Aaron, I found your advice about a museum career quite helpful. I just made the decision a couple weeks ago to pursue my master's in museum studies, but now i'm wondering if i should try public history. My undergrad degree is in history and it is truly one of my passions. I have previously worked in the museum field as an historic interpreter, and am hoping now to explore other career opportunities in the field. Would you recommend a public history degree versus one in museum studies? Also, does anyone know of any programs in the NE or mid-atlantic areas? Thanks! Shelley Brown >From: Aaron Marcavitch <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: museum careers >Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 10:44:57 -0700 > >Emily, > >Ah! A museum career! You have a million options out there. There are the >straight up Museum >studies programs or the more diverse public history or arts programs. I >wont say which is better, >but you have to think about what you want to be doing. Do you like >education? Do you like the >artifacts? I would like to be working in a history museum so I am in a >public history program. >THis allows me to be diverse, especially if I can find a job in a musuem. >I could be working in a >bunch of different places. If you like administration and art, there are >arts admin programs. > >Basically though, you really will have a hard time being hired (this holds >true for most of the >jobs out there today in any field) without a masters. But if you aren't >sure, take that year off >or two and work in some places. Even if you waitress for most of the time >and volunteer in at two >or three different museums, it helps. Try volunteering at both an arts >museumand a history museum >or a natural science museum. Be diverse. > >Then, find a program. Lots of good ones. Look on my website under >Employment links and you will >see a tab for education. THis will link you up to several. I dont have >them all, but its worth a >shot. Most are history based, so I apologize if you dont like history. > >After all that, you will find out that many program wont teach you some of >the important aspects. >Take classes at the vo-tech in computer databases and web design, find out >who the local grant >writer is and ask them questions. Take a basic accounting course. Go to a >million conferences >and present at a few of them. > >This could be loads of fun. And remember that there are programs all over >the country. Try >something new. I really dont care for the South, but I came here for >something different. And >trust me it helps. > >If you have more questions, I could go on forever. Let me know! > >Aaron > >===== >www.aaronmarcavitch.com >Webmaster, VAF (www.vernaculararchitecture.org) >Webmaster, ADM (www.americandinermuseum.org) >Co-Webmaster, RPPN (www.recentpast.org) >Grad. Student Caucus Chair, Am. Assoc of History & Computing > >M.A. (Public) History, Middle TN St. Univ > >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices >http://auctions.yahoo.com/ > >========================================================= >Important Subscriber Information: > >The Museum-L FAQ file is located at >http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed >information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail >message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should >read "help" (without the quotes). > >If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to >[log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff >Museum-L" (without the quotes). _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).