Additional Information
Generally, a master's degree and three to five years of experience working
in a museum are the requirements for becoming a museum curator. Increasingly,
however, museums look for candidates with a PhD.
Many years ago, curator Philip Lambert got hired with only a master's in
intertidal marine invertebrates. "Probably nowadays you'd need your PhD,"
he says.
Educational backgrounds for museum curators vary. Some employers want curators
with a background in history and anthropology. However, many universities
now offer programs in museum studies to train students specifically in the
operations and skills needed by museum curators.
Even with a degree in museum studies, don't expect to fall into a curatorial
position right away. Most curators have at least five years of experience
working in a museum before becoming a curator. Volunteering is a good way
to gain this experience.
Elisa Phelps is the director of collections and programs at the Witte Museum
in San Antonio, Texas. Phelps sought experience while she was going to school.
"I took classes and volunteered and did things. So, by the time I finished
school, I had some experience," she says.
Museum internships are another good way to gain insight into museum work
-- and be paid at the same time. Most universities offer museum internships
along with their museum studies programs.
These internships generally last for four months -- the length of a university
term -- and provide students with work experience in their area of preference.
Large museum organizations, such as the Smithsonian Institute in Washington,
offer a paid internship program for university and high school graduates.
It also helps to have some published writing under your belt. While it's
not a requirement for most curatorial jobs, many museums expect their curators
to publish articles in academic journals.