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Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
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I would second Matthew White's advice, with an emphasis on filling in gaps
that complement your museum experience, and following what personally
inspirees you so that you can strengthen what you uniquely bring to the
field. 

People do tend to hire those with academic backgrounds similar to their own,
so if you already have a sense of where you want to end up, you might want to
do some research on what kinds of degrees are valued by the institutions or
individuals you'd like to work with.

And take the time to reflect on your own philosophical outlook about what
goes on in museums. Is cognitive psych too narrow to encompass the range of
the visitor experience, or is it really the area of learning that intrigues
you most? Take a look at the professional journals the fields you're
considering, and see if their contents excite or bore you. Other fields
besides education that have something to offer the museum field include
various social sciences, instructional media, public understanding of
science, quantitative or qualitative research methodology, environmental
psychology, architecture or design.

My own M.A. in Museum Education from JFK has been useful in opening doors
with people who already have connections to that program, and maintaining a
strong network of colleagues in the field. That's useful in the Bay Area, but
you (Julia Berger, who posted the query) have already been active in
professional organizations and worked in enough museums here to have many of
the same benefits and credibility without that degree.

One point to consider is that Ph.D.s are generally the Principal
Investigators on grant proposals. So if you want to have a central role in
research projects, you might want to look at doctoral programs. (And it's a
lot easier to embark on them before you have kids!)

By the way, CILS started out with NSF funding for full tuition for all
doctoral students. If you're interested in science education and the overlap
of formal and informal learning, it's the strongest program I've seen yet, as
well as the best deal. 

Personally, I'm still hoping for a doctoral program in informal education and
qualitative research that isn't tied so strongly to the sciences, and doesn't
require leaving the Bay Area. Any ideas?

Good luck, and I'd be happy to bounce ideas around as you ponder your
decision.

Lisa Hubbell Mackinney
Program Evaluator
California Academy of Sciences
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, CA 94118
415/750-7011
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