Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Art museum docent education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an art museum docent. Art museum docents usually study fine arts, graphic design, or business. 66% of art museum docents hold a bachelor's degree, and 14% hold an associate degree. We analyzed 114 real art museum docent resumes to see exactly what art museum docent education sections show.
The most common colleges for art museum docents are the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh.
There are also many online art museum docent courses to help get the education required to be an art museum docent.
What education do you need to become an art museum docent?
What degree do you need to be an art museum docent?
- Bachelor's, 66%
- Associate, 14%
- Master's, 13%
- High School Diploma, 3%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become an art museum docent?
- Fine Arts, 23%
- Graphic Design, 12%
- Business, 7%
- Other Majors, 53%
Most common colleges for art museum docents
| Art museum docent common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| University of Pittsburgh | 11.11% |
| University of Washington | 7.41% |
| Wayne State University | 7.41% |
| Bellevue College | 7.41% |
| California State University - San Bernardino | 7.41% |
Best majors for art museum docents
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fine Arts | 22.8% |
| 2 | Graphic Design | 12.3% |
| 3 | Business | 7.0% |
| 4 | Environmental Science | 5.3% |
| 5 | Communication | 5.3% |
Best colleges for art museum docents
The best colleges for art museum docents are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.
An art museum docent with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for art museum docents. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become art museum docents.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
2. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
5. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
7. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
8. University of California - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$13,226
Enrollment
31,568
9. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
10. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
In-state tuition
$53,740
Enrollment
5,567
20 best online courses for art museum docents
Advertising disclosure
1. Modern Art & Ideas
Welcome to Modern Art & Ideas! This course is designed for anyone interested in learning more about modern and contemporary art. Over the next five weeks, you will look at art through a variety of themes: Places & Spaces, Art & Identity, Transforming Everyday Objects, and Art & Society. Each week kicks off with a video that connects works of art from The Museum of Modern Art’s collection to the theme. You will hear audio interviews with artists, designers, and curators and learn more about...
2. Agent-based Generative Art | NetLogo
"Generative art refers to any art practice where the artist creates a process, such as a computer program, which is then set into motion with some degree of autonomy contributing to or resulting in a completed work of art." - Wikipedia In this guided project you will develop an agent-based computer program capable of generating visual art pieces. By doing so you will be introduced to the basics of ABM and NetLogo. Furthermore, at the end of this journey you will be able to share such pieces...
3. Positive Psychology Art Coaching
Art activities for children to help build confidence & selfesteem...
4. Art Therapy: Personal Development and Self Healing with Art
Arts Therapy heals ! Improve your Mental Health with 30 Art Therapy Exercises ...
5. Leading Innovation in Arts and Culture
Developed by David Owens at Vanderbilt University and customized for the cultural sector with National Arts Strategies, this course is designed to help arts and culture leaders create an environment where new ideas are constantly created, shared, evaluated and the best ones are successfully put to work. One of the toughest challenges for any leader is getting traction for new ideas. Winning support can be a struggle. As a result, powerful new ideas often get stuck. This is especially true in...
6. Pixel Art for Video Games
This course is aimed to give you the tools and knowledge you need to start creating simple art for video games made in the Unity game engine. Through the aesthetic of pixel art we will explore artistic principals like shape language, color theory, and composition as well as show you a step by step workflow for creating assets that you can use to make your own games. The course is broken into 4 main modules, props, environments, characters, and animation. Each of these courses will have a series...
7. Art Therapy: Art Therapy Exercises For Healing In Life
35 Art Therapy exercises for life happiness & stress management. Art therapy with paintings, art & affirmations...
8. Pixel Art Fundamentals: Introduction to 2D Game Pixel Art
Make 2D Art for Video Games Using Libresprite / Aseprite. Create icons, images, HUD, simple animations and game scenes...
9. Low Poly Art For Video Games
This course is aimed to give you the tools and knowledge you need to start creating simple 3D art for video games made in the Unity game engine. Through the aesthetic of pixel art we will explore artistic principals like shape language, color theory, and composition as well as show you a step by step workflow for creating assets that you can use to make your own games. The course is broken into 4 main modules, props, environments, characters, and animation. Each of these courses will have a...
10. ART of the MOOC: Activism and Social Movements
This course is for activists, artists, and thinkers who wish to better understand and participate in social change. We will focus on the prolific and exciting overlap between socially engaged art and cultural practices generated by recent social movements around the world. Rather than assess the political efficacy of activities like mourning, listening, organizing, dancing, or partying, the lectures examine such cultural activities next to, and within, contemporary art practice. Included in the...
11. Art for Beginners & Kids: 8 Drawing & Mixed-Media Projects
The Perfect Class to Learn Drawing, Painting, Watercolor, Pastel and Mixed Media Art Skills for Kids & Beginners...
12. Create and Sell Digital Art using AI [Passive Income]
Learn to Generate amazing arts & graphics using AI and turn it into a business by selling art and freelance services...
13. The Art of Figure to Ground: Photography's untaught secret
For years, the Art of Figure to Ground was only taught to artists...
14. Internationally Accredited Certificate in Art Therapy
Therapeutic Art Therapy Course / Masterclass for Healing and Life Coaching...
15. Art for Beginners: Learn to Paint 11 Acrylic Paintings
How to Paint with Acrylic Paints: 11 Simple Step-by-Step Art Lessons Designed Especially for Beginners of All Ages...
16. Art History Prehistory to the Renaissance
This is an actual college level course that is taught at several accredited colleges...
17. Create And Sell AI Art: Make Money With AI Art
Learn how to turn this new technology into a profitable business...
18. Building Confidence Through Drawing: Art for Beginners
22 Drawing Lessons for Beginners. Course is perfect for engaging after-school activities or homeschool art projects...
19. Art for Kids & Beginners: Draw & Watercolor Paint 13 Animals
Learn How to Draw & Paint with Watercolor Paint: 13 Simple Art Lessons Designed Especially for Beginners of All Ages...
20. Learn Pixel Art for Games
Understand creating Pixel Art for use in Games...
Top 10 most affordable universities for art museum docents
The most affordable schools for art museum docents are California State University - Long Beach, brigham young university, and lehman college of the city university of new york.
If the best universities for art museum docents are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for art museum docents.
1. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
2. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
3. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
4. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
5. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
6. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
7. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
8. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
9. California State University - Fresno
Fresno, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,587
Cost of attendance
16,915
10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Cost of attendance
25,527
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for art museum docents
The hardest universities for art museum docents to get into are University of Pennsylvania, Northwestern University, and Harvard University.
Some great schools for art museum docents are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for art museum docents based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
2. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
3. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
4. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
5. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
6. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
7. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
8. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
9. Yale University
New Haven, CT • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,517
10. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for art museum docents
The easiest schools for art museum docents to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, curry college, and barry university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an art museum docent without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for art museum docents.
1. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
2. Curry College
Milton, MA • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,026
3. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
4. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
5. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
6. Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private
Admissions rate
92%
SAT average
1,031
7. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
8. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
9. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
10. Marymount University
Arlington, VA • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,065
Average art museum docent salary by education level
| Art museum docent education level | Art museum docent salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $47,664 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $54,461 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $55,926 |
Art museum docent education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common personal care and attendants questions.
Search for art museum docent jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025