Museum Studies
Certificate in the Undergraduate College
The Museum Studies Bridging Disciplines Program (BDP) certificate offers students the opportunity to develop an understanding of how museums, archives, libraries, galleries, and related institutions function as sites of collecting, education, and research.
Course offerings spanning a wide range of disciplines allow students to learn about contemporary museum practices and their historical development, and to acquire skills and knowledge relevant to their own specific areas of interest within Museum Studies.
As part of this BDP, students will take courses focusing on objects, collections, and their preservation or conservation; as well as others that will help students to think about how museums serve their audiences and publics and how they preserve and shape the histories, heritage, and identity of cultures and societies.
Through internships and research, students can gain first-hand experience working directly with professionals in the field at a variety of different institutions, both on and off the UT campus.
Declaration Requirements
ShowDegree-seeking undergraduates in good academic standing at The University of Texas at Austin are eligible to apply to the BDPs. Students must be in at least the second semester of their freshman year to be eligible to apply. Students must plan to be enrolled at UT as a degree-seeking undergraduate for at least two semesters after the semester in which they apply to the BDP. The BDPs are open to undergraduate students from every college and school at UT. However, because there is significant overlap in program focus and coursework, some majors and BDP certificates may not be combined. View eligibility information for more details.
How to Declare
ShowApplications for the Bridging Disciplines Programs are accepted twice a year, during the fall and spring semesters. Learn additional information and how to apply to the BDPs. Interested students can attend an information session, which are offered throughout the semester
Required Courses
ShowWith 19 credit hours of coursework and Connecting Experiences, students may earn a BDP certificate in Museum Studies. View a complete list of courses and requirements.
Personality
ShowStudents in the Museum Studies BDP form a community with shared interests issues related to contemporary museum practices and how institutions present the histories, heritage, and identity of cultures and societies. Students from a variety of majors may be interested in this certificate, including but not limited to: Anthropology, Art History, Astronomy, Biology, Business, Classical Studies, English, European Studies, History, and Studio Art.
View student profiles to learn about personal experiences in the Museum Studies BDP.
Skills
ShowAfter completing 19 credit hours consisting of coursework, as well as research and/or internship experiences, students earn a certificate that will be recognized on their transcript, demonstrating a secondary area of specialization that complements their major. By pursuing an interdisciplinary certificate, students in the BDPs learn to become more flexible, versatile thinkers, better prepared for a professional world that values innovation and collaboration. Students in the BDPs gain access to unique research and internship experiences at UT and around the world, giving them hands-on experience applying what they have learned in the classroom.
