SMALL MUSEUM PRO! ONLINE COURSE SERIES

Small Museum Pro! Certificate Progress

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Small Museum Pro! (SMP!) is a professional certificate program for history practitioners who work or would like to work, in small history organizations. It provides practical guidance and education on a variety of topics. To receive a certificate, applicants must complete and pass five courses from the program. Eligible courses are listed below.  

As you earn credits toward the Small Museum Pro! certificate, your progress will update in the box above. Please make sure you are logged in to see your progress. Once you have completed and passed five courses from the program, your certificate of completion will be available to print. If you believe you have earned the appropriate amount of credits and your certificate has not populated in the box above, please email learn@aaslh.org for assistance. 

Eligible SMP! Courses:

  • Caring for Museum Collections
  • Collections Management 100
  • Collections Management 200
  • Developing Exhibitions
  • Introduction to Financial Management
  • Introduction to Museum Endowments
  • Leadership and Administration for History Organizations
  • Museum Education and Outreach
  • Best Practices for Inclusive Workspaces

Each course is offered twice a year, but class sizes are limited to provide for an engaging experience. Please visit the course catalog for individual course descriptions and more information on course style and requirements. 

Upcoming SMP! Courses

Introduction to Financial Management (Winter 2025) - Online Course
January 13 - February 9, 2025| Introduction to Financial Management is an AASLH online course. This four-week course, taught by instructor Rebekah Beaulieu, provides an introduction to financial concepts, from understanding expenses and income to how to establish an endowment. Successful completion of this course will earn one credit toward the Small Museum Pro! certificate from AASLH.
Museum Education and Outreach (Spring 2025) - Online Course
March 24 - May 25, 2025 | Museum Education and Outreach is an AASLH online course. This eight-week course, taught by instructor Jenn Edginton, teaches participants how they can facilitate visitors’ meaningful and memorable experiences in the informal environments of museums. Successful completion of this course will earn one credit toward the Small Museum Pro! certificate from AASLH.
Caring for Museum Collections (Spring 2025) - Online Course
March 24 - May 25, 2025 | Caring for Museum Collections is an AASLH online course. This eight-week practical course, taught by instructor Rebecca Elder, deals with the physical care and preservation of museum collections. Successful completion of this course will earn one credit toward the Small Museum Pro! certificate from AASLH.
Best Practices For Inclusive Workspaces (Winter 2025) - Online Course
January 13 - February 16, 2025 | This course takes a deep dive into the background and needs for inclusivity through diversity and equitable efforts, a road map for business development, and implementation strategies. This course will also discuss the corporate benefits and advantages of DEI programs and initiate and assist with benchmark development for success metrics.
Collections Management 200 - Stewardship and Public Access (Winter 2025) - Online Course
January 13 - March 9, 2025 | In this course, participants will learn about the general principles underlying the idea of being a “collecting organization,” and how collections support the mission of a museum or history organization. Students will explore the purpose of a Collection Management Policy and how it relates to other core museum documents, create the Foundational Statements and Collection Development sections of their collections management policy and operationalize those components using example objects.
Developing Exhibitions: Planning & Design (Winter 2025) - Online Course
January 13 - March 9, 2025| Developing Exhibitions: Developing Exhibits: Planning & Design is an AASLH online course. This eight-week course, taught by instructor Jenney Fazande, will introduce participants to the process of designing an exhibit. Successful completion of this course will earn one credit toward the Small Museum Pro! certificate from AASLH.
Leadership and Administration for History Organizations (Spring 2025) - Online Course
March 24 - May 25, 2025 | Leadership and Administration for History Organizations is an AASLH online course. This eight-week course, taught by instructor Anne Ackerson, covers governance and administrative structure, nonprofit status, mission and vision, board and staff responsibilities, the relationship between board and staff, strategic planning, human resource management, and leadership. Successful completion of this course will earn one credit toward the Small Museum Pro! certificate from AASLH.