Museum Education Certificate

Saint Joseph’s University’s online (synchronous and asynchronous) Museum Education Certificate prepares educators for work in public and private museums. Offered in partnership with the Barnes Foundation — one of the world's premiere art collections —the program teaches students how to share knowledge with the public in an engaging and inclusive way, from K12 school groups to everyday visitors. Participants will learn strategies for teaching about objects and collections, developing skills that are applicable to any type of museum—including art and natural history museums, science institutes, and historical sites and houses.

Collectively, the four courses students select can cover the following areas: 

  • Foundations of Museum Education: Explore the history and philosophy of museums, museum education and the museum’s shifting role in society.
  • Inclusive Learning Environments: Learn how to apply diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) frameworks in museum education through an anti-racism and anti-bias lens.
  • Pedagogical Practices: You will also study experiential learning, object-based learning and design theory for in-person and virtual spaces as well as effective communication and presentation strategies.
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What Sets Our Program Apart?

  • Students will learn from faculty experts who excel as practitioners, combining rigorous academic preparation with real-world application of museum education and leadership principles in environments, such as the Barnes Foundation and Maguire Art Museum.

  • The credits you earn from the certificate in museum education can be applied toward a Master of Arts in Museum Education from Saint Joseph’s University. Students who successfully complete the certificate program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher can then take six additional courses to earn an MA in Museum Education.

  • There are three internship structures available for students enrolled in this program, including:

    • Embedded within students’ current employment at a museum or educational site
    • Graduate internship (limited quantity, competitive application) at the Barnes Foundation or the Maguire Art Museum
    • Executive style internship over appropriate number of evenings or weekends

    Additional requirement is attendance at a synchronous, online seminar class to debrief and reflect on internship experiences.

  • The Barnes Foundation has developed an online platform specifically designed for object-based learning that will be a unique and cutting-edge experience for students. The immersive, state-of-the-art Visual Experience Platform (VXP), developed exclusively for the field of museum education, brings students closer to works than ever before. Students can view and manipulate artworks in exquisite detail while engaging in dialogue with their peers and educators, creating a multisensory environment that reinforces learning outcomes.

What Can You Do With a Museum Education Certificate?

The combination of courses on museum history, instructional approaches, and DEI frameworks in current and aspiring museum educators can lead to career pathways as a:

  • Museum Educator (public and private museums)
  • Museum education curriculum developer
  • PK-12 Gallery Educator
  • PK-12 Classroom Educator
  • Museum Family Programs Educator
  • Museum Public Programs Educator
  • Museum Teen Programs Educator

Program Details

  • View required courses for this program in the academic catalog. Please contact us if you have any questions about the program curriculum.

  • Affordable tuition options start at $862 per credit.*

    *Visit our Tuition & Fees page or contact us for more information.

    Financial aid may be available to you to help offset the cost of your degree. Explore your options on our Financial Aid page.

    Discount Eligibility
    Have you completed a year or more of service with a recognized service organization? You may be eligible for our mission discount.

    Alumni of Saint Joseph's are eligible to receive 10% off the cost of this program through our alumni discount.

    Check with your employer to see if they are an Edcor or a Bright Horizons EdAssist member, which may entitle you to a discount on graduate programs.

    Note: discounts cannot be combined.

  • Saint Joseph’s is a Yellow Ribbon School that accepts GI education benefits. Our Office of Veterans Service can help you access and understand your benefits.

Admission Information

  • Applicants for the museum education certificate will be required to provide evidence of completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0.

    • Apply online.
    • Submit official college transcripts from all colleges attended.
    • Submit a personal statement.
    • Submit resume.
    • Submit two letters of recommendation

    Visit our Graduate Admission Information page to learn more about admission requirements, key deadlines, additional requirements for international students and how to submit your application.

  • Graduate applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. New students may enroll in courses during the fall, spring or summer semesters.

    Start Terms:

    • Fall: August
    • Spring: January 
    • Summer: May

  • If you’re applying as an international student, you must provide proof of English Language Proficiency and Certification of Finances along with your application. Check the graduate admission page for additional requirements.

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