The Department of Visual Arts at Western University offers the only undergraduate Major in Museum and Curatorial Studies in Canada. Students prepare and train for careers in the cultural sector with equal emphasis placed on “front of house” (curation) and “behind the scenes” (collections management, arts administration). The major combines experiential learning, practical experience such as internships, and skill building, with seminars and lectures dedicated to understanding museums as complex social and cultural institutions. The Major in Museum and Curatorial Studies is unique in the way that it encourages a combination of practical skills, creativity, historical knowledge, and critical thinking. Classes taught by our award-winning faculty are complemented by field trips to museums, galleries, and heritage sites, and by major curatorial projects led by students.

The Major Museum and Curatorial Studies makes students very competitive for graduate programs in Museum Studies, Conservation, Digital Conservation, Art History, Public History, and Critical Heritage Studies, as well as for careers in the arts field and the heritage sector. Graduates from the program have gone on to work internationally at major museums and galleries, in universities, and other cultural institutions.

NOTE: Please note the English scores listed are minimum requirements. Meeting the minimums does not guarantee admission. Students with low English scores may be admitted to the English BOOST Program, a 9 week training program for conditional admission to their chosen program.