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What can I do with a minor in museum studies?
Additional Navigation
SUNY Oswego - Career Services
- Career Communities
- Major And Career Exploration
- Resumes and Cover Letters
- Networking, Personal Branding and LinkedIn
- Job and Internship Searching
- Graduate School
- Online Career Tools
- Affinity Group Resources
- Compensation Negotiation
- Events
- Graduate Outcomes
- Information for
- Resource Center
- Connect with us
View videos of professionals describing a day on the job
Manager, Major Gifts & Fundraising
Curator, Philadelphia Museum of Art
Intern and Fellows Program Manager
Registrar of Loans, UPenn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
Curator, Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College
Join a student organization today
Student Art Exhibition CommitteeGet involved in a professional organization
American Alliance of Museums Association of Academic Museums & Galleries (AAMG) International Coalition of Historic Site Museums of Conscience International Council of MuseumsSearch for opportunities
- Historical Interpreter
- Museum Evaluator
- Archives Technician
- Curator
- Volunteer Coordinator
- Research Assistant
Search for employers hiring graduates in your minor
Explore the numerous career fields related to your major
Museums and Galleries
Areas
- Art direction
- Administration
- Curatorial
- Conservation
- Restoration
- Registrar
- Collections management
- Exhibit design/preparation
- Archive management
- Education
- Tours
- Sales
- Publications
- Development
- Public relations
- Historian
Employers
- University, Public, Private Art museums
- Archives
- Historical societies
- Natural history museums
- Living history museums
- Galleries
- Community centers
- Auction houses
Sample occupations
- Gain relevant experience through internships or volunteer positions in museums or galleries.
- Visit museums around the country and world to gain exposure to art.
- Learn a foreign language and plan to study abroad.
- Supplement curriculum with courses in history, religion, anthropology, and classical civilizations.
- Most art historians will specialize in a period or region.
- Acquire strong skills in research, fund-raising, speaking, writing, and an attention to detail.
- Plan to earn a graduate degree in art history, museum studies, or other related discipline depending upon specific interests.
- Each specialty has varying qualifications and required training.
- Develop good interpersonal skills, including the ability to work well on teams.
- Become a member of local museums.
- Read published resources provided by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM).
Art Sales
Areas
- Appraisal: art and estate
- Sales
- Antiques dealing
- Antiquarian book dealer
- Art authentication
- Public relations
- Website management
Employers
- Self-employed
- Dealers
- Galleries
- Museums
- Auction houses
- Specialty stores
Sample occupations
- Learn to communicate effectively with a wide range of people.
- Take additional courses in interpersonal communication and public speaking.
- Prepare to work independently and to be self-motivated.
- Plan to work irregular and/or long hours.
- Cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit, including self-discipline and perseverance, are keys to success.
- Pursue a business minor to increase knowledge of business principles.
- Obtain sales experience through internships or summer and part-time jobs.
- Volunteer in museums, membership drives, local galleries, and community outreach programs.
- Serve as a student assistant in a university gallery.
- Develop solid public speaking skills.
- Become familiar with marketing techniques using social media platforms
Non-Profit
Areas
- Administration
- Management
- Public relations
- Program coordination
- Fund raising/ development
- Grant writing
- Writing/Editing
- Volunteer coordination
- Community education
Employers
- History museums and historical sites
- Historical associations and societies
- Cultural heritage organizations
- Historical projects
- Research and service institutions
- Libraries
- Educational institutions
- Local and national nonprofit agencies
- Trade or professional associations
- Special interest groups
- Nonprofit organizations
Sample occupations
- Gain experience through extensive volunteering or by completing an internship; these experiences are critical to finding full-time positions.
- Supplement curriculum with courses in anthropology, sociology, art history, or foreign languages.
- Obtain leadership roles in relevant campus and community organizations.
- Develop strong communication and research skills.
- Gain an understanding of budgeting and fiscal management.
- Learn how to write grants.
- Demonstrate knowledge and experience in a specialty area, time period, or geographic locale.
- Research organizations’ values to find a good fit with yours.
- It is critical that you are knowledgeable about and committed to the work you’re going to do.
- Investigate term of service or service corps positions as a way to gain entry into the field.
- Consider earning a graduate degree for more job opportunities and advancement.
General information and strategies
- A bachelor’s degree in museum studies is valuable for entry-level positions, but an advanced degree is usually necessary to attain competitive, upper-level positions in museums and historical sites.
- Explore more specific careers related to the industry such as art appraisal or art authentication.
- Careers also exist with auction houses and the storage and transportation of art work, art investment, corporate curation, art law, and law enforcement.
- Develop career goals and then gain the necessary education, skills, and experiences to achieve them.
- Volunteer in museums, membership drives, local galleries, and community outreach programs.
- Relocation to the larger markets of metropolitan areas where more opportunities exist may be beneficial.
- Join art-related professional and student organizations.
- Develop skills in business management, computers, marketing, and other related areas to increase marketability.
- Gain experience in fundraising and grant writing techniques.
- Often research and nonprofit organizations must be funded in this manner.
- Seek exposure to art by visiting museums around the country and world.
- Learn about world history, cultures, and languages.
- Conduct informational interviews with professionals in areas of interest to learn more about opportunities and strategies for these areas.
- Supplement curriculum with courses in history, religion, anthropology, and classical civilizations.
- Most art historians will specialize in a period or region.
- Become a member of local museums.
- Read published resources provided by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM).