Tufts University - Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

MASTER’S DEGREES IN

MUSEUM STUDIES AND MUSEUM EDUCATION

Join an exceptional community working at the forefront of today’s leading museums and begin curating the art world of tomorrow.

GET YOUR MASTER'S IN
Museum Education
Art History and Museum Studies
History and Museum Studies

GET YOUR CERTIFICATE IN
Museum Studies

 

ENTRY TERM:
Fall

 

APPLICATION DEADLINES:
April 15, 2026, for the MA in Art History and Museum Studies, MA in Museum Education, and MA in History and Museum Studies  
May 1, 2026, for the Certificate in Museum Studies

No GRE Required


CREATE YOUR CAREER’S NEXT STAGE

Learn about how Tufts’ graduate programs in museum studies and museum education can help your career flourish—on your terms.

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GET YOUR MASTER'S IN
Museum Education
Art History and Museum Studies
History and Museum Studies

GET YOUR CERTIFICATE IN
Museum Studies

 

ENTRY TERM:
Fall

 

APPLICATION DEADLINES:
April 15, 2026, for the MA in Art History and Museum Studies, MA in Museum Education, and MA in History and Museum Studies  
May 1, 2026, for the Certificate in Museum Studies

No GRE Required


9:1

Student-to-teacher ratio

12%

Anticipated growth in museum jobs from 2021 to 2031

125,000+

Join a network with 125,000+ Tufts University alumni

12

Number of months needed to complete the five-course certificate

Are you ready to lead museums into a new era?

  • Learn from the greats
    Led by professionals across a range of institutions, Tufts graduate programs open doors to rewarding museum careers across the country and around the world.
  • Your learning; your pace
    Your life is busy, so we’ve made our professional programs easy for you to work into your schedule—on your terms and timeline. The certificate in museum studies is fully online. Programs are available full-or part- time, and some include evening classes. The certificates can be completed in less than a year.
  • Pave your own path forward
    No matter your interests, Tufts master’s degree programs offer multiple concentrations in art history, classics, education, or history. Along with internships and research opportunities designed to further your professional development, you’ll have the chance to enhance your interests through practicums at internationally renowned institutions.
  • Nurture your network
    Join our expansive network of alumni and faculty who are leaders in their fields and happy to help our students succeed however possible. You’ll also gain membership to the New England Museum Association (NEMA) and receive discounts to local museums, workshops, and conferences.

  • Generous Scholarships are Available
    Tufts University offers merit and need-based tuition scholarships for graduate programs, as well as fellowships and other special funding opportunities. Be sure to indicate your interest within the Financial Aid section of your application.


Create the Career You’ve Envisioned at Tufts

Explore our master’s and certificate programs tailored to emerging and established museum professionals with wide-ranging interests.

MA in Museum Education

Help museums find new roles in fostering community, addressing social issues, and providing forums for multiple views and voices. This interdisciplinary program is designed for those interested in pursuing careers in art, history, science, and children’s museums.

MA in Art History and Museum Studies

Deepen your theoretical knowledge of art history while delving into the practical concerns that come along with working in a variety of museum settings, from displaying to managing to interpreting art objects.

MA in History and Museum Studies

Study in Greater Boston, a hub for history museums, historical societies, and historic sites while preparing to work as a curator, collections manager, educator, or administrator. 

Certificate in Museum Studies

Develop a comprehensive understanding of how today’s museums operate. This graduate-level certificate program is for anyone wanting to work within museums, whether recently graduated or seeking a career change.

Hear from Our Alumni

“I enrolled in the Tufts Museum Studies certificate program while I worked full time at Portland Museum of Art in Maine. By immersing myself and absorbing as much information as I could possibly manage, I became more and more passionate about museum registration and collections.”

—Emmeline Yen, AG19, Certificate in Museum Studies

“I have been fortunate to use my professional network of colleagues and friends made during the Tufts program to heighten the best parts of my position and to commiserate in some of the more difficult situations. We have been able to share resources, stories, [and] professional connections, and empathize with each other about situations each of us thought were unique to our job.”

—Max Metz Jr., AG18, MA in Museum Education

“The Tufts Museum Education MA program has greatly informed my professional development by challenging my notions of critical pedagogy and preparing me to lead meaningful interpretation. I am now coalescing my learning and practicing applying classroom theory to my work life.”

—Madeline Nelson, AG23, MA in Museum Education

“I started as executive director of The American Trust for the British Library in September 2021. We are the American fundraising arm for the British Library, and my background in museum education and theory as well as my training as an art historian have proven tremendously helpful for this position in ways I couldn’t have previously imagined.”

—Elizabeth Berkowitz, AG08, Certificate in Museum Studies