‘Creating a better understanding of who we are’: a survey of graduates of a museum studies program

Abstract

This paper reports on the findings of a mail survey of 179 respondents who graduated from a master's level program in museum studies at the University of Toronto between 1970 and 2007. The survey gathered information about the professional experiences of these graduates, what they perceive to be the necessary knowledge and skills in the profession, and their perceptions of current and future job prospects in the museum field. More than two-thirds of all respondents indicated that they had pursued the degree because they were either following their dreams or the program was appealing. Despite the many challenges professionals encounter in the field – e.g., sustainable funding, remaining relevant, and engaging the public – respondents reported that museums provided rewarding places to develop professional careers.

Keywords:

• museum education
• museum studies
• museum training
• professional education

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of Allison Black, Jes Koepfler, Elizabeth Peterson, Juanita Rossiter, and The University of Toronto Archives and Records Management Services (UTARMS).

Notes

1. A co-op program normally involves a three-way partnership among an employer, student, and the university. Co-op programs normally provide on the job training to complement a student's academic work.

2. The program currently has an elective course on new media.

3. The Faculty of Information has a Ph.D. program and a few doctoral students at the Faculty are studying topics related to museum practice for their doctoral work.