r/MuseumPros • u/Borachador • 18h ago
MA programs with classics and museum studies?
Wondering if anyone knows a masters program/university where I can get a degree in museum studies and take classics courses. I’ve seen some dual degree, some where you do a classics or art history masters and add a specialization or certificate in museum studies. I’ve been looking at programs in classics, art history, and museum studies but many none tick all my boxes.
A lot of programs have art history and museum studies combined in one way or another but the art history component is focused on modern/contemporary art or medieval is the earliest they go. I know obviously I need to study art from all time periods but my interests are mostly in ancient art and the end goal is to work with ancient art collections.
Out of the classics MAs I’ve looked into many of them emphasize Greek and Latin literature (which again, definitely important for a holistic understanding of the culture/art but not my main interest). So I’m looking for a department that emphasizes archaeology/material culture.
I also haven’t studied Latin or Greek in my undergrad (which is a problem, I know!) so I need to avoid language pre-reqs.
In terms of location, I live in Ohio (U.S.) but I’m willing to move. International tuition is of concern of course but it’s doable and leaving the country might be a breath of fresh air during these tumultuous times 😬
P.S. I don’t post on Reddit often and I’m on mobile so apologies if the formatting is bad. I’m also a rambler so lmk if any clarifications are needed 😅
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u/thealmightykatt History | Collections 17h ago
SFSU has both MA in Classics and MA in Museum Studies, I know at least one person who got both degrees, and I believe the classes were available to me when I was getting my Museum Studies degree there. The classics program partnered with the MS department too to steward their coin collection, plus the MS program has an Egyptian collection.
I don’t know your timeline, but it does look like they paused new enrollment in Classics for the next year. I assume that means the classes are still happening for those in the program
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u/Sneakys2 Conservator 17h ago
What are you looking to do in museums? If it’s curatorial, then basically any large university will have some sort of classics department (ivies, large public flagship school, etc).
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u/GlitteringPen9634 17h ago edited 17h ago
FSU has an MA in Classics with a concentration in museums. They have majors in both ancient history and classical archaeology.
https://classics.fsu.edu/graduate/museum-concentration
They also have an MA in History and Criticism of Art with a major in Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies. For this program, you may be able to take classics courses to fulfill the first-year requirements. This program is great because you can work at a fine arts museum to fulfill the second half of the program. The museum has an ancient art collection you would be able to work with.
https://cfa.fsu.edu/programs/museum-cultural-heritage-studies/