Museum Studies Online Certificate Program | Northwestern SPS - Northwestern School of Professional Studies

Why Northwestern Museum Studies?

• Competitive tuition: Earn a resume-building credential at a fraction of the cost of a degree. Northwestern’s Museum Studies program tuition is comparable to or less than similar programs at peer institutions.
• Flexible online format: Online and asynchronous, the courses in this certificate program can be completed when your schedule allows, from anywhere in the world.
• Faculty with industry experience: The online Museum Studies program is taught by faculty members with years of industry experience at some of the world’s most renowned museums, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Getty, Shedd Aquarium, Intuit Art Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
• Evolving curriculum: Northwestern’s Museum Studies certificate online offers relevant, practical information that equips students with skills directly applicable to the museum field. Faculty consistently review and update their courses to incorporate the most recent issues and theories in this dynamic field.
• Networking opportunities: Build your professional network by engaging with museum professionals from across the country. In addition to learning from esteemed guest lecturers, you’ll have the chance to forge strong connections with your peers through the program’s discussion boards, sync sessions, and resume-building group projects.

Program audience for Museum Studies online

The Museum Studies certificate program is useful for a wide range of careers within museums, zoos, aquariums, and gardens, including curatorial, administrative, collections management, education, and board roles Whether you want to advance your career as a current museum professional or break into the field from another industry, this program provides the knowledge and skills essential to achieving your goal in a timely manner.

Those considering a graduate degree in museum studies may also benefit from the online Museum Studies certificate as a chance to see whether a master’s is the right fit for you. Many organizations now prioritize experience over advanced degrees in their hiring process; when combined with internships and a relevant professional portfolio, the Museum Studies certificate may provide enough of the requisite educational background to qualify you for coveted roles at well-known museums.

Program topics for Museum Studies online

The Museum Studies faculty have designed this program to cast a wide net regarding critical topics in the museum world. Through lectures, guest speakers, discussions, and field trips to their local museums, students will gain relevant information and build applicable skills related to the following areas: 

• History of museums

• Ethical challenges

• Building audiences

• Maximizing learning opportunities for museum visitors

• Fundraising, finance and management

• Organizational development

• The ways collections and community inform museum missions

Museum Studies program courses

To earn a certificate of completion in Museum Studies, students must successfully complete three courses. Students typically earn their certificate in one year. Classes can be taken in any order and may be completed concurrently.

The required courses are:

• Museum Origins & Issues (MUSEUM 370-DL)

• Successful Museum Management in Today’s Environment (MUSEUM 371-DL)

• Learning and Museums (MUSEUM 372-DL)

Explore the Museum Studies courses page for more details on the program's offerings.

Please note that MUSEUM 371 is not offered during the summer quarter.

Hear from the Museum Studies faculty

Optional Two-day Exhibit Symposium

The Journey of a Museum Exhibition: From Vision to Reality is a supplement to the Museum Studies certificate program or can be a stand-alone experience for museum professionals and those who are interested in furthering their knowledge of the exhibit process. This two-day symposium presents a comprehensive overview of the critical components that make a museum exhibit successful.

Chicago museum site visits, guest speakers, case studies, and group activities will give ample opportunities to model best practices and help attendees better understand the remarkable opportunities and possible challenges facing museum professionals as they create an exhibition.

Topics include brainstorming, interpretation, design, fabrication, lighting, accessibility, loans, advertising, education, visitor satisfaction sponsorship, archiving, and above all how to ensure that multiple voices are heard, represented, and welcomed.

The course is typically offered one time a year in either late spring or summer at Wieboldt Hall on Northwestern's Chicago campus. Students should expect out-of-pocket expenses related to meals, transportation to/from museum sites, and museum entrance fees.

Tuition and financial aid for Museum Studies online

Details can be found on the tuition and financial aid for Museum Studies certificate page.

Museum Studies career options

Read more on the Museum Studies career options page.

SHRM recertification credits

Northwestern University School of Professional Studies is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP

Related professional development programs at SPS

Learn more about related certificate programs:

• Leadership certificate
• Essentials of Project Management certificate

Find out more about Northwestern's Museum Studies certificate online program

Contact SPS enrollment advisers

SPS enrollment advisers at Northwestern University School of Professional Studies can be a resource to you for inquiries regarding our certificate programs.