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.
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 [...]
I am also considering PhD programs. How will the Winterthur Program prepare me for a doctoral program?
If you aspire to advanced research and scholarship using objects, we recommend that you attend the Winterthur Program before going on to doctoral programs. Although doctoral programs provide advanced training in research, critical thinking, and academic teaching, most emphasize historiography, texts, and theory rather than exposure to objects and field-based or hands-on learning. After studying [...]
How many electives does the curriculum allow?
Typically Fellows select two elective courses in year one and four elective courses in year two. Two of these elective courses (the distribution requirement) must be graduate seminars in different academic disciplines at the University of Delaware, generally offerings from the departments of Art History, English, or History. Fellows can also request to take additional [...]
Do courses at Winterthur and the University of Delaware differ?
Courses at the two institutions complement each other. Although University of Delaware courses also make use of the Museum’s and various other object collections in the area, they often teach students the theoretical foundations, historical contexts, and interpretation of an object’s significance. University courses also give Fellows the opportunity to read objects and collections from [...]
What is Summer Institute?
Summer Institute is what Fellows often refer to as “decorative arts boot-camp.” It is held in August of Fellows’ first year and is meant to be an introductory course to Decorative Arts and Material Culture Study. The main goal of the course is to expose Fellows to the resources at both Winterthur and the University [...]
How does the Winterthur Program foster and facilitate BIPOC and marginalized perspectives?
The Program encourages close analysis of all objects to uncover multiple and diverse meanings. Although Winterthur’s collections are famous for their extraordinary decorative arts objects, a large portion of the museum’s object collections relate to BIPOC experience and history. Additionally, the collection has many objects related to women’s, children’s, and elders’ histories. The University of [...]