MA Museum Studies at Arizona State University

Programme overview

The Master of Arts program in museum studies informs and trains you in the ethical and legal considerations around collections care, cultural resource compliance, and collaboration with descendant communities as stakeholders in museum collections. You develop theoretical questions and applied skills that engage the functions, practices and critical analyses of museums.

What you will study

30 credit hours including the required applied project course (ASB 593) Required Core (3 credit hours) ASB 573 Museum Administration (3) Other Requirements (9 or 10 credit hours) ASB 584 Internship (6) ASB 579 Critical Issues Museum Studies (3) or ASB 591 Topic: Cultural Resource Compliance and Consultation (3) or ASM 555 Advanced Human Osteology (4) Electives (14 or 15 credit hours) Culminating Experience (3 credit hours) ASB 593 Applied Project (3) Additional Curriculum Information For a complete list of approved elective and research courses, students should contact the school.

Career pathways

The demand in the job market for people with the skill set to manage cultural collections and community engaged stewardship is strong. There is a growing need for researchers and practitioners with knowledge and skills who can manage, evaluate and identify cultural materials for long-term care, repatriation and interpretation.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Suitable backgrounds for admission include disciplines related to museum studies, anthropology, history or art (fine art or art history). Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: graduate admission application and application fee official transcripts personal statement outlining educational and professional goals current curriculum vitae or resume three letters of recommendation proof of English proficiency Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

Domestic applicants: USD 13,327 a year (2026-27). Arizona resident tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads Source

International applicants: USD 24,780 a year (2026-27). International tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads ar Source

Entry terms: Fall, Spring and Summer; the terms available for each programme are listed in Degree Search.

Graduate application deadlines are set by each programme office and listed in Degree Search; the application opens almost a year before the start term. The nonrefundable application fee is $75 for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA and international online students outside the U.S., and $120 for international students on a nonimmigrant visa studying in the U.S. Apply with ASU's graduate application (Law applicants use the law college's site); GRE/GMAT requirements vary by programme.

Apply through the official page: https://admission.asu.edu/apply/graduate/admission

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