Offered annually for academic credit, the Practicum in Museum Education trains students to give Gallery Guide tours and introduces them to museum careers.

This intensive, four-week class is taught during Oberlin College’s winter term by the Eric & Jane Nord Family Curator of Education. Students are introduced to a range of theories and practices in gallery teaching; conduct research on the Allen's collection; practice public speaking and giving inquiry-based tours; and learn from staff and other professionals about museum and arts-related careers. A portion of the course focuses on career advice and honing one’s application materials for summer internships.

The practicum usually includes field trips to the Akron Art Museum, Cleveland Museum of Art, and Toledo Museum of Art. Students also meet with museum staff members to learn about the variety of jobs available in museums.

After the course, most students become Gallery Guides at the museum, a paid position offering valuable practical experience in guided interpretation for visitors of all ages. Offered since 1990, this course has launched many Oberlin College students into museum careers as educators, curators, directors, and collection managers.

• Students discuss the practicum in Diving into the Art World interview
• Practicum course featured on Oberlin College website
• Student Blog Part 1: A Look into the Allen Memorial Art Museum
• Student Blog Part 2: From an Intern's Perspective

As the only fine arts museum in Lorain County and four contiguous counties, the Allen is a vital resource for a broad demographic in our area. Its educational materials and gallery tours benefit groups from a range of educational systems, including public, private, and charter schools across a wide socioeconomic spectrum. Over the years, thousands of local and regional schoolchildren have visited the museum galleries, and generations of Oberlin youngsters have grown up with its world-class collection.

Please contact Jill Greenwood or call 440-775-8671 for more information about the Practicum.