Johns Hopkins University

Museums worldwide now have a critical need for professionals to manage and preserve their digital assets as well as to participate in the development of standards and policies for digital curation.  The JHU Digital Curation Certificate program offers a specialized curriculum that prepares current and aspiring museum professionals to manage the growing volume and variety of digital data of long-term value that museums are now producing, acquiring, storing and sharing with researchers, educators and the public.  It prepares students to work with digital collections, exhibitions, and research data to ensure the longevity of our global cultural heritage in all types of museums, from art museums to botanical gardens, historical societies, science centers and zoos.  The curriculum draws on archival principles applied in a museum environment. Courses are taught by leading practitioners in the field.  The program is especially suited to museum archivists, librarians, collection managers, registrars, conservation specialists, digital media managers, and other professionals who wish to gain a better understanding of museum principles and practices that inform the policies, preservation, and distribution of digital assets in museums.  The core online courses provide students with a solid grounding in the principles and practices of digital curation, while the internship and final research paper enable students to customize their educational experience to meet their own interests and career goals. 

Classes are small—generally limited to 15-17 students—to promote discussion and exchange of ideas among students and their instructors.  Faculty are recognized experts in the field with substantial practical experience.  There are three semesters per year, with courses beginning each fall, spring and summer. Prospective students may apply to begin the program in any semester.