It is expected that students enrolled in the program will hold at least a bachelors degree and be seriously committed to a career in museums, historical agencies, preservation organizations, or related institutions. No prior museum experience is required.
Requirements to be considered for admission into the program include:
- Official transcripts indicating a Bachelor's degree (or foreign credentials equivalent to the US bachelor’s degree) with a cumulative or last two years’ undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
- TOEFL score of 600 (paper based), 250 (computer based), or 100 (internet based) or better for international applicants
- Three letters of recommendation
- A current resume
- An essay, professional in appearance and content, explaining your academic goals while pursuing graduate study in Museum Studies at Western Illinois University, and how your immediate and long-term career plans will be met through this program.
Preference will be given to students in the program who come from backgrounds in the following areas: art; recreation, parks, and tourism administration; anthropology; and history.
After being accepted to the program but before beginning the program, students must purchase a "Museum Studies" membership at the Figge Art Museum. This fee will be paid to the Figge Art Museum to cover incidental expenses and admission to workshops held at the museum. This fee will include a 2 year membership to the Figge Art Museum. Students who do not complete the program in two years must purchase another two year membership.