Master of Arts in Museum Studies

Museums today need visionary leaders. This program offers the theory and practice of all aspects of the museum field, teaching innovative skills and knowledge to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Museums are more relevant today than ever before. They are responsible for cultural stewardship and serve as a gathering place for communities; a space for reflection, interaction, participation, and learning (onsite and online); and act as an agent of social change.

Innovations in information and communication technologies are challenging museums to rethink their approach and transform the museum experience to keep up with the intellectual curiosity of today’s learners. The need has never been greater for leaders with the knowledge and skills to face these challenges and create a vision for the museums of the future.

Prepare for 21st-century museum leadership and stewardship with a master’s degree in museum studies at Johns Hopkins. With a focus on technology’s role in the field, the program explores how museums can attract new visitors, increase engagement, and transform experiences for today’s diverse audiences.

A 21st-Century Curriculum

New demands and challenges are emerging in every aspect of the museum landscape. Focusing on the needs of the 21st-century museum professional, this program combines theory and practice while emphasizing digital strategies in today’s museum and offering training on new models of education, curatorship, exhibitions, and business strategies to create the visionary leaders of the future.

Learn on Your Terms

Access your coursework—and collections from museums around the world—from wherever you are. Available 90% online, the MA in Museum Studies program is flexible enough to fit your scheduling needs and also highly interactive, providing an enriching learning experience filled with virtual field trips and engaging discussions.

The two-week onsite study seminar, in locations organized by the program, adds a hands-on, real-world component to your Johns Hopkins experience.

Johns Hopkins University, founded in 1876 and ranked seventh among national universities in 2022 by U.S. News and World Report , is a top-tier research university with campus locations in Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and committed to cultivating every student’s capacity for lifelong learning, Johns Hopkins fosters independent and original research and strives to bring the benefits of discovery to the world. The Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs division offers professional graduate degree programs for adults seeking flexibility, career advancement, and personal enrichment.