The history department in UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences is launching a new interdisciplinary M.A. degree in Museum Studies this fall. The first of its kind in the state, the program will prepare students to enter the museum profession through specialized training and hands-on experience. With a slate of new courses, the program builds on the success of Franklin’s existing undergraduate and graduate Museum Studies certificate programs and makes use of the university’s unparalleled collections. 

According to the American Alliance of Museums, museums contribute over $50 billion dollars to U.S. economy annually.* However, museums have struggled to attract qualified candidates for positions since the pandemic. The new M.A. program will fill this need within the state, providing students with the skills needed to succeed in the field.

According to Akela Reason, director of the program, “Franklin is the ideal home for an M.A. in museum studies because UGA’s substantial museum collections allow for hands-on engagement with virtually every type of museum collection that students will encounter in the field.” On-campus collections include: The Georgia Museum of Art, the Georgia Museum of Natural History, the Special Collections Libraries, the Georgia State Capitol Museum Collection, and the Anne Barge Historic Clothing and Textile Collection. Athens is also home to several historic house museums, arts institutions, and the State Botanical Garden of Georgia. Students will utilize these resources in classroom teaching and hands-on training, developing a broad range of skills relevant to specific career pathways within the museum profession. 

Recruitment for the first cohort is underway. 

*source of statistic: https://www.aam-us.org/programs/about-museums/museum-facts-data/