Program Tracks

Please note: We are not recruiting into the Art History Track for the 2025-2026 academic year. We encourage prospective applicants to apply to the Department of Art and Art History's Art History Master’s Program and Museum and Field Studies Professional Certificate concurrently. For any questions please contact mfsinfo@colorado.edu. 

Students hanging textile


Masters students in the Museum and Field Studies program must choose one of three tracks, Collections/Field, Public/Administration, or Art History, in addition to a cognate discipline. Course requirements for the tracks are slightly different.

The Collections/Field track prepares students for careers in collections management, field and collections research, and curatorial work. It is designed to give students academic training in all aspects of museology and their chosen discipline, with special emphasis on how to collect, catalogue, and care for museum collections.

The Public/Administration track is designed for students interested in the public aspects of museum work, including education, exhibits, interpretation, audience assessment, administration, and some aspects of curatorial work. This track provides students with serious academic training in museology and a chosen field, with special emphasis and hands-on experience in all aspects of the public side of museums.

The Art History track addresses issues specific to the research and curation of artworks. The curriculum provides students with academic training in art history and offers students firsthand museum experience in curatorial and collections work through exhibitions practica and collections research.

For more information, visit:

  Collections/Field Track Requirements
  Public/Admin Track Requirements
  Art History Track Requirements