Master of Arts in Museum Studies

About the Museum Studies Program

SUNY Oneonta's Cooperstown Graduate Program (CGP) in Museum Studies trains creative, entrepreneurial museum leaders committed to generating programs and services for the public good. Students in our master's degree program learn by doing tangible, useful work on real-world projects. They dedicate themselves to developing institutions that play a central role in their communities, encouraging broad public audiences to use artifacts and the study of science, art and history as a catalyst for social change.

Museum Studies students attend classes in Cooperstown, a village 25 miles northeast of Oneonta, and have full access to the resources and facilities of the college. Cooperstown is home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, The Glimmerglass Festival, The Farmers’ Museum, Fenimore Art Museum and a research library. Located on Otsego Lake, the museum studies program makes use of the entire community and its natural environment as its classroom.

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Curriculum and Degree Requirements

You can choose from two tracks:

MA Museum Studies, History Track

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MA Museum Studies, Science Track

How to Apply

To apply, submit the following materials by May 20:

A completed online application and non-refundable fee
Two letters of recommendation. Ideally, one will be from a college faculty member who can attest to ability to complete an M.A. program and one will be from a supervisor or individual qualified to evaluate relevant work experience.
Transcripts from all previous educational institutions
An essay on the following topic: Imagine your ideal museum. What is it like? Who does it serve? What is your job? Provide a personal narrative on this subject of approximately 750 words.

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Contact

Cooperstown Graduate Program
5838 State Route 80
P.O. Box 4
Cooperstown, New York, 13326

Phone: 607-547-2586
Fax: 607-547-8926
Email: Melanie.Bruce@oneonta.edu

FAFSA Submission Code: 002847

Tuition and Scholarships

The cost of attendance for the Cooperstown Graduate Program is lower than that of many other graduate programs. For the 2019-2020 school year, tuition is $11,310/year for New York State resident students and $23,100/year for out-of-state students. See the full cost breakdown.

Keeping with our effort to make CGP affordable, we offer a variety of scholarships to our students. Additional funds are available for special circumstances.

We also offer both first- and second-year assistantships for students to earn money by working in the field with professors. Nine Graduate Assistantships are available to second-year students. Recipients of these assistantships receive a tuition waiver and bi-weekly stipend.

Successful Alumni

Blending hands-on practical experiences with field trips, internships and a rigorous academic program, the Cooperstown Graduate Program has an excellent track record of successful employment for graduates. More than 1,000 alumni have attained prominence in museums and related fields as directors, educators, curators and programming specialists. See where are alumni are working.