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.
Program Highlights
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.
Master of Museum Studies and Graduates
Felicity Brassard (MMSt, Class of 2024)
Felicity is an Assistant Curator at the Markham Museum in the Greater Toronto Area, where she researches and develops exhibitions, works with museum collections and oral histories, and creates interactive experiences for visitors.
Amanda Furniss (MMSt, Class of 2024)
Amanda is Executive Director of the Dartmouth Heritage Museum in Nova Scotia. For her capstone project, she was the Project Manager for the Canadian Women in Film Museum’s exhibition plan. She helped shape the exhibition concept, interpretive approach, and documentation, while also designing exhibition materials and a 3D model using SketchUp.
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.
Program Options
Students in the Museum Studies program can pursue their interests with flexibility through one of four pathways available in the second year of the program.
Course Work
The course work option provides students an opportunity to take a variety of courses, allowing them to tailor their learning and specialize through coursework within the MMSt program or across other graduate programs at the U of T.
The final-year capstone project provides students with the opportunity to work in teams with cultural institutions, developing real-world projects from initial concept to final delivery. Students apply for this option in the first year of the program.
IndependentProject
Students who wish to undertake an independent professional project in a studio setting can apply for this option during their first year to explore a specialized combination of interests or pursue a unique opportunity.
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.
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
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