Saint Joseph’s University and the Barnes Foundation Launch Online Museum Education Graduate Program, Marking First-Of-Its-Kind Collaboration in Philadelphia
Innovative partnership offers students a unique opportunity to learn from esteemed museum experts
October 20, 2024–January 12, 2025
Press Preview: Tuesday, October 15, 9:30 am
Philadelphia, PA, August 5, 2024—Today, Saint Joseph’s University and the Barnes Foundation announced a new online graduate program designed to prepare future museum educators for roles in public and private institutions. Beginning in fall 2024, the museum education graduate program will offer a Master of Arts in Museum Education and a Museum Education Certificate.
Building on the educational affiliation between the Barnes and Saint Joseph’s University, which began in 2018 to further the common missions of both institutions, this new, comprehensive graduate program teaches students how to share knowledge with the public in an engaging and inclusive way, from K–12 school groups to museum visitors. Participants will learn strategies for teaching about objects and collections and develop skills applicable to any type of museum, including art and natural history museums, science institutes, and historical sites.
“The uniqueness of our new museum education program lies in the strength of the partnership between the Barnes and SJU,” says Joshua Power, BS ’05, EdD ’16, dean of the School of Education and Human Development at Saint Joseph’s University. “This program was co-created by these two great institutions to provide a one-of-a-kind educational experience tailored specifically to the museum industry and advancing your museum career.”
Offered entirely online, the museum education program was designed for students from around the world, with assignments and projects that encourage participants to engage with their local museums. Students will explore various topics, including the history of museum education; pedagogical strategies for gallery-based teaching; and museum management. Each course will be taught by esteemed faculty who bring a wealth of practical experience.
“This innovative endeavor with Saint Joseph’s University is at the heart of our mission to make art accessible and relatable through education,” says Martha Lucy, Deputy Director for Research, Interpretation, and Education at the Barnes Foundation. “The Barnes has been focused on learning since our founding in 1922, so this really is in our DNA—and we are excited to help shape the next generation of museum educators.”
In addition to learning from expert faculty, students enrolled in the program will use the Barnes’s state-of-the-art Visual Experience Platform (VXP), designed specifically for the study of visual material. This innovative online learning tool allows students to zoom in on artworks in astonishing detail while engaging in dialogue with their peers and educators, creating a highly interactive environment conducive to learning.
Local students enrolled in the program will have access to the many vibrant cultural offerings of Philadelphia as well as internship opportunities at the Barnes and Saint Joseph’s University’s Frances M. Maguire Art Museum, which is housed in the original Barnes gallery building. Internships require 35 hours of fieldwork and a biweekly seminar component.
Credits earned from the certificate program in museum education can be applied toward the master of arts in museum education at Saint Joseph’s University. Students who complete the certificate program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher can take six additional courses to earn the MA.
To learn more about Saint Joseph University’s master’s program for museum education, visit https://www.sju.edu/degree-programs/museum-education-ma.
ABOUT SAINT JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1851 as Philadelphia’s Jesuit university, Saint Joseph’s University prepares students for a rapidly changing world by focusing on academic excellence and courageous exploration. With an intellectual tradition distinguished by a foundational liberal arts core and diversified by strong professional programs in business, nursing, health and science, and education, Saint Joseph’s students are empowered, challenged and supported by high-quality faculty members to follow their own path. As a comprehensive university, undergraduate and graduate students study in the University’s five schools and colleges — the College of Arts and Sciences, the Erivan K. Haub School of Business, the School of Education and Human Development, the School of Health Professions and the School of Nursing and Allied Health. With academic offerings in the most sought-after majors, including leading programs in the first-in-the-nation Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, a Saint Joseph’s education is enriched through the University’s network of cooperative education employers, clinical placements and professional internships. Upon graduation, nearly 100% of students are employed, pursuing advanced degrees or volunteering in prestigious service programs. The University’s network of more than 110,000 proud alumni keep alive the rallying cry — The Hawk Will Never Die.
ABOUT THE BARNES FOUNDATION
The Barnes Foundation is a nonprofit cultural and educational institution that shares its unparalleled art collection with the public, organizes special exhibitions, and presents programming that fosters new ways of thinking about human creativity. The Barnes collection is displayed in ensembles that integrate art and objects from across cultures and time periods, overturning traditional hierarchies and revealing universal elements of human expression. Home to one of the world’s finest collections of impressionist, post-impressionist, and modern paintings—including the largest groups of paintings by Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Paul Cézanne in existence—the Barnes brings together renowned canvases by Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani, and Vincent van Gogh, alongside African, Asian, ancient, medieval, and Native American art as well as metalwork, furniture, and decorative art.
The Barnes was established by Dr. Albert C. Barnes in 1922 to “promote the advancement of education and the appreciation of the fine arts and horticulture.” A visionary collector and pioneering educator, Dr. Barnes was also a fierce advocate for the civil rights of African Americans, women, and the economically marginalized. Committed to racial equality and social justice, he established a scholarship program to support young Black artists, writers, and musicians who wanted to further their education. Dr. Barnes was deeply interested in African American culture and became actively involved in the Harlem Renaissance, during which he collaborated with philosopher Alain Locke and scholar and activist Charles S. Johnson to promote awareness of the artistic value of African art.
Since moving to Philadelphia in 2012, the Barnes has expanded its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and social justice, teaching visual literacy in groundbreaking ways; investing in original scholarship relating to its collection; and enhancing accessibility throughout every facet of its programs.
The Barnes is situated in Lenapehoking, the ancestral homeland of the Lenape people. Read our Land Acknowledgment.
Hours and ticket prices are listed on our website.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
Kevin Gfeller, Assistant Director, Public Relations
Saint Joseph’s University
O: 610.660.3408 | C: 610.639.8831 | kgfeller@sju.edu
Deirdre Maher, Director of Communications
The Barnes Foundation
O: 215.278.7160 | press@barnesfoundation.org