Museum Studies Minor

The Museum Studies minor at Saint Joseph’s University is an interdisciplinary program that reflects the wide variety of possible professions in the museum world of today. Museums are essential cultural institutions that play an important role in society by preserving and interpreting the past for future generations. Students in this program are trained in the history, theory, and ethics of museums. 

Certain museum professions might require graduate training, and students with a Museum Studies minor will be well positioned to enter a graduate program. 

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What Sets Our Program Apart

  • The Museum Studies minor requires students of the program to complete 130 hours of internship experience at any type of museum. If you are looking to stay local, you can benefit from Philadelphia art museums, including the Frances M. Maguire Art Museum on the Saint Joseph's campus and the Marvin Samson Museum for the History of Pharmacy located at the University City location. If you are interested in expanding outside of Philadelphia, you can explore internship experiences at museums in New York, Washington D.C. and Baltimore. 

  • Saint Joseph’s Center for International Programs (CIP) offers students 31 approved/affiliated semester or year-long study-abroad options. Students enrolled in the Museum Studies program may choose to study abroad in Greece, Rome and Tokyo, where some of the world's greatest museums are located. Short-term, summer study-abroad options are available with trips to Greece, Rome and Africa. Students also have the chance to visit France, Cuba, Costa Rica and Ireland with fall and spring study tours. 

  • Students can customize their curriculum with electives that take into account their particular interests and career goals, which could include

    • Curatorial work
    • Exhibition design
    • Museum education
    • Registration and collections management
    • Marketing and social media
    • Fundraising and development
    • Non-profit management
    • Digital technology with a variety of applications.

What Can I Do with a Museum Studies Minor?

In addition to pursuing graduate and professional work in museum studies and related fields, our graduates have developed careers in a wide range of areas, including:

  • Museum and Arts Administration
  • Museum Education
  • Exhibition Design
  • Art Conservation 
  • Historic Preservation
  • Art Galleries
  • Art Therapy
  • Visitor Studies /Membership

Curriculum & Coursework

View required courses for this program in the academic catalog. Please contact us if you have any questions about the program curriculum.

Why Study Museum Studies in Philadelphia?

Saint Joseph’s location in Philadelphia is a major advantage of this program. Philadelphia is home to many different types of museums, including art museums, history museums, science museums, and more. In addition to the world-class museums located within Philadelphia itself, there are many other museums in nearby areas. Students will be able to visit and/or take advantage of internships during the school year and summer at some of the best museums and galleries in the United States; a small sampling would include:

  • Philadelphia – The Philadelphia Museum of Art; The Barnes Foundation; The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts; The Franklin Institute; The Penn Museum; The Museum of the American Revolution; National Constitution Center
  • New York – The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Met Cloisters, The Museum of Modern Art; The Whitney Museum of American Art; The Museum of Natural History; The Jewish Museum
  • Washington, DC – The National Gallery of Art; The Smithsonian American Art Museum; The National Portrait Gallery; The United State Holocaust Memorial Museum; The National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Baltimore, MD – The Walters Art Museum; The Baltimore Museum of Art; The Civil War Museum; The Maryland Science Center

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