MUST - Museum Studies (MUST)
MUST 221 Foundations of Museum Studies
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
COURSE OVERVIEW. An introduction to the interdisciplinary field of museum studies, exploring how museums collect, preserve, interpret and exhibit material culture to convey cultural, historical and scientific knowledge. Emphasizes museums as dynamic institutions shaped by ethical, educational and civic responsibilities and fosters critical inquiry into questions such as: Who do museums serve? How do objects acquire meaning? What responsibilities do museums have to communities and history? Provides a foundation for further study in museum work while developing skills in civic engagement, applied learning, collaboration, inclusion and leadership. Engages museums as spaces for dialogue and lifelong learning, encouraging reflection on how they shape public understanding and express broader social values. May incorporate topics that respond to current events, student interests or emerging issues in museum studies. TOPICS AND THEMES. May include: history and development of museums; collecting practices from antiquity to the present; analysis of museum organization, leadership structures and varying types of institutions; consideration of professional standards, collections stewardship; evaluation of interpretation, educational programming and strategies for access and inclusion; ethical, educational and civic responsibilities of museums. Cross Listing: ANTH 221 and ARCH 221.
MUST 421/ANTH 421 Advanced Museum Studies
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
0 Lab Hours.
Advanced exploration of historical, political and cultural forces shaping contemporary museum practices and exhibition design, with emphasis on ethical and professional responsibilities in modern institutions. Focuses on the collaborative and interdisciplinary processes behind exhibition planning and production, with attention to visitor experience, inclusive design and object-based interpretation. Critically engages with contemporary challenges in the museum field, including representation, decolonization, repatriation, activism, censorship and institutional accountability. Highlights the museum’s role in public service, education, knowledge advancement and civic discourse. Includes field trips to campus and local museums, archives and historical or cultural institutions to support experiential learning and engagement with professional practices and careers. Fulfills core requirement for the Museum Studies Minor. Topics and themes may include: Historical and contemporary models of museum programming; research methodologies and scholarly use of collections; educational theory and practice in museum contexts; public outreach and community engagement; ethics of representation, access and inclusion; museums and democratic ideals, civic responsibility and public trust; professional standards and leadership in museum operations; critical evaluation of exhibitions and interpretive strategies; responsive programming tied to current events and emerging issues. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in MUST 221, ANTH 221, ARCH 221 or MAST 220; junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: ANTH 421/MUST 421.
MUST 484 Internship
Credits 0 to 3.
0 to 3 Other Hours.
Provides students with the opportunity to gain practical experience in a variety of cultural heritage settings, including museums, archives, libraries, art galleries, conservation and preservation laboratories, and collection facilities. May be taken four times for credit. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.