SF State Museum Studies offers a graduate Master of Arts degree, and an undergraduate minor.
Why SF State Museum Studies?
- Established, well-known, and highly regarded in North America
- One of the top five producers of original research in the field
- Vibrant, outward-looking urban campus focused on social justice
- Affordable tuition, with opportunity for scholarships, work-study, and student assistantships
- Low student-to-teacher ratio
- Faculty are experienced teachers, scholars and museum professionals
- Comprehensive curriculum integrates theory, practice and career development
- New Global Museum allows practical training and mentorship between graduate and undergraduate students
- Access to relevant courses on campus, from Business and Cinema, to History and Art
- Capstone experience options include the thesis, creative work project (an exhibit), or the written comprehensive examination
- Engaged network of students and alumni
- Over 90% of recent alumni employed within one year of graduation
Master of Arts Program in Museum Studies
The 33-unit, Master of Arts program in Museum Studies is an independent, interdisciplinary professional program housed in the College of Liberal & Creative Arts. The Museum Studies Program builds upon students’ previous academic studies in museum-related disciplines by emphasizing practical experience, professionalism and important developments in Museum Studies. Museum Studies students include mid-career museum professionals, people from other professional career fields and recent Bachelor of Arts graduates.
Since 1987, the program graduated hundreds of alumni. Many have found employment at all career levels throughout the U.S., from the Getty to the Smithsonian.
Mission of the Master's Program
The mission of the Museum Studies Program at San Francisco State is to develop resourceful museum professionals engaged in the important role museums play in our increasingly global and diverse world. The program integrates practical coursework and theoretical inquiry to foster museum professionals committed to the power of museums as places of inspiration, community learning, and ethical collections stewardship for all segments of society.
Visit the Graduate section of this website for more information about the Master of Arts degree.
Minor in Museum Studies
Established in 2016, the 18-unit undergraduate Minor is rigorous, interdisciplinary and pre-professional in nature. The Minor prepares students for the Master of Arts degree in Museum Studies, or for additional on-the-job training for work in museums.
Mission of the Minor Program
The mission of the Minor in Museum Studies is to develop museum pre-professionals through coursework that emphasizes museum practice and theory in a setting where museums’ educational efforts, collections, and interactions with community are of central concern, and to apply this knowledge to support the work of museums in creating exhibits, educating and serving the public, and caring for collections.
Visit the undergraduate section of this website for more information about the Minor.
Museum Studies Courses
Visit the Bulletin for a complete listing of all courses in Museum Studies.