About the Museum Studies Minor
A museum studies education helps students understand the rich history around them, how to preserve it and how to navigate a career in the world of museums. As a museum studies minor, students are encouraged to pursue courses, internship experiences and study abroad programs that align with their interests. Students must be pursuing an undergraduate degree to participate in the museum studies minor.
Tour the UW Visual Arts facilities, get a feel for our programs and see how to become involved in the department!
Dr. Catherine Popovici leads UW’s museum studies program. She is an Assistant Professor of Art History in the Department of Visual Arts. Her research explores the visual and material landscapes of the Indigenous Americas, with a particular focus on the ancient Maya region of Mesoamerica. Her interdisciplinary scholarship examines the relationships between art, monuments, landscapes and environmental forces, and has been supported by the American Council of Learned Societies. Before joining UW, she held positions at Indiana University, Johns Hopkins University, the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts, the John Carter Brown Library and the Blanton Museum of Art.
What can you do with a Museum Studies Minor?
The museum studies minor is greatly valued by employers, and many students work in museums directly after graduation. Others choose to apply what they’ve learned in graduate programs in museum studies and related fields.
A museum studies minor can open the door to a variety of careers in cultural institutions and beyond. Students gain skills in curation, collections management, exhibit design, public education and nonprofit administration, making them strong candidates for roles in museums, galleries, archives, historical societies, national parks and community arts organizations.
Here are some of the job titles that UW museum studies graduates have held:
- Director of operations
- Curator of collections and exhibitions
- Guest services director
- Museum collections assistant
- Manager of collections
- Assistant curator
- History instructor
- Museum preparator
- Executive manager
- Collections photographer
- Oxford University Museum of Natural History
- National Museum of Military Vehicles
- Western States Art Federation (WESTAF)
- Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
- WOW! Children's Museum
- National Music Museum
- Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum
- University of Wyoming
- Juneau-Douglas City Museum
- University of Wyoming Art Museum
- Northern Arapaho Tribal Historic Preservation Office
- Herrett Center for Arts and Sciences
The museum studies minor is available to all majors at UW! If you're looking for specific guidance, here are some of the majors we recommend:
Day In The Life of a Museum Studies Student
Meet UW student, Emma Thielk. Emma chose the University of Wyoming for its welcoming campus, outdoor recreation, sense of community and the opportunity to customize her studies. As an American studies major with a minor in museum studies, Emma’s UW experience is filled with research projects, education abroad, outdoor adventures and plenty of fun with friends. Curious about what life as a busy museum studies student is really like? Join Emma for a glimpse into her exciting journey!
The University of Wyoming has earned its Research Level 1 (R1) status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, placing Wyoming's only four-year university with the top research universities in the United States.