Art (Museum and Curatorial Practices), BA
Turn your passion for art into a rewarding career. You can navigate cultural, theoretical and practical topics and envision the societal role of the art museum today and in the future.
Quick facts
Locations
Courses
Any math course that meets the MATH designation.
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
This program's name has changed effective Fall 2026. The previous name was Museum Studies.
Degree description
Art (Museum and Curatorial Practices) degree description
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.
Why specialize in museum and curatorial practices at ASU?
The museum and curatorial practices curriculum centers the most urgent contemporary debates in museum practice. You study the pressing issues impacting broadening museum audiences, engaging directly with the questions professionals face today.
This interdisciplinary pathway is rare among museum studies concentrations. You can design your focus across anthropology, justice studies, global studies, parks and recreation and other fields, guided by your advisor.
Additional details
Phoenix hosts a rich concentration of partner museums and cultural institutions, including the Heard Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, and Taliesin West. These organizations provide a professional environment where you can apply your learning.
Public events supported by the School of Art and ASU Art Museum give you regular exposure to visiting artists, scholars and museum professionals, connecting you to the wider art world throughout your studies.
This concentration is also offered fully online, allowing you to access rigorous museum and curatorial studies coursework from anywhere and giving you flexibility without sacrificing depth.
Courses
Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.
| Sample courses |
|---|
| ARS 201 Art of Asia |
| ARS 498 Pro-Seminar |
| ARS 120 Introduction to Global Museum Studies |
| ARS 121 Introduction to Global Heritage Studies |
| ARS 222 Museums as Sites of Extraction |
| ARS 223 Introduction to Museums and Social Justice |
Course checksheet and curriculum archive
The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.
Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).
Already completed some college courses? Build on your success.
If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.
See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- 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.
Students will recall the general history and function of museums and heritage sites domestically and globally. Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)
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 (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your 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:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
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.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimate
Build the career and future you want
Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:
| Career | Growth | Median Salary | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archivist | 3.4% | $64,550 | Learn more |
| Art Professor | 2.2% | $78,620 | Learn more |
| Historian | 3.0% | $76,750 | Learn more |
| History Professor | 0.0% | $83,820 | Learn more |
| Museum Curator | 4.9% | $63,420 | Learn more |
| Museum Educator | 6.3% | $38,120 | Learn more |
| Museum Exhibit Designer | 3.6% | $51,440 | Learn more |
| Talent Agent | 9.7% | $82,890 | Learn more |
Example job titles and salaries listed 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.
Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
More about careers
Careers this museum and curatorial practices concentration prepares you for
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.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Art
|
ART 102
herbergeradvising@asu.edu
480-965-8521
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
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.
