What is the expected time commitment for a Winterthur Fellow?
Full-time participation over the course of 22 consecutive months, beginning August 1 and ending May 31st the following year, is expected.
Are there funding opportunities for fellows beyond the stipend?
Thanks to generous donors, both the University and Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library have a variety of endowed and gift funds that provide some support for every student’s thesis research. There are also generous supplementary funding opportunities available to Winterthur Fellows; these may also fund thesis research expenses, conference attendance, presentation travel, and educational opportunities outside of the [...]
What is the cost of attendance?
When admitted into the Winterthur Program, students become Lois F. McNeil Fellowship recipients. These Fellowships are made possible by the generosity of the McNeil family. While the Fellowship is subject to change, it is based on the costs of living in the Greater Wilmington Area, and is usually adequate to cover Fellows’ room and board. [...]
Can I complete the required admissions interviews remotely by Zoom or other video conferencing?
Each year, sixteen applicants are invited to interview with the selection committee. Interview Weekend is held virtually in March via Zoom.
I am currently employed. Can I keep my position while working on my M.A. as a Winterthur fellow?
The Winterthur Program is a full-time, 22-month commitment, and under the policies of the University’s Office of Graduate and Professional Education, other full and regular part-time employment is not permitted. With permission, Fellows occasionally undertake minor forms of employment if they clearly contribute to the student’s scholarly or professional training (e.g. extra guiding or working [...]
Does the Program work with digital media?
The Program does not have a digital media requirement, but all Fellows contribute to blogs associated with field trips and coursework, learn advanced presentation skills, and become experienced in digital image processing. Faculty at the Museum and at the University use and teach in a variety of digital fields including but not limited to computer [...]
Who may serve as thesis advisors?
The primary advisor is typically a regular or affiliated faculty member of the University of Delaware (most Winterthur Museum faculty are also affiliated UD faculty). When a student’s thesis requires technical, material, and/or artistic support, a secondary advisor (including someone who might work for another University) with such expertise may also support the student. This [...]
Is there an alternative to writing a thesis?
The M.A. degree requirements include a thesis. In the Winterthur Program this may take one of several forms, such as a written document, an exhibition project, or a website. No matter the form, all theses have a written component, and all should demonstrate a high level of intellectual rigor and innovation. The thesis can be [...]
Do Fellows undertake internships while in the Program?
Fellows may augment the Program curriculum with professional experience through internships. There are two strategies for gaining this experience: the Museum Studies & Public Engagement Program Internship course (MSST 804, 3cr); or other professional experiences generally registered under the Special Topics / Independent Study course (EAMC 666, 3cr). The latter course is directed study that [...]
Does the Program encourage internship experience for applicants to the Program?
Although internship experiences are not required for an application to the Program, nearly all of our applicants have had some work or study experience in museums, historic houses, preservation organizations, non-profits, auction houses, antique galleries, science centers, living history sites, or educational institutions. Colleges may not call these experiences “internships” on transcripts or give them [...]