Introduction to the historical development of museums, the museum profession, and the field of museum studies.

Focus on methods, systems, and roles in museum operations. Analyzing trends and current topics, networking with museum professionals, and experiential learning in local museums.

Survey of collections, engagement, and trends in museums, science centers, zoos, environmental sites, and national and state parks.

Topics not covered in other museum studies courses. May be repeated once under a different topic.

Explores types of museum education that encompasses both directed/formal education programs and free choice/informal learning opportunities. Examines the history of museum education and ways to create engaging educational programming that will attract visitors and adapt to different learning styles.

Examines cultural collections in museums, libraries, and archives, including their historical development; their role in society; and their use in scholarship, education, and public programming.

Topics in Museum Studies not covered in other museum studies courses. May be repeated once under a different topic.

Undergraduate research undertaken under the supervision of a faculty member. May be taken for a maximum of 6 hours.

Overview of museum and non-profit administration, with emphasis on governance, oversight, budgetary planning, fundraising, public relations, and ethics.

Development of outreach techniques in U.S. museums. Hands-on experience researching, creating, and executing strategies in advertising, public relations, marketing, and development/fundraising, including a marketing plan for a museum/archive/library partner institution.

Explores how education inspires museums and museums inspire education. Examination of the history, theory, and practice associated with the question, “What is museum education?”

Examination of the intellectual, physical, legal, financial, social, and ethical challenges of preserving and providing access to museum collections. Explores the theory and practice of collections management and how to utilize available resources for collections care in any museum regardless of size.

Varieties and techniques of historic preservation in America.

The material evidence of American life, including everyday artifacts, and those reflecting social and political history.

Guide to the origins, nature and display, as well as chronological and geographical classification of American decorative arts.

History of books and book collections, best practices for their intellectual and physical care and curation of book collections, and the potential ethical issues in management and curation of books.

Exploration of issues pertaining to non-profit administration, including working with a board of trustees, budgetary planning, fund raising, grant writing, marketing, public relations, ethics and best practices and standards as promulgated by the American Alliance of Museums accreditation program.

Ethical issues in museums, libraries, and archives. Emphasis on collections management issues such as fakes and forgeries, accessioning and deaccessioning, cultural patrimony, interpretation and exhibition, and repatriation.

The history of records and recordkeeping systems, the organizational structure of museums, and the respective roles of collectors and researchers in the archival environment.

Advanced topics in Museum Studies not covered in other museum studies courses. May be repeated once under a different topic.

Exhibit design as a way to meet the needs, interests and learning styles of museum visitors.

See TED 4362 for course information.

Internship in the daily operation of a museum or related organization and completion of a specialized project.

Directed studies of standards of museum professional practices.

May be taken for a maximum of 6 hours.