Application Materials

Write a personal statement that answers the following 3 questions:

1. Why do you want to pursue a graduate degree in museum studies?
2. Why do you want to attend the Master of Arts in Museology program specifically?
3. We are looking for graduate students who show up with a growth mindset and approach learning with curiosity. How will you show up as a learner? (Please be as specific as possible.)

Your personal statement should be no longer than 1,000 words. The personal statement should be double-spaced, and each page should be numbered and clearly identified with your full name.

Be sure to address all three questions. While individual writing style will vary, we encourage applicants to approach this as one body of writing rather than addressing each question separately.

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Sovereignty. The Information School makes a commitment to IDEAS in all that we do. Tell us about your experiences with one or more of these values. How would you contribute to advancing these values in the Museology program and beyond? Please respond in 250 words or less.

Museology requires two recommendations, but recommends you submit three.

We require at least two academic letters of recommendation from faculty members from your previous undergraduate or graduate degrees. An academic recommender is someone who has served as an instructor in at least one class an applicant participated in. A faculty member who supervised an internship at an on-campus museum or served as an advisor but did not serve as an instructor for a class you took would not count as an academic recommender.

If you submit a third letter, it may be academic or professional. Professional letters of recommendation should be from a supervisor, manager, or mentor from your previous professional experience relevant to your interests in the museum field (for more tips, see our application tips page).

On the Online Graduate School Application, you will be asked to provide names and contact information for two to three persons from whom you have requested recommendations. Your recommenders will be sent an e-mail prompt with instructions for submitting their letter of recommendation online.

Note: under the US Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), enrolled students have a right to view letters of recommendation submitted as part of their application to the program. In order to ensure confidentiality for recommenders, applicants have the opportunity to waive their right to review recommendations once enrolled as a student. We strongly recommend waiving your right to review recommendations.

Please email your recommenders the following prompt:

The University of Washington Museology Program is a two-year interdisciplinary graduate program that seeks to inspire students to use museums to create strong communities. Applicants to the program are rated across the following three dimensions:

Academic Potential: The applicant displays an exceptional academic track record and has demonstrated analytical thinking and quality writing. The applicant shows up as a learner: they demonstrate a growth mindset; contribute to their peers’ learning; solicit and accept feedback; skillfully engage in dialogue around complex and emotionally charged issues; and respond resiliently to challenges or failures.

Professional Practice: The applicant demonstrates a passion for a relevant aspect, or multiple aspects, of the museum field; has considerable, relevant experience related to their stated area(s) of interest, whether that experience was gained in a museum setting or elsewhere; and has sufficient understanding of the museum field to make an informed decision to invest in graduate education.

Contribution to the Program: The applicant demonstrates a clear understanding of how their interests and goals align with what our particular program has to offer and how they will contribute to making the Museology program an inclusive, vibrant learning community. The applicant’s stated interests, academic background, and life experiences make a significant contribution to the overall cohort and to the museum field.

Academic Recommenders: Please comment on the applicant’s previous academic work, and how they would do in a rigorous interdisciplinary graduate program grounded in research. Please provide concrete examples and detailed feedback about what the applicant has accomplished academically and how they contribute to the creation of an inclusive, thriving learning community.

Professional Recommenders: Please comment on the applicant’s previous professional work related to their area(s) of interest in the museum field. Please provide concrete examples of dedication, leadership, innovation, and/or creativity in their work.

*A Note about Question 2 in the recommendation form (“In making this evaluation, what group are you using as a basis for comparison?”): It is intended to provide context to your relationship with the applicant. For instance, are they one of 1000 undergraduate students who you’ve taught over the past 10 years or are they one of 10 employees you supervise on a daily basis?

You will be able to see when the letters have been submitted on your application status page. Please contact us if any of your recommenders have trouble submitting their letters using the online form.

You are advised to request recommendations well in advance of the application deadline to ensure your application packet is complete when submitted. For more tips on designating recommendations, see our Application Tips page.

Upload an electronic copy of your curriculum vitae or résumé, in Microsoft Word, RTF, or PDF format. PDF format is preferred. Your curriculum vitae or résumé should include the following information:

• Work experience related to the museum field (include employer, position title, and dates of employment)
• Other types of employment experience (include employer, position title, and dates of employment)
• Involvement with volunteer, community, and/or diversity-related activities (include organization, position title, and dates of service)
• Relevant honors, awards, publications, and presentations

Please create a PDF of your transcript for upload to the Online Graduate School Application. You can accomplish this by scanning your original transcript or by printing an unofficial electronic transcript to PDF.

If there are extenuating circumstances, not addressed in other sections of your application, related to your academic transcript, CV, or other facets of your application that you would like the admissions committee to consider, please describe them.

Your response should be no longer than 250 words, double-spaced and clearly identified with your full name.

International applicants: please review the Graduate School’s International Applicants page for additional materials required as part of your application. For applicants needing to demonstrate English Language Proficiency, Museology requires the following scores: TOEFLiBT – 4.5, Duolingo – 125, IELTS – 7.0.