Master of Science in Museum Leadership

At the beginning of the 20th century museums were primarily keepers of things-their collections-and were thought of primarily as repositories of knowledge. Over the course of the century the American museum has changed. While collections remain at the core of their missions, museums have focused more and more on their educational roles, their communities and their audiences. The internet and digital technology are challenging museums to rethink how they operate and re-evaluate how they use their collections and the nature of their audiences. Drexel University’s MS in Museum Leadership program prepares students for a range of management and leadership roles that are essential to the integrity and health of today’s museums. Students study the philosophy and history of leadership in cultural institutions, incorporating theory and practice from the museum field as well as business, government, and other non‐profit organizations. The program examines the process of creating new museums as well as expanding existing museums. Students learn the variety of roles required to run the contemporary museum, including curators, conservators, registrars, educators, programmers, audience development, fundraising, board members and volunteers. Goals and Objectives Drexel’s Museum Leadership program will prepare leaders who enable museums to fulfill their missions of stewardship and education. These leaders will develop a knowledge and skill base to steer tomorrow’s museums. Graduates of the program will be prepared: To lead museums that preserves, present and critically interpret the knowledge and heritage of diverse human societies and identities; To lead museums that will achieve financial security and stability; To address the changing nature of museums, including expanding new technologies, educational and community outreach goals, changing demographics, and a changing political and funding environment; To build museums that address changing public expectations of the museum experience, including responsiveness to their diverse communities as well as a more participatory visitor experience; To contribute to a museum workforce that is culturally rich, representing the full diversity of each museum’s surrounding community; To engage with the full spectrum of their local communities as well as a national and international community of museums and museum-goers.