Museum Studies at DU
A concentration in Museum Studies at DU pairs the theoretical depth of art history and anthropology with real, hands-on training — in our own galleries and collections and through partnership with the Denver Art Museum and Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Small cohorts, close faculty mentorship, and a growing job market make this one of the most distinctive museum studies programs in the country.
You must be enrolled in one of the following programs:
MA in Anthropology
Deepen your understanding of anthropology and apply its concepts, methods, and insights to real-world challenges.
MA in Art History
Explore how art shapes — and is shaped by — cultures, ideas, and societies while developing the critical tools to analyze and interpret visual culture on a global scale.
What Museum Studies Offers
Hands-on Training, Not Just Theory
Students work directly in the DU Museum of Anthropology (DUMA), the Vicki Myhren Gallery, and Davis Gallery on campus and engage in internships with the Denver Art Museum, History Colorado, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and Museo de las Américas.
Paid Internship Pipeline
The Chanzit Internship is a competitive, paid placement within a Denver Art Museum department, selected by School of Art & Art History faculty at the University of Denver — a standout offering since most museum internships nationally are unpaid.
Small, Mentorship-driven Cohorts
Classes run 10–15 students, allowing hands-on, experiential learning in collections work, exhibition design, and public programming, plus field trips to local museums.
Ethics & Stewardship at its Core
Program coursework includes Museum Ethics, Law and Repatriation; NAGPRA compliance; and community-based/Indigenous museology — reflecting real priorities in the contemporary museum field, especially work with Native American communities.
Unmatched Campus Resources
The program boasts access to DUMA, the Vicki Myhren Gallery, Davis Gallery, Hampden Art Study Center, Center for Arts Collection Ethics, Museum of Speculative Inquiry, and Anderson Academic Commons Archives, all on one campus — a rare concentration of collections and gallery space for graduate training.
Strong Alumni Outcomes
Graduates with a Museum Studies concentration hold roles at the Smithsonian Institution, Harvard Art Museums, the Field Museum, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the National Gallery of Art, the Denver Art Museum, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and more.
+61% projected growth for archivist roles into 2030
+32% projected growth for museum technician roles into 2030
+17% projected growth for curator roles into 2030
2,420 annual openings in the field
Interested in Adding Museum Studies?
Reach out to the Director of Museum Studies to declare your concentration in Museum Studies as part of your graduate degree.
