Start a career in museum or gallery work
Museum and Gallery Studies Ontario College Graduate Certificate program
Illuminate the past. Inspire the future! Learn the foundation of all museum and gallery work. Network with museum and gallery professionals. Work with Georgian College’s The Campus Gallery and extensive art/ceramic collection. Engaged curriculum and experiential learning opportunities prepare students for their internship.
Part-time
Program information
Program description
As a student of the Museum and Gallery Studies program, you will acquire a comprehensive foundation in museum and gallery work. You will develop capabilities in the main technical areas common to all museums and galleries: conservation and collections management, exhibition design, public programming, interactive technology, and administration. By advancing your existing knowledge through a blend of engaging academic instruction and experiential learning opportunities such as technical practice and a co-op work placement, you will be prepared to understand the legacy of museums and galleries while being a part of the change that moves this field of study forward. Connecting theory with practice, the Museum and Gallery Studies program focuses on curatorial sustainability, equity and diversity in curriculum and action, and instilling collaborative approaches to problem-solving. You will receive hands-on experience working with The Campus Gallery and Georgian College’s extensive art collection. Networking with museum and gallery professionals, historians, and artists, you will create off-site exhibitions with local cultural institutions. After your coursework is complete, a four-month co-op work placement will prepare you for the next steps in your career in Museums and Galleries.
Intake information
| Start date | Campus |
|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | Barrie |
Tuition and fees
- Visit our tuition and fees page for detailed information on the cost to attend Georgian.
- You can afford this! Explore OSAP as well as awards, scholarships and bursaries to help you pay your way to graduation.
Work-integrated learning
- This program includes a co-op work term component where you’ll gain experience in a workplace related to your field of study.
- Learn about types of work-integrated learning at Georgian.
What are the admission requirements for the Museum and Gallery Studies program?
Museum and Gallery Studies admission requirements
- Ontario College Diploma, Ontario College Advanced Diploma, degree or equivalent
What career paths can I take in the museum and gallery industry?
Your Museum and Gallery Studies graduate certificate gives you many career opportunities
Graduates of this program will be prepared to work in a variety of positions within the museum and gallery industry, including:
- museum/gallery conservator assistant
- museum registrar
- collection technician
- curatorial assistant
- educator
- animateur
- museum extension officer
- exhibition technician
- art gallery preparator
- development officer
- media coordinator
Graduates may also find employment in museums and galleries in areas related to visitor services, marketing and publishing.
I have loved my experience in the Museum and Gallery Studies program! There is so much hands-on experience and practical knowledge, and you get to help run a Gallery with public programs and work with artists and professionals.—Yasmeen Kazak, graduate of Museum and Gallery Studies program
Why take Museum and Gallery Studies at Georgian College?
- Network with museum and gallery professionals.
- Work with Georgian College’s The Campus Gallery and extensive art/ceramic collection.
- Engaged curriculum and experiential learning opportunities.
In the Museum and Gallery Studies program, students should prepare themselves for a fun and focused year where we are engaged with Museum and Gallery work, not just learning about the legacy of the past, but also being a part of the change that moves this field of study forward.
Amy Bagshaw, Faculty
Industry partners
The Museum and Gallery Studies program partners with many institutions within the museum and gallery industry! This network provides valuable professional contacts and experiences for our students.
Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH), Barrie
David McCullough Hearts and Minds Gallery is located at the end of the Main RVH Lobby. The gallery is a space dedicated to rotating art exhibitions bringing together works of art from the RVH permanent collection or on loan from artists, collectors, art groups, students or other institutions. The Georgian College Museum and Gallery Studies program (MUSM) partners with RVH for field trips, visits to their collection spaces, and collaborative opportunities. MUSM students host exhibitions at RVH addressing connections between Art and Healing and to learn from experienced curators.
The MacLaren Art Centre
The MacLaren Art Centre is the regional public art gallery serving the residents of Barrie, the County of Simcoe and the surrounding area. The Gallery has a permanent collection of contemporary Canadian art held in trust for the public and presents a year-round programme of world-class exhibitions, education activities and special events.
The Museum and Gallery Studies program (MUSM) partners with The MacLaren Art Centre in a variety of ways. For example, providing Career Days where students meet staff and go behind the scenes into the various departments at The MacLaren Art Centre, including their collection, curatorial and education spaces. Additionally, The MacLaren Art Centre partners with The Campus Gallery at Georgian College for events, such as Art Crawls. Collaborating on research and installation projects with The MacLaren Art Centre, MUSM students have had the opportunity to work with artists, historians, donors, and staff around dynamic exhibitions and events.
McMichael Canadian Art Collection
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is located on the original lands of the Ojibwe Anishinaabe and Huron-Wendat People. It is uniquely situated along the Carrying Place Trail which historically provided an integral connection for Indigenous people between Ontario’s Lakeshore and the Lake Simcoe-Georgian Bay Region. The McMichael’s permanent collection consists of over 7,000 artworks by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven, their contemporaries, and First Nations, Métis, Inuit and contemporary artists who have contributed to the development of Canadian art.
The Museum and Gallery Studies program partners with McMichael Canadian Art Collection for field trips, guest speakers, and internships.
Orillia Museum of Art and History
The Orillia Museum of Art and History provides inclusive space to engage community, inspire creativity and celebrate culture, by exploring art and history.
The Museum and Gallery Studies program partners with OMAH for field trips and collaborative opportunities. MUSM students host exhibitions at OMAH utilizing their expansive historical collection and learn from experienced staff and artists. Internship opportunities for MUSM students.
Simcoe County Museum
The Simcoe County Museum offers a wide variety of events, exhibits and programs for all ages throughout the year. Discover Simcoe County’s history through hands on exploration, and interactive displays.
The Museum and Gallery Studies program partners with SCM for field trips, visits to their extensive Archives and Collections spaces, and collaborative opportunities. MUSM students host exhibitions at SCM utilizing their historical Collection and learning from staff and artists. Finally, there are Internship opportunities for MUSM students.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Museum and Gallery Studies in a 3-semester certificate program. Semesters 1 and 2 are spent in class whereas semester 3 is spent developing a portfolio and gaining work experience through a summer internship.
Yes, Museum and Gallery Studies students can expect to receive hands-on experience setting up exhibits in our on-campus gallery and during their summer internship.
Flex MORE. Study Museum and Gallery Studies part-time
Benefits of studying part-time:
What you need to know:
What courses are included in the Museum and Gallery Studies graduate certificate program?
Course overview
13 Program Courses
1 Co-op Work Term
Program-specific courses
Semester 1 courses are listed below. For a full list of courses in the program including course descriptions, view the Museum and Gallery Studies program outline.
- MUSM 1001 – Curatorial Practices
- MUSM 1002 – Collection Management
- MUSM 1003 – Exhibition Design
- MUSM 1004 – Museum and Gallery Management
- MUSM 1006 – Preventative Conservation Techniques
- MUSM 1014 – Public Engagement in Museums and Galleries
- MUSM 1015 – Visual Technologies
Your course delivery method(s)
In person
This program is delivered fully in person and requires you to attend campus.
Please note, delivery methods are based on planning for the upcoming semester and are subject to change.
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