The Only Museum Studies Master’s Degree in English Canada
The Master of Museum Studies (MMSt) is a two-year professional program that brings together leading researchers and practitioners to offer students the theory and professional experience they need to play a leading role in a wide variety of cultural institutions, from museums and galleries to science centres and heritage sites. It is the only master’s degree of its kind in English-speaking Canada.
Museum Studies faculty members participate in ground-breaking, interdisciplinary research in areas covering history, anthropology, visual studies, communication, education, sociology and food studies. The program’s instructors include directors, managers, curators, conservators, interpretive planners and education specialists at museum and heritage institutions.
One of the highlights of the MMSt program is the final-year capstone project. Together with partnering cultural institutions, students develop projects from initial concept to final delivery.
Students can participate in optional internships, developing their skills at museums and heritage institutions across Canada and in other countries.
Collaborative specializations allow students to specialize in a field outside of their main area of study. The courses taken within the collaborative specialization count as electives in their MMSt degree program.
Program Options
Students in the Museum Studies program have two options. They can either do a capstone project or complete a thesis.
The final-year capstone project allows students to partner with cultural institutions to develop exhibits and other projects from initial concept to final delivery.
Students who have a clearly defined topic and wish to gain experience in developing and executing a research project from beginning to end may choose to write a thesis in their second year.
Program Highlights
Students can participate in optional internships, developing their skills at museums and heritage institutions across Canada and in other countries.
Collaborative specializations allow students to specialize in a field outside of their main area of study. The courses taken within the collaborative specialization count as electives.
Master of Museum Studies and Graduates
Defne Inceoglu (MMSt, Class of 2020)
Defne works as a Development and Partnerships Officer at Surrey Place where, among other things, they have worked on the Mashkikiiwininiwag Mazinaatesijigan Wichiiwewin program drawing on the project management, human research and storytelling skills they acquired at the Faculty of Information.
Erica Chi (MMSt, Class of 2019)
Erica credits her internship for providing the hands-on collections experience that helped her land a job after graduation as an Art Administrator at the TD Bank Corporate Art Collection, one of Canada’s largest company collections. She now works as a Public Art Officer for the City of Ottawa.
Academic Requirements
The MMSt program requires students to complete fifteen 0.5 credit courses (7.5 credits). 0.5 credit courses at the University of Toronto last one semester.
Students are eligible to complete their credits based on course work only, including required and elective courses. Alternatively, they can complete a thesis.
All students have to take a shared set of required courses and choose between the capstone course and thesis option. The remaining credits come from elective courses, which can include the 0.5 credit course taken alongside the internship, other Museum Studies electives, and graduate-level courses outside the program.
Suggested Course Sequence
Year 1 Fall and Winter required courses
In Year 1, students are recommended to complete the following mandatory courses.
MSL1150H Collection Management 0.5 Credits
MSL1230H Ethics, Leadership, Management 0.5 Credits
MSL2331H The Museum Exhibition: Histories, Practices, Genres 0.5 Credits
MSL2370H Museums and Cultural Heritage: Context and Critical Issues 0.5 Credits
Year 1 electives
In Year 1, students completing an internship are recommended to complete MSL3900H and 1.5 FCE in elective courses.
Students not completing an internship are recommended to complete 2.0 FCE in elective courses.
MSL3900H The Emerging Museum Professional 0.5 Credits
Year 1 Summer
Students completing an internship are recommended to complete MSL3000H
MSL3000H MMSt Internship 0.5 Credits
Note: Only students completing an internship. MSL3900H is a pre-requisite.
Year 2 required courses
In Year 2, students are recommended to complete the following courses
MSL2350H Museum Planning and Management: Projects and Fundraising 0.5 Credits
INF2040H Project Management 0.5 Credits
MSL4000Y Museum Studies Capstone Projects 1.0 Credits
Year 2 electives
In Year 2, students completing an internship are recommended to complete 1.5 FCE in elective courses.
Students not completing an internship are recommended to complete 2.0 FCE in elective courses.
Year 1 Fall and Winter required courses
In Year 1, students are recommended to complete the following mandatory courses.
MSL1150H Collection Management 0.5 Credits
MSL1230H Ethics, Leadership, Management 0.5 Credits
MSL2331H The Museum Exhibition: Histories, Practices, Genres 0.5 Credits
MSL2370H Museums and Cultural Heritage: Context and Critical Issues 0.5 Credits
INF1240H Research Methods 0.5 Credits
(or similar; approval needed)
Year 1 electives
In Year 1, students completing an internship are recommended to complete MSL3900H and 1.0 FCE in elective courses.
Students not completing an internship are recommended to complete 1.5 FCE in elective courses.
MSL3900H The Emerging Museum Professional 0.5 Credits
Note: Only students completing an internship
Year 1 Summer
Students completing an internship are recommended to complete MSL3000H
MSL3000H MMSt Internship 0.5 Credits
Note: Only students completing an internship. MSL3900H is a pre-requisite.
Year 2 required courses
In Year 2, students are recommended to complete the following courses
MSL2350H Museum Planning and Management: Projects and Fundraising 0.5 Credits
RST9999Y Museum Studies Thesis 2.0 Credits
Year 2 electives
In Year 2, students completing an internship are recommended to complete 0.5 FCE in elective courses.
Students not completing an internship are recommended to complete 1.0 FCE in elective courses.
This is a two-year program, only offered on a full-time basis.
Program Essentials
More details about admissions requirements for domestic and international students can be found on the MMSt Admission Requirements page.
Information about tuition fees, financial aid, and scholarships and awards can be found on the Money Matters page.
Detailed information about Awards, Scholarships and Financial Aid for domestic and international students can be found on the Awards page.
MMSt Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the program will have awareness and applied understanding of:
- The history of museums, and the centrality of representation within their social and political roles in societies
- Various professional responsibilities within cultural institutions and agencies and the interrelationship of these responsibilities
- Ethical issues facing cultural institutions, agencies, and professionals
- Museological best practices
- Legal frameworks and ethical debates surrounding the acquisition and care of natural and cultural heritage
Graduates of the program will be able to:
- Innovate in the face of new challenges
- Advocate for the importance of cultural institutions in society
- Communicate effectively by integrating content, form and media to achieve desired goals
- Use appropriate methods to assess on-going project development and to evaluate achievements and effects of museum activities
- Organize processes involving people, financial and physical resources in order to actualize programmes, projects, buildings and revitalization plans
- Work in and manage groups and interpersonal relations
Latest News
MMSt students partner with Native Canadian Centre to support Indigenous collections
In their capstone projects course, students in the Master of Museum Studies program are working with the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto (NCCT) to support the care of Indigenous cultural materials, improve access to them, and deepen understanding of their significance. The NCCT stewards a diverse and growing collection of artworks, newspapers and audiovisual materials from across Turtle […]
Museum Studies in action: Capstone Projects 2025/2026
As the 2025/2026 Capstone Projects season concludes, students in the Master of Museum Studies (MMSt) program are showcasing the results of year-long collaborations with cultural and heritage sector partners. Thirteen project teams worked collaborated with museums, archives, and related organizations cultural centres to develop and implement public-facing and behind-the-scenes initiatives projects responsive to institutional and […]
Student Mini-Exhibits from Curatorial Practice
Stop by the fifth floor of the Bissell Building to explore Master of Museum Studies student exhibits inspired by the theme of home. These works were curated as final assignments for Curatorial Practice course (MSL2000H) taught by Assistant Professor Maggie Hutcheson, and they offer a thoughtful look at how students interpret identity, belonging, and place. […]
Re-writing Romanian History
Using Romanian museums as an example, Professor Irina D.Mihalache is exploring how museums cope with political pressure.