Master of Arts in Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies

Based within the FSU Department of Art History, the Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies (MCHS) Master of Arts program encourages emerging scholars to think critically about the role, use, and display of art and material culture while preparing them for future careers within the museum and heritage sectors. The program provides a solid theoretical and practical foundation with an emphasis on ethics, community engagement, and culturally responsive museum practices. We critically examine the power dynamics that are inherent within the politics of collection, exhibition, and curatorial practice in museums as well as how the past is taught, represented, and publicly debated.

The program offers two exciting courses of study: The Tallahassee Course and The Ringling Course. In their second year, students may choose to remain in Tallahassee, working with the Florida Department of State, National Park Service Southeastern Archaeological Center (SEAC), local archives, galleries, museums, historic homes, and other cultural heritage-based organizations, or they may apply for The Ringling Course, to spend their second year of study in Sarasota at the John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art, one of the largest and most prestigious university art museums in the country.

The MCHS MA program at FSU is part of the Southern Regional Education Board Academic Common Market. Students from Louisiana, South Carolina and Tennessee may pursue a degree in the program at in-state tuition rates through the Academic Common Market.

Faculty who teach MCHS courses include Mora Beauchamp-Byrd, Kristin Dowell, Kyle Killian, Paul Niell, Erika Loic, Michael Carrasco, Brendan Weaver, Susan Baldino, and Carey Fee, as well as other courtesy and visiting faculty and Ringling Museum professionals.

A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from an international institution, with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor's degree
Prospective students should have a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Art History or a related field, such as anthropology, archaeology, art, classics, or history, and reading knowledge of one foreign language, which may be completed concurrently with the master's program. Admissions are based on scholastic record, letters of recommendation, foreign language proficiency, and a writing sample.
During the application process, you will be uploading the following documents electronically:
A statement of purpose, consisting of a narrative (1-3 pages) that addresses the following:
Your interest in the field
Professional or academic background
Area of intended specialization (also indicate with which professors you intend to work)
Career aspirations
Your particular interest in Florida State University
Your curriculum vitae or resume, following the template below:
A recent paper in art history, preferably in your major area of interest, that demonstrates your abilities in research and writing.
Unofficial copies of transcripts from all higher education institutions attended.
Note: You will still need to send official copies of your transcripts to the Office of Admissions, but an unofficial copy will be sufficient for the department to review your application. GRE scores are not required for the application to Art History's graduate programs.
Three letters of recommendation, preferably by Art History faculty with whom you have studied. You will identify three recommenders in your application, they will then be notified by email that their letters are requested.
International students only: TOEFL scores

Internet based TOEFL (IBTOEFL): 80
Paper based TOEFL (TOEFL): 550
International English Language Testing System (Academic IELTS): 6.5