Graduate Certificate
Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies and Public Engagement
Whether you are interested in pursuing a career in the museum industry or higher education, hands-on experience and exposure to material culture is beneficial. Open to all currently enrolled graduate students, the certificate in museum studies and public engagement offers students opportunities to explore foundational principles such collections management and access to hands-on opportunities such as service projects and internships.
Program Overview
Who can enroll?
Fully matriculated graduate students at the University of Delaware can pursue a museum studies and public engagement certificate. Students who have registered to receive the certificate always receive priority in course registration. The museum studies certificate appears on official transcripts as a “concentration.”
How many credits are required?
The certificate in Museum Studies requires a minimum of 12 credit hours, with additional credit hours available as schedules permit.
What courses are offered?
Coursework includes core requirements, an internship and electives. Topics include museum collections and management, education, exhibition development and museum administration. Students can customize their program with elective courses in Africana studies, anthropology, material culture, history and public policy and administration.
Internship Requirement
The MSPE 804: Internship (3 credits) is required to complete the Museum Studies certificate. The internship consists of 350 hours of supervised work experience intended to complement the program’s courses and provide real-world experience in a museum, historic site, public garden, archive or other related organization. Most students complete their internship hours between their first and second years of academic study, but they may undertake or complete internships during the academic year. Some students choose to split their internship hours into several segments in order to explore various career paths. Students may also choose to participate in the Museum Studies Collections Aid (C-AID) project each January as part of their internship hours.
Internship Resources
The following resources include the requirements for setting up and completing internships for both students and sponsors; advice on finding internships; and policies associated with various academic programs. Contact the Museum Studies and Public Engagement Program early in the academic year to begin planning.
- Finding an internship
- Requirements for host institutions
- Final reporting requirements for students and supervisors
- Forms for Students & Supervisors
- Museum Studies Minor Internship Agreement
- Internship Hours Log Sheet (found in Google Shared Drive)
