Curriculum
1. Core Courses in Museum Studies
- Arts Management/Museum Studies I is the first in a two-course sequence core. This course will provide a broad introduction to the history and theory of museum work. Students are introduced to the field of museum studies by looking at the history, philosophy, role, operation and multiple functions of museums in American society. Through lectures and disucssions, we examine the political, social, business, legal and ethical issues that confront museum professionals. By the end of the course students are able to identify and apply a range of techniques, tools and materials used in museum work, and critically discuss issues related to exhibition, education, collections management, and conservation, among other topics.
- Museum Education is the second core course requried. Students study the history, theory, and practice of museum education. The class combines lectures, round table discussions, and design strategies for successful museum education programs for a variety of audiences. Students implement their learned skills through a series of programs that they design and implement for pre-selected groups of school children.
2. Required and elective courses drawn from a single or complementary disciplines.
- Students select an area of focus (e. g., Visual Arts, Anthropology, History) and work with an advisor to create a list of courses within a discipline that is represented by one of the major museum types.
3. Museum Practicum I & II
- This two-course sequence provides students with the opportunity to organize, design, and install exhibitions at the Juniata College Museum of Art.
- Regardless of a student's particular focus (e.g., visual arts, anthropology) this experience is essential for learning museum curatorial practices. By the end of the second semester, the students will have dossiers that documents their curatorial activities.
4. Museum internships
- Internships provide the necessary experience and contacts for entering graduate programs and the museum profession. Ideally, students will perform two internships; one at a small regional institution and a second at a large metropolitan institution so as to provide a cross-section of professional practice. Although not recommended, students may elect to do only one internship.

