New Graduate Certificate of Museum Practice prepares students for cultural professions and beyond
Launched in August 2022, Wayne State's Graduate Certificate of Museum Practice is a 12-credit program available to both current graduate students across the university who are interested in complementing their discipline-based work in a master's or Ph.D. program, as well as those who are not currently enrolled in a graduate program at Wayne State but wish to pursue the certificate as a free-standing credential.
The certificate program is designed to provide students with critical knowledge and skills related to different facets of museum operations. Its curriculum unites history, theory, and practical learning in ways that prepare students for professional careers in museums and other cultural and heritage institutions.
The Graduate Certificate in Museum Practice was created by the Department of Anthropology in response to local, regional, and national demand. According to recent figures from the federal government's Institute of Museum and Library Services, there were over 35,000 museums nationwide in 2014, a number that has increased since. In the coming decade, the museum sector is forecast to experience continued growth, fueled by improving economic conditions as the tourism and travel sectors recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "overall employment of curators, museum workers, and archivists is projected to grow 19 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 4,900 openings for archivists, curators, and museum workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade."
The Graduate Certificate in Museum Practice is housed within the Grosscup Museum of Anthropology, which has been an anchor of Wayne State's community-based and collections-involved research for over 60 years.
For more information, contact the certificate program coordinator, Professor Andrew Maske.
