Museum Studies Certificate — Online Program
The Museum Studies certificate program unites history, theory and practical learning in a curriculum that prepares participants for professional or volunteer careers in administration, collections and specialty disciplines within museums, zoos, aquariums, parks
We offer courses online every quarter, so you can complete your Museum Studies certificate on your own terms.
Upcoming courses
| Winter 2025 | Registration deadline: |
|---|---|
| 371-DL Successful Museum Management | January 5, 2025 |
| 370-DL Museum Origins and Issues | January 6, 2025 |
| 372-DL Learning and Museums | January 7, 2025 |
The courses that I took definitely provided a foundation for me in museum management. All of [my classmates] were at museums, and I was able to network with folks from institutions like Cooper Hewitt. Having the exposure to people who were working day to day in the field was helpful.”
Sandra James, Deputy Director, Biggs Museum of American Art
 |
“This was my first experience with a certificate program and with mostly online instruction. I would recommend both of those aspects to anyone, especially at Northwestern, because of the way this program is packed with content.”After spending much of his career managing finances in higher education, Robert |
Through lectures, discussions, guest speakers and field trips to area museums, students learn about:
The Museum Studies certificate program is useful for a wide-range of careers inside museums as well as those preparing for a graduate program in museum studies.
Explore all the Museum Studies Program Courses for details on the program's offerings.
To earn a certificate of completion in Museum Studies, students must successfully complete three courses. Students typically earn a certificate in one year. Classes can be taken in any order.
The required courses are:
The Journey of a Museum Exhibition: From Vision to Reality (MUSEUM 373-0) - On-Campus
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 – Chicago Campus. Students should expect out of pocket expenses related to meals and transportation to/from museum site visits and museum entrance fees.
Details can be found on the Tuition and Financial Aid for Museum Studies Certificate page.
Instructors for this program have a range of expertise, specializations and work experience. Read about their qualifications on our Museum Studies Faculty page.
Read more on the Museum Studies Career Options page.
Learn more about related certificate programs:
SPS Enrollment Advisers at Northwestern University School of Professional Studies can be a resource to you for inquiries regarding our certificate programs.
| Core Courses: | Course Detail |
|---|---|
| Museum Origins and Issues <> MUSEUM 370-DL | This course explores the diverse origins of the major types of museums, and contemporary issues and ethical challenges facing those museums today. It will also explore how the primary public mission is established and interpreted as well as an overview of museum organization. Planning for exhibitions, community inclusion, and diversity are also addressed. Students are encouraged to make weekly field trips, visiting subject-appropriate museum sites in their own area and reporting back to the class. Students will also participate in discussion boards on the assigned topics and research the origins and mission of a museum in their local community. There is no live/real-time component to this class. Students participate in all aspects of the learning experience, within each week, around their own life/work schedules.
Students may purchase these books from any retailer where they are available, in any format. Additional course materials will be provided via the online course site.
Registered students can access their online course site here. An activated NetID and password is required for login. *Please note: It may take up to 24-hours for registered students to be added to the online course platform. View MUSEUM 370-DL Sections |
| Successful Museum Management <> MUSEUM 371-DL | This interactive course explores the organization, governance, and management of museums, with a focus on real-world problem solving. We consider the role of the board, the museum president, staff, and volunteers. Topics include team building, strategic planning, governance, organizational structure, fundraising and membership, marketing and public relations, collections management, exhibit development and design, evaluation, budgeting and finance, risk assessment, government affairs, and museum relevance. Students, instructor, and museum guest lecturers together critically examine current issues in the museum world, such as technological impacts, funding strategies, relevance to new audiences, virtual museums, and economic impacts. With guidance from museum professionals, students take on real projects at real museums. Past projects have ranged from marketing plans to volunteer recruitment strategies to exhibit development to retail planning. Students have the option to participate in a live weekly synchronous session with the instructor and fellow students, as well as one or two guest museum experts. This session will be as announced. Those whose schedules don’t allow them to participate live can access the session recording. The instructor is available via phone, email or online office hours to help students keep up with the brisk pace of this course and its practical applications. Get ready to have fun, network with museum professionals, and either advance your museum career or explore whether a museum career is right for you.
Course Materials:
Registered students can access their online course site here. An activated NetID and password is required for login. *Please note: It may take up to 24-hours for registered students to be added to the online course platform. View MUSEUM 371-DL Sections |
| Learning and Museums <> MUSEUM 372-DL | This course explores theories and practices of education and learning in museums for all visitors, of all ages, through a combination of weekly readings, presentations, videos, assignments, and virtual class discussion questions assigned on Canvas. In addition to studying the theories of education, students will research a museum in their own geographic area to examine theories in action and other practical applications of museum education OR design a family-oriented museum activity, incorporating all the theories of family learning. There is no live or real-time component to this class. Students participate in all aspects of the learning experience, within each week, around their own life-work schedules.
Course Materials:
Students may purchase these books from any retailer where they are available, in any format. Additional course materials will be provided via the online course site. Registered students can access their online course site here. An activated NetID and password is required for login. *Please note: It may take up to 24-hours for registered students to be added to the online course platform.
View MUSEUM 372-DL Sections |
| Elective Courses: | Course Detail |
|---|---|
| Journey of a Museum Exhibit MUSEUM 373-0 | 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. Note: The "Exhibit" course is optional. To earn the Museum Studies Certificate, students must complete the three core courses. Registered students can access their online course site here. An activated NetID and password is required for login. *Please note: It may take up to 24-hours for registered students to be added to the online course platform. View MUSEUM 373-0 Sections |
