Museum Exhibition Planning and Design, Master of Fine Arts

Programs > Programs in the College of Art, Media, & Design
Contacts Description Program Requirements

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Contacts

Polly McKenna-Cress \ pmckennacress@uarts.edu \ 215.717.6328
Chairperson, Museum Studies | Director, Museum Exhibition Planning and Design

Description

Representatives of cooperating museums and the University faculty offer a curriculum for Museum Exhibition Planning and Design that addresses the conceptualization, research, organization, design, and production of museum exhibits and educational presentations, utilizing a variety of techniques and media. It also explores exhibit programming, evaluation, and management methods applicable in a wide range of museum situations. Visiting experts teach many aspects of museum presentation, education, and management. Students make formal visits to design departments, production shops, galleries, exhibits, programs in numerous museums, service providers, and consultancies in Philadelphia, the Mid-Atlantic Region, Washington, D.C., and New York. Students undertake a substantial thesis project and a supervised museum internship related to their career interests during the second year of the program.

Program Requirements (60 credits)

Required Courses (48 credits)

Select
GRAD 655  Graduate Seminar: Visual Culture Studies
   or
GRAD 656  Graduate Seminar: Contemporary Topics in Art and Design
3 credits
GRAD 750  University Seminar: Criticism 3 credits
MSEM 602  Museum Seminar: Museum in Practice 3 credits
MSEM 603  The Museum Audience 3 credits
MSEM 610  Museum Exhibition Design Studio 6 credits
MSEM 611  Museum Exhibition Design Studio 6 credits
MSEM 614  Museum Graphics 1.5 credits
MSEM 615  Museum Lighting 1.5 credits
MSEM 616  Exhibition Materials and Methods 1.5 credits
MSEM 617  Exhibition Materials and Methods 1.5 credits
MSEM 621  Media for Museum Communication 3 credits
MSEM 711  Museum Exhibition Design Studio 6 credits
MSEM 781  Thesis Development: Museum Exhibition Planning & Design 3 credits
MSEM 782  Thesis Development: Museum Education Planning & Design 3 credits
MSEM 795  Museum Exhibition & Planning Internship 1.5 - 3 credits complete three credits
Students with at least six months of direct exhibition-related experience in a museum, equivalent institution, or a museum consultancy may substitute one three-hour elective for the internship requirement.

Electives (12 credits)

Complete 12 credits of graduate level elective coursework. This requirement is satisfied by 500, 600, or 700 level courses.