The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world’s preeminent scientific and cultural institutions.

Since its founding in 1869, the Museum has advanced its global mission to discover, interpret, and disseminate information about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe through a wide-ranging program of scientific research, education, and exhibition.

The Museum is renowned for its exhibitions and scientific collections, which serve as a field guide to the entire planet and present a panorama of the world’s cultures.

Mission Statement

To discover, interpret, and disseminate—through scientific research and education—knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe.

In 2006, the Museum established the Richard Gilder Graduate School which includes a Ph.D. granting program in comparative biology within the Museum. Accordingly, the Museum’s Charter was amended by the Board of Regents of the State of New York as follows:

“to confer the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and Master of Philosophy (M. Phil.) to duly qualified graduates completing registered curricula at the Graduate School of the American Museum of Natural History, and to award from the Graduate School the Honorary Degrees of Science (D.Sc.), Doctor of Laws (LL.D.), Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) and Master of Humane Letters (L.H.M.) to those selected by the Board of Trustees.”

In 2015, the Museum began granting a Master of Arts in Teaching degree, and its Charter was further amended by the Board of Regents of the State of New York as follows:

“to confer the degree of Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) to duly qualified graduates completing registered curricula at the Graduate School of the American Museum of Natural History, and to change the name of the Graduate School to the “Richard Gilder Graduate School.”

Degree