Education Directors and Museum Teachers

High School

As an education director or a museum teacher, you will need a diverse educational background to perform well in your job. At the high school level, you should take courses in creative writing, literature, history, the sciences, foreign languages, art, and speech. These courses will give you general background knowledge you can use to interpret collections, write letters to school principals, design curriculum materials, develop multicultural education, and lecture to public audiences. Math and computer skills are also strongly recommended. You will use these skills when preparing budgets and calculating the number of visitors that can fit in an exhibit space, and when writing grants or asking corporations and federal agencies for program funding.

Postsecondary Training

In order to be an education director or museum teacher, you must have a bachelor's degree. Many museums, zoos, and botanical gardens also require directors to have a master's degree. The largest zoos and museums prefer to hire education directors who have doctoral degrees.

Some colleges in the United States offer programs of instruction leading to a degree in museology (the study of museums). Visit http://ww2.aam-us.org/resources/careers/museum-studies-programs. Most education directors and teachers work in museums that specialize in art, history, or science. These professionals often have degrees in fields related to the museum's specialty. Directors and educators who work in zoos usually have studied biology or zoology or have worked closely with animals. Education directors and teachers who work in more specialized museums often have studied such specialized fields as early American art, woodcarvings, or the history of circuses.

Because of their teaching duties, museum teachers and education specialists must also have a bachelor's degree in an academic discipline or in education.

Certification

Some colleges and universities offer certificate programs in museum education, museum administration, and related areas. Programs typically last six months to a year and are available in online, in-person, and hybrid formats. One example is the online museum studies certificate program that is offered by Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. To earn the certificate, students must complete three core courses (Museum Origins and Issues, Successful Museum Management, and Learning and Museums) and one elective class (Journey of a Museum Exhibit). Visit https://sps.northwestern.edu/professional-development/museum-studies for more information. The American Association for State and Local History offers the small museum pro! certificate program. Some of the classes in the program include Developing Exhibitions, Leadership and Administration for History Organizations, and Museum Education and Outreach. Visit https://aaslh.org/professional-development/online-courses for more information. Contact schools and organizations in your area for information about available programs.

Other Education or Training

The American Alliance of Museums offers continuing education (CE) opportunities via webinars and educational sessions at its Annual Meeting & MuseumExpo. Recent sessions included Technology and Museum Visitor Experiences, Online Learning and Education, Trends in Technology, Museum Educators and Social Media, and Interpretive Planning Basics: Planning for Visitor Experiences. The American Association for State and Local History offers a variety of courses, including Museum Education and Outreach. The American Public Gardens Association also provides CE opportunities. Contact these organizations for more information.