Museum Studies
Shape the role of the museum in modern society.
Museum studies focuses on the presentation of cultural memory — which influences both mass culture and individual viewpoints that define who we are and what we value. Our program offers opportunities to investigate these questions across global communities.
Build an interdisciplinary foundation of knowledge
Courses in our museum studies major reflect an interdisciplinary nature. There are course options in business, education, communications, psychology and environmental science — giving you a range of options to discover.
Learn how museums are managed
Your major in museum studies will develop an in-depth understanding of the design, organization and management of museums. This will help you create your path to becoming a curator, archivist, educator and more.
Go deep into public history and art
In this program, your primary courses will be focused on history and art.
Lower division courses will focus on the acquisition of an introductory knowledge of the history of world civilizations and the United States, as well as the fundamental skills needed to succeed in more specialized coursework. Upper division courses will offer you a variety of specialized classes, seminars and independent studies that allow more in-depth exploration of specific topics.
At a Glance
Degree Type
Bachelor of Arts
Department
School/College
College of Arts and Sciences
Next Steps
Interested in this major? Here's what you can do next:
With challenging and relevant courses, outstanding faculty, small class sizes, and an emphasis on hands-on learning, the museum studies program will position you to succeed in your chosen career.
Degree requirements
Find out what it takes to earn a degree in museum studies and explore the courses.
Highlighted Courses
Get familiar with some of the courses you might take in this major.
BUS 375: Principles of Marketing
The study of marketing methods and practices. Topics include policies and problems related to consumers, pricing, advertising, management information systems and distribution and management of the marketing function.
See descriptionART 280: Design
An introductory study in the visual elements and principles of design and unity of expression. Includes creative exploration in two- and three-dimensional composition.
See descriptionCOMM 306: Business and Professional Communication
A study of the principles involved in communicating in a professional environment. This class covers organizational communication and cultures, including team communication, conflict negotiation, leadership styles, group decision-making techniques, and business ethics.
See descriptionCHEM 111: Chemistry and the Environment
Explores the interface between chemistry and the world we live in, with particular emphasis on environmental issues such as pollution, energy depletion and global warming. The chemical principles required to understand these topics are introduced on an as-needed basis.
See descriptionPSYC 200: General Psychology
Covers the concepts and principles pertinent to psychological processes as social behavior, development, perception, thinking and symbolic processes, physiology, personality and psychological disorders. Introduces students to the empirical foundation of the discipline of psychology.
See descriptionHIST 343: Women in Global History
A thematic investigation of the "underside of history." The class explores several topics including women and their role in the development of agriculture and technology in the ancient Near East, the roles of women in the empires of Rome, the Moslems and China, the status of women in the Middle Ages in Europe and Japan, and the role of women leaders like Catherine the Great and Queen Victoria.
See descriptionRecommended Minors
Want to add even more value to your degree? Consider one of these minors to gain a unique combination of skills and perspectives.
We offer hands-on opportunities that give you the freedom to explore your passion through real-world work and prepare for a fulfilling career.
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Internships
Students have gained hands-on experience through internships at a number of locations, including:
- Colonial National Historical Park
- Getty Art Museum
- Grant Brimhall Library Radio Archives
- Museo Italo Americano
- Pleasant Valley Historical Museum & Garden
- Ramona Museum of California History
- Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum
- Smithsonian Museum of American History
- Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park
- Ventura Museum of History and Art
- William Rolland Gallery of Fine Art
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Study Abroad
Through study abroad opportunities, you’ll get to experience global perspectives on art in society and see how world-class museums operate.
- Intern at the Smithsonian with the Lutheran College Washington Semester (LCWS)
- Study preservation in Florence, Italy at the Studio Arts College International (SACI)
- Find study abroad opportunities through our Office of Education Abroad
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Learning in Action
As a community committed to inclusion and excellence, we encourage the capstone installation for the major to reflect the individual history of each student so that the variety of human experience can be shared.
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Travel Seminars
Faculty-led travel courses also allow students to explore histories at the sites of their creation. Students have had the opportunity to take travel seminars to Peru, Japan, and Germany in recent years.
Our graduates often pursue graduate work in the social sciences, law and church vocations; they’re equally well prepared to begin careers in teaching and administration, media reporting, library science, archival work, genealogy, public administration and museums.
Potential Careers
Archivists
Appraise, edit, and direct safekeeping of permanent records and historically valuable documents. Participate in research activities based on archival materials.
See descriptionCurators
Administer collections, such as artwork, collectibles, historic items, or scientific specimens of museums or other institutions. May conduct instructional, research, or public service activities of institution.
See descriptionMuseum Technicians and Conservators
Restore, maintain, or prepare objects in museum collections for storage, research, or exhibit. May work with specimens such as fossils, skeletal parts, or botanicals; or artifacts, textiles, or art. May identify and record objects or install and arrange them in exhibits. Includes book or document conservators.
See descriptionLibrarians and Media Collections Specialists
Administer and maintain libraries or collections of information, for public or private access through reference or borrowing. Work in a variety of settings, such as educational institutions, museums, and corporations, and with various types of informational materials, such as books, periodicals, recordings, films, and databases. Tasks may include acquiring, cataloging, and circulating library materials, and user services such as locating and organizing information, providing instruction on how to access information, and setting up and operating a library's media equipment.
See descriptionHistorians
Research, analyze, record, and interpret the past as recorded in sources, such as government and institutional records, newspapers and other periodicals, photographs, interviews, films, electronic media, and unpublished manuscripts, such as personal diaries and letters.
See descriptionFundraisers
Organize activities to raise funds or otherwise solicit and gather monetary donations or other gifts for an organization. May design and produce promotional materials. May also raise awareness of the organization's work, goals, and financial needs.
See descriptionLooking for more career paths? Search these related areas to discover more options.
Employers
Some of the organizations our graduates work for include:
- Minnesota Museum of American Art
- Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
- Old Santa Barbara Mission
- Weisman Art Museum
- Camarillo Ranch House Historic Site
- Ronald Reagan Presidential Museum & Library
- Naval History and Heritage Command
- Minnesota Historical Society
- Conejo Valley Art Museum
- Northrop Grumman Archivist
- Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum& Carriage House
- Museo Italo Americano
Graduate Schools
Our alumni have pursued advanced degrees at:
- California State University, Fullerton
- California State University, Northridge
- George Washington University
- Harvard University
- Johns Hopkins University
- San Jose State University
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of Southern California
- University of Sydney
- University of Texas
- University of Washington
This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Some occupations listed above may require a related graduate degree.
How We Prepare You for Success
We have 20,000+ employer contacts for jobs and internships, with over 200 listings posted each week.
Our excellent career counselors in the Career Services center will get in touch with you during your very first term on campus. They offer over 50 workshops each year on resume writing, interviewing, salary negotiations, applying to graduate schools, and other critical skills to help you begin your career successfully.
After you graduate from Cal Lutheran, you receive free access to Career Services for life, as a valued member of our alumni family.
of Cal Lutheran graduates find a job or enroll in graduate school within nine months
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