MST 500: Introduction to Museums: Purpose, Function and History (3)
This course will provide students with an overview of the purpose, function, and history of museums and their role in society. Students will be introduced to all of the disciplines within the museum and will discuss recent issues in the field.
MST 501: Museum Administration (3)
This course will provide students with an overview of management history, theory and practice focusing on the issues involved in managing a non-profit organization. Topics to be covered include strategic planning, ethics and governance, membership, earned income and marketing and non-profit finance. Students will complete a finance assignment and an in-depth museum management case study. A variety of topics will be covered including the concepts of project management, team building, group problem solving and managing change. Case studies of actual projects in museums.
MST 502: Museum Exhibition (3)
This course will focus on the development of interpretive museum exhibitions including theory, planning, research, methodologies, design, construction and installation, and the application of new technologies.
MST 503: Collections Management (3)
This course will provide an introduction to the basic theories, methodologies, and current issues relating to archives management. Establishing collections policies; laws, regulations, conventions, and codes that bear on acquisitions, deaccessions, loans and collection care; accountability; access problems. The implementation of collections policies: establishing and managing collections, management procedures and systems, documentation of collections, records preservation, tax codes, data bases, collections access and storage, restitution and repatriation laws and controversies, handling, packing and shipping, and inventory control, and responsibilities of a Museum Registrar.
MST 515: Introduction to Museum Education (3)
Public Education is at the core of the service that museums provide. This course focuses on all aspects of the educational role of museums from the mission through an exploration of museum learning, the use of new technologies, and the development of public programs and evaluation.
RPTA 424 (G) Fund Raising and Volunteerism in Leisure Services. (3)
A study of the principles and practices associated with fundraising and utilization of volunteers in public as well as private nonprofit leisure service organizations. Prerequisite: Graduate Standing and permission of program director.
MST 600: Internship and Special Project (4)
Students are required to complete an internship of at least ten weeks in a museum or related organization. As a part of the internships, students will undertake and complete a special project approved by the host museum and the Program Director, and make periodic reports to the Program Director on their experience. Students are responsible for finding their own internships, although the Program assists by informing them about opportunities. The Program reserves the right to reject any student-arranged internship. The overall internship program is coordinated by the Program Director, but individual interns are supervised by museum professionals at the host institution. The Internship and Special Project will be graded S/U. Students must have completed 21 hours of course work before enrolling in the internship.
MST 601: Workshops in Museum Studies (0)
Students are required to attend at least five workshops run through the Figge Art Museum or other workshops approved by the program director. Graded S/U.
MST 602 Graduate Portfolio. (0)
Throughout their graduate program, students will develop a portfolio documenting their evolving knowledge and skills in the Museum Studies program. Graded S/U.