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Through our cutting-edge and innovative museum studies program designed for the 21st century museum, you’ll focus on the digital life of museums across collections, galleries, and activities.

Three people observe a fossil with a flashlight inside a museum showroom.
Type
Graduate, MS
School
School of Information
Courses Plan of Study

The Master of Science in Museums and Digital Culture (MDC) is an innovative program that focuses on the ways in which museums use digital technology and media to enhance services and engage with visitors across physical and virtual contexts. We prepare graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary for careers in this rapidly changing field as well as prepare them with the ability to engage with today’s diverse and connected global audiences.

The program features partnerships and fellowships with New York City’s leading museums. The program’s faculty includes practicing museum professionals from across NYC’s museums and an innovative full-time faculty. Through structured practicums and field research, students develop into innovative and creative leaders in the museum field.

The curriculum builds on commonalities of knowledge and skills across GLAMs (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) while addressing emerging areas of the museum field such as digital information behavior, digital seeing and aesthetics, digital curation, and the integration of physical and digital elements of the museum.

Course and Credit Requirements

The MDC program consists of 36 credits (12 three-credit courses), all of which must be completed with a B average or higher. The program is designed to be completed in two years (3 courses per semester) or three years (2 courses per semester). Summer courses may reduce the length of time spent in the program. Please note that international students must be enrolled full-time (3 courses, 9 credits per semester). Courses are held at 11:30 AM, 3:00 PM, and 6:30 PM.

Required Courses
Foundation
INFO-601 Foundations of Information 3
MDC Core
INFO-679 Museums and Digital Culture:Theory and Practice 3
INFO-654 Information Technologies 1 3
INFO-683 Museum Digital Strategy: Planning and Management 3
INFO-685 Digital Analytics: Web, Mobile and Social Media 3
INFO-684 Museum Information Management: Collection Cataloging & Digital Technology 3
Electives
Select six Elective courses 18
Total Credits 36

Elective Courses (6 Courses, 18 Credits)

Museum Information Management
Select one of the following: 3
INFO-655
Digital Preservation & Curation
INFO-607
Management and Leadership
INFO-661
Art Documentation
INFO-670
Linked Open Data for Libraries Archives and Museums
INFO-647
Visual Resources Management
INFO-669
Digital Asset & Media Management
INFO-632
Conservation and Preservation
INFO-663
Metadata Design
INFO-665
Projects in Digital Archives
INFO-611
Information Policies & Politics
INFO-642
Content Strategy
INFO-698
Practicum/Seminar Information Science
Digital Tools and Technologies
Select one of the following: 3
INFO-606
Digital Accessibility
INFO-616
Programming Interactive Visualizations
INFO-637
Programming User Interfaces
INFO-664
Programming For Cultural Heritage
INFO-638
Web Development
INFO-639
Database Design and Development
INFO-641
Visual Communication & Information Design
INFO-648
Mobile Interaction Design
INFO-658
Information Visualization
INFO-657
Digital Humanities
INFO-656
Machine Learning
INFO-698
Practicum/Seminar Information Science
Audience Experience and Community Engagement
Select one of the following: 3
INFO-693
Audience Research & Evaluation
INFO-608
Human Information Interaction
INFO-630
Human-Centered Research Design & Methods
INFO-636
Conversational User Experience Design
INFO-645
Advanced Usability and UX Evaluation
INFO-651
Emotional Design
INFO-671
Sustainable Interaction Design
INFO-681
Community Building & Engagement
INFO-675
Museum and Library Outreach
INFO-643
Information Architecture & Interaction Design
INFO-644
Usability Theory & Practice
INFO-649
Practical Ethnography for User Experience
Open Electives
Select three Open Electives with department approval 1 9
Total Credits 18

Advanced Certificates

Students enrolled in the MDC degree may choose to complete any of the following advanced certificates within the museums and digital culture degree.

If you intend to complete an advanced certificate, once enrolled in the program, please submit the Certificate Declaration form at your earliest convenience. Note that to complete the museum studies certificate, please contact the History of Art and Design Department.

Scholarships

Two-Year Renewable Scholarships for New Students

These scholarships are awarded at the time of admissions and are renewable for the second year for students who maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Students must be full-time (minimum of 9 credits per semester).

Fellowships

The School of Information offers a number of fellowships in partnership with NYC cultural institutions. Each fellowship requires the completion of a 9-month internship (120 hours per semester) and is accompanied by a scholarship in the amount of $7,210. For a complete listing of fellowship opportunities, please visit the School of Information website and go to Experiential Learning Opportunities, Fellowships.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university. Applicants must have a superior scholastic record or otherwise give evidence of ability to perform work on the graduate level. Applicants are expected to offer evidence of maturity and leadership potential for the profession. All applicants must apply using the online application. Required documents include:

  • Official transcripts of all previous postsecondary education;
  • A statement of purpose describing interest in the program and personal goals;
  • A current resume/CV; and
  • Request two letters of recommendation online from academic or professional sources

A TOEFL of 82 (internet and home test), TOEFL ITP Plus for China of 553, IELTS of 6.5, or a PTE of 53 is required for international students. Students who are not international but whose first language is not English must submit the GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. Applicants may choose to apply for nonmatriculated status and take up to 6 credits.


Office
Tel: 212.647.7682
Fax: 212.367.2492
si@pratt.edu
si.pratt.edu

student in classroom, going over schematics

Throughout the MDC program, students will create a digital portfolio to highlight the work they have completed and demonstrate they have met the program’s five student learning outcomes (SLOs):

  1. Foundations of Museums and Digital Culture – Analyze and articulate the role and function of information and digital technologies in shaping the evolving social role and practice of museums and related cultural heritage institutions.
  2. Museum Information Management and Technologies – Describe and manage analog and digital information and collections to increase the inclusivity, accessibility, and sustainability of cultural heritage.
  3. Digital Technology and Tools – Select and effectively employ digital technology to enhance museum and cultural heritage services that inform and engage diverse communities.
  4. Research – Investigate information environments and audience needs, behaviors, and experiences through appropriate research methods and data analysis.
  5. Professionalism – Engage with relevant ethical, technical, and practical issues and construct a strong professional identity.
student in museum, reading from information tablet, looking at exhibit