Education Directors and Museum Teachers

If you are interested in becoming an education director or museum teacher, volunteer experience should be easy to obtain. Most zoos and museums have student volunteers. You can request a position in the education department, where you may help with school tours, organize files or audiovisual materials, or assist a lecturer in a class.

College preparatory courses are important if you are interested in this field. Apply to colleges or universities with strong liberal arts programs. Courses in art, history, science, and education are recommended if you want to work at museums. Courses in biology, zoology, botany, and education are beneficial if you wish to work at zoos or botanical gardens. Some larger zoos and museums offer internships to college students who are interested in the field.

The American Alliance of Museums maintains an online directory of its member museums and publishes weekly e-newsletters, a bimonthly magazine, Museum, blogs, and other publications. Learn more at https://www.aam-us.org.

Participate in information interviews and job-shadowing experiences with education directors and museum teachers to learn more about the field. Ask your school counselor for help setting up these experiences.