Museum Studies Minor (L)

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Museum studies is a professional pathway for students in the arts, graphic design, interior design, anthropology, natural sciences, history, and other disciplines. The many functions of museum professionals are interdisciplinary, ranging from design thinking skills to historical analysis, archiving and leadership. Museum professionals work as curators, educators, exhibition designers, and in community outreach. The professional pathway is usually a graduate degree but the minor will provide a valuable introduction to this profession. The minor consists of 9 credit hours in required courses in museum studies with applied learning alignments and 9 credit hours in electives relevant to the student’s disciplinary area of interest. Recommended electives are listed below, but with the advisor’s approval, other electives may be acceptable.

REAL Curriculum

The learning goal of the program is the exploration of professional practice through the application of knowledge, skills, and critical reflection. Following introduction and exposure to the basic skills and knowledge of running museums and exhibition planning, students will use museological theory to analyze contemporary museums and their relationships to issues of social justice. Students will apply ethical reasoning and basic design principles to the analysis of exhibitions and the overall level of empathy and activism in selected museums. Completion of the minor will prepare students for entry level roles in museums and galleries and/or enable them to determine whether they want to pursue a graduate level degree in museum studies.

REAL Cornerstone Requirements

Writing Intensive (WI) Courses (6 credits)

Writing Intensive courses are denoted below with a (WI). Two writing intensive courses are required to graduate, with at least one at the 300- or 400-level. The Museum Studies minor includes 3-6 credits of writing intensive courses.

General Education Requirements

General Education courses will be denoted below with a (GE). Students are required to take at least 30 credit hours of general education designated courses within their degree requirements. The Museum Studies minor includes 0-9 general education credits.

Minor Requirements (18 credits)

Required Courses (9 credits)

Electives (9 credits)

Elective credits (9) may be chosen from the student’s discipline; recommended courses are listed below but others may be acceptable with the advisor’s approval.

Total Credits Needed for Minor 18

Additional Information

The professional degree in museum studies is usually at the graduate level. A minor in museum studies will prepare students for entry level museum and gallery positions and for graduate school, if desired. The focus of course content will include museums of all disciplines, international museums, and museums with a focus on social justice issues. Should you be interested in long term work in museums, the internship experience is strongly recommended. It is also possible to find volunteer work at regional and local museums during the semester. Such positions often provide an entry to a long-term paid position.