Museum Cultures (MA)

COURSE OVERVIEW

Museums have been of enormous importance in shaping empires, nations and cities, and their collections are connected to wider histories of conflict and social change. To study museums is to study the development and fierce contestation of our collective cultural imagination and memory.

Our MA Museum Cultures combines study of the history and cultural significance of museums with opportunities for professional museum experience. If you are contemplating a career in the museum and gallery sector this course provides you with the perfect opportunity to study this expanding and dynamic field in close proximity to world-distinguished museums and galleries.

As well as regular gallery and museum visits, the department also offers an exciting study trip abroad every spring.

You will develop a range of key skills, from critical thinking and writing to practical experience through a 10-week supervised work placement that you can apply for in a museum, gallery or archive. Previous opportunities have been offered at the Tate, British Museum, Whitechapel Gallery and Horniman Museum. Past students have helped design and run schools programmes, documented collections that were previously uncatalogued, conducted visitor research and assisted curators in producing exhibitions.

CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY

Graduates can pursue career paths in arts management, conservation and policy; education, marketing and publishing; the museums and heritage sectors; and research and academia. Possible professions include:

higher education lecturer

museum/gallery curator

arts administrator

researcher

advertising account executive.

A second-class honours degree (2:2) or above in a relevant subject or equivalent (for example, professional experience).