The two-year Master of Arts in Museum & Cultural Heritage Studies consists of 12 hours of core courses (Art History Methods, Seminar in Museum Studies, Cultural Heritage: Theory & Practice, and The Museum Object), 6-9 hours of Art History (depending on the track), 6 hours in MCHS electives which can be taken inside or outside the Department of Art History, 6-9 hours of internship (depending on the track), and 3 hours of a capstone project, for a total of 36 credit hours.

A reading knowledge of at least one foreign language relevant to the student’s area of study is required for completion of the master’s program. The student has the option of passing an exam in reading knowledge by the end of the first academic year or successfully completing an intermediate-level course.

The degree program culminates in a capstone project which is completed in the final semester of the program. Capstone projects are designed to connect with student’s research and professional interests and are often connected with a student’s internship experience. Previous capstone projects have included curatorial proposals, museum education programming, film series, research for guided tours at historic house museums, and data analysis of conservation efforts with an archaeological collection. Students also have the option of a research paper for the capstone project.

Students who elect to remain in Tallahassee for their second year of study have many state and local internship options, including the Florida Department of State, National Park Service Southeastern Archaeological Center (SEAC), local archives, galleries, museums, historic homes, and other cultural heritage-based organizations.

In partnership with the Department of Art History in the College of Fine Arts, the The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art (The Ringling) offers students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in an exceptional museum environment. The Ringling is the State Art Museum of Florida and part of the FSU College of Fine Arts. Located on sixty-six acres of bayfront property in Sarasota, The Ringling combines fine art and circus museums, John Ringling’s historic mansion Ca d’Zan, the Asolo Theater, and an extensive natural campus and gardens. It features an extensive archive and one of the largest art reference libraries in the southeastern United States. Founded in 1946 as a state agency, it has been under the stewardship of Florida State University since 2000. Today, the Ringling ranks among the largest and most prestigious university arts complexes in the world.

After completing six museum and art history courses in Tallahassee during the first year of study, students in the MA Program in Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies may apply to spend their second full year of study at the Ringling, combining professional coursework and internship in the museum.  The program provides insight into and training for museum careers through practical work experience not available in most academic settings.

The Ringling Course Internship

Students spend up to eight weeks working in each museum department, participating in all aspects of museum operations and learning how each department fits into the museum as a whole.  A final capstone project is developed out of coursework and the internship experience.

The Ringling Course Seminars

Each semester students in The Ringling Course enroll in a graduate seminar designed to put the internship in context. These seminars are led by Jay Boda, associate director of academic affairs and collections at the Ringling. The courses provide students with a deeper understanding of museum theory and practice and an opportunity to discuss exhibition issues in depth with curatorial staff and other museum professionals.