Earlham College’s museum studies program leverages the extensive collections at the college to train students for the museums of the future. An interdisciplinary faculty from the Departments of African and African American Studies, Ancient and Classical Studies, Archaeology, Art, Biology, Earth and Environmental Science, and History guide students to experience the best of a liberal arts education.
Students explore the history, best practices and critical issues of modern museology, and develop a deep disciplinary knowledge within a subject area of their choice.
The Joseph Moore Natural History Museum, housed on Earlham’s campus, serves as a classroom for students who want to gain hands-on knowledge and experience about working in museums. Current grants from IMLS fund students to work on digitization projects.
Required Classes
One object-based research class determined by your track.
Required credits in a discipline of your choice (in addition to your object-based class):
AAAS
Two of the following courses:
ANCS
Three of the following courses:
Art History
Biology
Choose 1 required (any additional can be electives):
Earth and Environmental Science
History
Electives
(Choose two; it’s okay to take extra courses in your discipline or an additional object-based class as an elective, but courses can’t count as object-based requirement and elective or track requirement and elective):
Our interdisciplinary approach combines a liberal arts education with the practical aspects of museum work. Our aim is to provide a foundation in the history, best practices and critical issues of museology, and to introduce students to a variety of museums and museum activities through experiential education. This program guides students to develop a disciplinary strength while providing opportunities in the museum competencies identified by the International Council of Museum’s Curricula Guidelines: Museology, Public Programming, and Information and Collections Management and Care.
Required:
Choose two museology competency classes:
Required Applied Experience (minimum of 130 working hours, 0-3 credits):
Internship focusing on collections, conservation, research, interpretation, and/or education, ideally at a museum accredited by the American Association of Museums. Internship proposals must be submitted at least two months prior to the experience and require approval by a Museum Studies faculty member.
OR
Applied group membership at the JMM focusing on collections, outreach, marketing, or exhibit design and construction and equal to 130 hours of work within a single team. (The animal care applied team is not eligible to satisfy this requirement.) Membership in applied teams is competitive. Completing this requirement over two semesters working 4.5 hours/week is highly recommended.
Choose one disciplinary emphasis:
African and African American Studies:
Ancient and Classical Studies: two of the following courses:
Art
Biology
History
Earth & Environmental Science
What kind of research experience and internships are available?
In addition to internships and volunteer opportunities locally at the Joseph Moore Museum, the Wayne County Historical Museum, the Richmond Art Museum and the Levi and Catharine State Historic Site, Earlham students have interned around the world at places like the Nibutani Ainu Culture Museum, the Smithsonian and more.
Learn more about available programs via our Center for Global and Career Education.
Can I do off-campus study?
Yes! Museum studies students are encouraged to study off-campus if they are able. Earlham offers several off-campus study programs where you can get hands-on experience working in museums, including the semester in London.
Learn more about available programs via our Center for Global and Career Education.