If you aspire to a career in managing, collecting and selling art as well as designing, installing and curating exhibits, you can achieve your goals and expedite your education in Western’s M.A. in Gallery and Museum Management 3+2 program.
Program Overview

Prepare yourself to thrive in the art world.
In the MGMM 3+2 program, you’ll earn your bachelor’s degree in Art or History and M.A. in Gallery and Museum Management (MGMM) in just five years. The program provides advanced-level training in visual arts administration and management, designed for careers in art galleries, museums, auctions, art fairs, curatorship and collections management.
Through the B.A. in Art with an emphasis in Art History & Theory, you’ll build a strong foundation in Western and non-Western art history and in theory, emphasizing the development of solid research, writing and presentation skills. In the B.A. in History with an emphasis in Public History, you’ll be prepared with the historical foundations and communications tools needed to effectively engage the public with the past. Overall, the M.A. in Gallery and Museum Management (MGMM) offers a professional terminal master’s degree focused on preparing students for life in the art world.
A love for art
The MGMM 3+2 program provides advanced-level training in visual arts administration and management, designed for careers in art galleries, museums, auctions, art fairs, curatorship and collections management.
Program Requirements
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
The Public History Emphasis requires a minimum of 65 credits, including the required 33 credit History Core, 23 credits of required supporting courses and 6 credits of designated elective courses.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
HIST 200 | Historical Inquiry | 3 |
HIST 370 | Public History | 3 |
HIST 371 | Oral History Workshop | 3 |
HIST 372 | Monuments and Museums | 3 |
HIST 373 | History of the National Park Service | 3 |
HIST 399 | Internship in History | 3 |
HIST 402 | Engaging the Past | 3 |
Select two of the following: | 6 | |
HIST 100 | Topics in World History (GT-HI1) | |
HIST 126 | U.S. History to 1865 (GT-HI1) | |
HIST 127 | U.S. History Since 1865 (GT-HI1) | |
HIST 128 | Environmental History of North America (GT-HI1) | |
And six credits of Upper Division History electives | 6 | |
Total Credits | 33 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Supporting Courses | ||
ANTH 107 | Introduction to General Anthropology (GT-SS3) | 3 |
ANTH 219 | Archaeology (with laboratory) | 4 |
ANTH 230 | Cultural Anthropology (with laboratory) | 4 |
ANTH 377 | Cultural Resource Management | 3 |
COM 231 | Stagecraft I | 3 |
ENVS 100 | Introduction to Environment and Sustainability (GT-SS2) | 3 |
GEOG 222 | Our Digital Earth | 3 |
Four credits of the following: | 4 | |
BIOL 130 | Environmental Biology (GT-SC2) | |
BIOL 135 | Environmental Biology Laboratory (GT-SC1) | |
BIOL 151 | Diversity and Patterns of Life (with laboratory) | |
GEOL 101 | Physical Geology (GT-SC2) | |
GEOL 105 | Physical Geology Laboratory (GT-SC1) | |
Six credits of the following: | 6 | |
ACC 201 | Introduction to Financial Accounting | |
ANTH 218 | Biological Anthropology (with laboratory) | |
ANTH 344 | Native North America | |
ANTH 467 | Ethnography Field School | |
ANTH 469 | Archaeology Field School | |
ART 222 | Art History I | |
ART 223 | Art History II (GT-AH1) | |
ART 321 | American Art: Colonial to Modern | |
BUAD 185 | Business Communication | |
BUAD 210 | Legal Environment of Business | |
BUAD 270 | Principles of Marketing | |
BUAD 300 | Business Ethics | |
COM 205 | Communication Arts I | |
COM 274 | Public Relations Communication | |
COM 305 | Communication Arts II | |
COM 323 | Media/ Arts Management | |
COM 346 | Multimedia Communication | |
CS 120 | Professional Computer Skills | |
CS 160 | Introduction to Web Design | |
GEOG 120 | Introduction to Human Geography (GT-SS2) | |
GEOG 340 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | |
GEOG 371 | UAV Imagery Acquisition | |
GEOG 372 | Satellite Remote Sensing | |
GEOG 375 | Web GIS | |
GEOG 460 | Geospatial Analysis | |
GEOG 482 | Advanced Applications in GIS | |
GEOG 499 | Internship in Geography | |
POLS 282 | Issues in State and Local Government | |
ROE 230 | Interpretation of Natural and Cultural History | |
ROE 235 | Foundations of Teaching Environmental Education | |
Total Credits | 33 |
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Core MGMM Courses: | ||
MGMM 600 | Orientation and Practicum | 3 |
MGMM 601 | Exhibition Principles I | 3 |
or MGMM 612 | Business Principles I | |
MGMM 602 | Exhibition Principles II | 3 |
or MGMM 613 | Business Principles II | |
Total Credits | 9 |
Upon successful completion of the prescribed courses listed above, University defined General Education, and elective requirements totaling 120 credits (with 40 at the 300-level or higher), students are eligible for their B.A. conferral. Students electing to complete MGMM must follow the balance of their declared emphasis curriculum.
For a full description of the required Graduate coursework, please see the MGMM program in the Western Graduate Catalog.
Capstone Course Requirement
The following course in the History Major fulfills the Capstone Course Requirement: HIST 402 ENGAGING THE PAST.
Graduation Requirements
Undergraduate programs require a minimum of 120 semester credits for graduation. Of those 120 credits, 40 credits must be in upper-division courses (those marked 300 and above). Fifteen of these 40 upper-division credits must be earned in courses that are part of the standard or comprehensive major program being pursued.
Students are expected to review all graduation requirements, which can be found in the Western Undergraduate Catalog: Graduation Requirements.
Major: B.A. in Public History and M.A. in Gallery and Museum Management (3 + 2)
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
ANTH 107 | Introduction to General Anthropology (GT-SS3) | 3 |
ENG 102 | Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) | 3 |
HIST 1XX | 100-level HIST (GT-HI1) | 3 |
HWTR 100 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
ENVS 100 | Introduction to Environment and Sustainability (GT-SS2) | 3 |
MATH 113 | Statistical Thinking (GT-MA1) | 3 |
Credits | 16 | |
Spring | ||
ANTH 218 | Biological Anthropology (with laboratory) | 4 |
ENG 103 | Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) | 3 |
Gen Ed | Arts & Humanities | 3 |
HIST 1XX | 100-level HIST (GT-HI1) | 3 |
HIST 200 | Historical Inquiry | 3 |
Credits | 16 | |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
ANTH 219 | Archaeology (with laboratory) | 4 |
GEOG 222 | Our Digital Earth | 3 |
Rel. Field | Public History elective (related field) | 3-4 |
Gen Ed | Natural Sciences w/Lab (BIOL 130+ BIOL 135; BIOL 150; or GEOL 101+ GEOL 105) | 3 |
Credits | 13-14 | |
Spring | ||
HIST 370 | Public History | 3 |
ANTH 230 | Cultural Anthropology (with laboratory) | 4 |
ANTH 377 | Cultural Resource Management | 3 |
COM 231 | Stagecraft I | 3 |
Credits | 13 | |
Summer | ||
HIST 371 | Oral History Workshop | 3 |
HIST 373 | History of the National Park Service | 3 |
Credits | 6 | |
Year Three | ||
Fall | ||
HIST 399 | Internship in History | 3 |
Gen Ed | Arts & Humanities | 3 |
HIST 3XX | Upper-division history elective | 3 |
Elective | Elective | 3 |
Elective | Elective | 3 |
Credits | 15 | |
Spring | ||
HIST 372 | Monuments and Museums | 3 |
HIST 3XX | Upper-division history elective | 3 |
Gen Ed | Arts & Humanities | 3 |
Elective | Elective | 3 |
Elective | Elective | 3 |
Credits | 15 | |
Summer | ||
MGMM 600 | Orientation and Practicum | 3 |
Credits | 3 | |
Year Four | ||
Fall | ||
Elective | Elective | 3 |
Elective | Elective (upper-division) | 3 |
Elective | Elective (upper-division) | 3 |
MGMM 601 | Exhibition Principles I | 3 |
Credits | 12 | |
Spring | ||
Elective | Elective | 4 |
Elective | Elective | 3 |
HIST 402 | Engaging the Past | 3 |
MGMM 602 or MGMM 613 |
Exhibition Principles II or Business Principles II |
3 |
Credits | 13 | |
Total Credits | 122-123 |
Spotlight
Careers
Take the first steps toward your dream career.
Career preparation is the primary focus of every academic program at Western. Our professors and Office of Career Services will help you identify your strengths, hone your skills, define your goals, and prepare for a fulfilling role in hundreds of professional fields after graduation.
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Scholarships
Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Access to apply for scholarships through the portal is open through April 1.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your scholarships!Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Access to apply for scholarships through the portal is open through April 1.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your scholarships!Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.
Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.
- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Due date has been extended to April 1 for 2023. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
- GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.
For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
Degree Details

Graduate in just 5 years with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree.
- B.A. in Art with an emphasis in Art History & Theory: A strong foundation in Western and non-Western art history and in theory, emphasizing the development of solid research, writing and presentation skills.
- B.A. in History with an emphasis in Public History: Prepares students with the historical foundations and communications tools needed to effectively engage the public with the past.
- M.A. in Gallery and Museum Management (MGMM): A professional terminal master’s degree focused on preparing students for life in the art world.
Fast track your education
MGMM 3+2 students earn their bachelor’s degree in Art or History and M.A. in Gallery and Museum Management (MGMM) in just five years.
Get Involved

Take your education beyond the classroom.
Get the hands-on learning experience you need to apply your knowledge and launch your career.
Art
- Gallery Exhibits: Students have opportunities to display their work in numerous shows, exhibits, convocations and galas—on campus and in the community.
- Pathfinder Magazine: An annual publication for student creative work.
- Student Art League: A branch of the Council for Creative expression, the Student Art League is dedicated to providing visual arts, experiences, professional development, educational opportunities and outreach for Art students.
History
- Field Experience: Seniors travel to historical locations, such as the Sand Creek Massacre and Bent’s Old Fort national historical sites, to study the role of commemoration and memory.
- History Honor Society: Join Iota Nu Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, one of Western’s oldest academic honor societies.
- History League: Sponsors activities including a book club and catapult construction.
- Internships: Land an internship with the Crested Butte Heritage Museum.
- Study Abroad: Travel to India, Ecuador, Prague, London, Italy or Belize through Extended Studies.
Gallery experience
Students have opportunities to display their work in numerous shows, exhibits, convocations and galas—on campus and in the community.
News & Research
Additional Resources
Department Information
Master of Art in Gallery and Museum Management (MGMM)
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
1 Western Way
Kelley Hall 225
Gunnison, CO 81231