends of American
social, political, and economic history.  Most would argue that a Museum
Studies Program better prepares a student for the museum world.  However, an
MA in History, coupled with hands on experience through internships and
volunteer work, is an equally  accepted form of preparation.

Those who opt for the museum studies route, however, should be aware of the
fact that they are potentially type casting themselves for work in a
specific field - one in which it is presently quite difficult to find a job.
A person with a MA in History, on the contrary, can seek employment teaching
at a community college or private school or return to college to get a
certificate in the social studies and teach in American public schools.  (If
a museum job is eventually secured, community college teaching is always an
option to augment meager museum salaries)

This decision making process, it should be noted, is further complicated by
the existence of public history programs and history programs that offer
certificates in museums studies.

Best of Luck.

Nicholas P. Ciotola
Curator, Italian American Collection
Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center
Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
1212 Smallman Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 454-6433
[log in to unmask]
www.wpaitalians.com









-----Original Message-----
From: J. Cuasay [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2000 8:23 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Masters issue


There are some other factors that you might want to pay attention to as well
in your process of choosing a masters program. Reputation of a school is
helpful--but it's also related to who the faculty is at the school--the
various persons you may get the opportunity to work with, etc.
YES, what you actually DO in the program is also important--perhaps just as
important as the overall name of the school.
But finally--I'd like to mention the outside chance that you might not have
thought of--the overall stability of the school you apply to. Will it still
be around 5-10yrs after you've graduated. Will the faculty also be present
to provide you support and recommendations toward your
future career? Or will they be somewhere else doing something else because
the insititution you went to morphed into something else either by some
obvious reasons or for some other hidden economic or political reasons not
immediately apparent.

Just some thoughts to also consider.

"b. Schirmer" wrote:

> I have a question that is related to the degree issue:
>
> I will be going to Grad school to recieve a masters in the next few years,
and I would like to know if where you get your degree matters, or is it a
personal and geographical matter?  I am looking at a few highly renowned
programs as well as a couple of local schools.  Should I be
> considering reputation as an important matter, or is a masters, a masters,
a masters?  Are schools accredited through the AAM, or is it up to me to
evaluate the quality of the program?
>
> Any advice would help me make these decisions,
> B. Schirmer
>
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