Art (Museum and Curatorial Practices) ,BA
Art Criticism, Art Exhibit, Art Gallery, Art Librarian, Art Preservationist, Art Publications, Arts Organization Consultant, Curator, Estate Appraiser, Exhibition Coordinator, Fine Arts, Gallery, Gallery Professional, Museums, arts
This program's name has changed effective Fall 2026. The previous name was Museum Studies.
Turn your passion for art into a rewarding career. You'll navigate cultural, theoretical and practical topics and envision the societal role of the art museum today and in the future.
In the Bachelor of Arts program in art with a concentration in museum and curatorial practices, you focus on current themes and issues at the forefront of contemporary art museum and heritage sites. You develop the ability to think critically and communicate by studying various ethical and institutional issues, such as decolonization and repatriation claims, activist curating and broadening museum audiences. Distinguished faculty provide expertise across an array of courses within the field of museum and curatorial studies, including art history, visual culture, liberal studies, education, global studies, justice and critical studies. These courses offer a variety of learning opportunities led by scholars and museum practitioners across ASU and in the art world. In addition to classroom learning, the program is enriched by arts organizations and cultural institutions, which enable you to build your professional network through fellowships and internships. The program is further augmented by public events supported by the School of Art galleries, the ASU Art Museum, the Ceramics Research Center and Archive, and Pyracantha Press.
You can visit the museum and curatorial practices areas of study page to learn more about the program. If you want to engage with the creative community, you can subscribe to the School of Art newsletters and follow the school on social media.
- College/school:
Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
- Location: Tempe or Online , ASU Local
- Second language requirement: Yes
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
- First
required math course:
MAT 114 - College Mathematics
Any math course that meets the MATH designation. - Math
intensity: General
This video provides an overview of the Art (Museum and Curatorial Practices) degree program at ASU.
What If: See how your courses can be applied to another major and find out how to change your major.
This program allows students to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. Accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for high-achieving students who want the opportunity to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of their master's degree. These programs feature the same high quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
First-year | Transfer | International | Readmission
Additional requirements:
Students meeting the university requirements for admission may matriculate in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. Separate admission procedures and approvals are required for some programs within the college. Students must contact specific departments or schools for details.
Transfer admission requirements:
Direct transfer of courses from other accredited institutions to the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts is subject to the existence of parallel and equal courses in the college's curriculum and to departmental or school evaluation of studio courses with respect to performance standards. Every candidate for the bachelor's degree must earn a minimum of 30 hours in resident credit at ASU. Transfer students enrolled in the college must complete a minimum of 15 hours of resident credit in the major as approved by the faculty.
A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.
Students should visit the Change of Major form for information about how to change a major to this program.
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.
It is now possible to earn an ASU degree with ASU Local, an integrated college experience in which students take advantage of in-person success coaching and programming experiences on site while completing one of 130+ undergraduate online degree programs, all of which come with online faculty interaction and tutoring support.
ASU is committed to helping students thrive by offering tools that allow personalization of the transfer path to ASU. Students may use MyPath2ASU® to outline a list of recommended courses to take prior to transfer.
ASU has transfer partnerships in Arizona and across the country to create a simplified transfer experience for students. These pathway programs include exclusive benefits, tools and resources, and they help students save time and money in their college journey.
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include the following:
- Students will recall the general history and function of museums and heritage sites domestically and globally.
- Students will comparatively analyze elements of potential careers within the museums and heritage site sectors utilizing evidence-based research.
- Students will write at an academic level suitable for further graduate study.
Global Education programs provide an opportunity for students to explore their creative side through an intercultural lens, deepen their understanding of the world and gain valuable career-building experiences. Study abroad can prove to be a vital accompaniment to any art concentration, allowing for broad historical and archaeological explorations. Students develop insight into the cultures and minds of some of the world's most notable artists when they experience the places that gave rise to specific artistic styles. With more than 300 options available, Global Education programs give students a breadth of knowledge in arts and culture distinctly different from their own. Study abroad encourages students to develop and broaden their intercultural sensitivity, communication skills and leadership ability, challenging them to think differently. Whether in a foreign country, in the U.S. or online, students learn to adapt and persevere. They have a chance to look inside themselves in a way they haven't done before, growing their personal and professional confidence along the way.
Graduates find employment opportunities with art museums, university and commercial art galleries, historical societies and archives, libraries and other nonprofit organizations. An arts degree offers students a pathway to creative careers as artists, scholars and educators in the public and private spheres. Museum professionals find opportunities as practitioners in the field, working with commercial galleries, public art commissions, private collectors and auction houses, and for nonprofit cultural institutions. Possible positions include museum or gallery administrator, curator, educator, exhibition manager, art dealer, art director, consultant and private instructor. Other employment venues might include health care settings, nonprofit agencies and local and national public arts organizations. Additional options for graduates include working at arts agencies and for public art programs, and gaining admission to prestigious graduate programs.
Example job titles and salaries listed below are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
| Career | *Growth | *Median salary |
|---|---|---|
|
3.8%
|
$64,550
|
|
|
1.7%
|
$78,620
|
|
|
2.2%
|
$76,750
|
|
|
-0.2%
|
$83,820
|
|
|
7.0%
|
$63,420
|
|
|
8.1%
|
$38,120
|
|
|
5.4%
|
$51,440
|
|
|
8.7%
|
$82,890
|
School of Art
|
ART 102
herbergeradvising@asu.edu
480-965-8521
Program term definitions
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
