Museum Studies - The University of Tulsa
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Programs in Museum Studies

Extend your knowledge from the classroom to work in Tulsa’s many museums and cultural organizations.

Museum Studies at The University of Tulsa offers two interdisciplinary programs: an undergraduate minor and a master’s in Museum Science and Management. Both programs benefit from the university’s partnership with Gilcrease Museum, providing students with paid and volunteer opportunities in various departments. The programs emphasize a balance of interdisciplinary coursework and hands-on experience, preparing students for careers in museums, cultural heritage centers, and non-profit organizations. The undergraduate minor can be paired with any major and includes lectures, seminars, field trips, internships, and case studies. The master’s program allows specialization in museum administration, collections care and research, or cultural heritage preservation, offering graduate assistantships for highly qualified students.

100% Success Rate for Museum Studies Graduates

$50K+ Annual Median Pay for Curators and Museum Workers

12% Job Growth by 2031 (U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics)

9:1 Student-Faculty Ratio

Professional Opportunities

Three students leaning forward and examining a book artifact in museum

Our interdisciplinary minor is designed for students from various academic disciplines who wish to enhance their knowledge of museum studies, cultural heritage, and historic preservation. By exploring the curation of material culture—including ethnographic, artistic, and historical artifacts, everyday museum operations, and museology’s current theoretical, political, and ethical concerns—you will gain a solid foundation that leads you to careers in modern-day cultural environments.

Job opportunities: 

  • Development officer or grant writer
  • Registrar or collections manager
  • Museum interpreter or public programmer
  • Digital curator
  • Executive director
  • Cultural heritage preservation officer

Beyond the Classroom

  • EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
  • STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
  • SOCIAL JUSTICE & SERVICE
  • JOB PLACEMENT
    • Set the stage for lifelong learning and success.

      Students gain hands-on experience through required internships at museums and cultural institutions, some of which offer funding. Collaborations with organizations like Gilcrease Museum and Helmerich Center for American Research provide opportunities to focus on American art, archaeology, ethnology, and archives. Additionally, students receive support for conferences, professional development, and job search preparation.

      EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

    • Make your UTulsa experience as rich and diverse as you like.

      Student organizations such as the Gilcrease Junior Board provide a rare opportunity to see what’s entailed in being a major American museum board member. Members network with museum staff, partner with the museum on programming and outreach to the campus community, and participate in special events for the Junior Board. In addition to the Gilcrease Junior Board, more than 50 student organizations are active on campus for students to join and make their mark.

      STUDENT Organizations

    • Be the change you want to see.

      Museums have been at the forefront of guiding conversations about societal issues through storytelling and preserving our histories, community outreach and listening sessions, and ethical and thoughtful presentation of exhibitions and collections. Museum studies at UTulsa provides an interdisciplinary vehicle for exploring various topics affecting societies today and concrete tools for effecting change.

      CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

    • Pursue success with confidence — backed by UTulsa's job placement guarantee.

      UTulsa is committed to our students’ professional success, which is why our Center for Career Development, aka CaneCareers, offers a job placement guarantee program. We promise that students who follow the program will land an entry-level job in their chosen field or continue their education within six months of graduation, or we’ll give them a free semester of grad school.

      JOB PLACEMENT GUARANTEE

    Learn more about the college

    Our dedicated faculty of experts will prepare you for a myriad of future professional opportunities via coursework that offers both breadth and depth regarding modern-day museum operations – both in theory and practice. Click below to learn more.

    Kendall College of Arts and Science