Campus Bulletin

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2004-06 IUPUI Campus Bulletin

The policies, regulations, and course descriptions that appear in this edition of the Bulletin are for the academic years specified. Curricular requirements are for students who entered the university or were admitted to a degree program during these specific academic years. As the "bulletin year" (the student's entry year) will be defined differently from school to school at IUPUI, consult your academic advisor to be sure you are using the appropriate edition of the Bulletin.

While every effort is made to provide accurate and current information, IUPUI reserves the right to change without notice statements in this bulletin concerning rules, policies, fees, curricula, courses, or other matters. Consult your academic advisor to learn if changes have occurred that may affect you.

Museum Studies

Director Assistant Professor Elizabeth Kryder-Reid, Anthropology/Museum Studies Professors Michael Cohen, Education
Susan Sutton, Anthropology Associate Professors Jeanette Dickerson-Putman, Anthropology
Stephanie Dickey, Art History
Barbara Jackson, Anthropology
Elizabeth Brand Monroe, History
Kevin Robbins, History
Jean Robertson, Art History
Philip Scarpino, History
Robert Sutton, Classical Studies
Mary Tschirhart, School of Public and Environmental Affairs Assistant Professors Paul Mullins, Anthropology Adjunct Assistant Professors Jeffrey Bonner, Indianapolis Zoological Society, Inc.
Herminia Din, The Children's Museum
David Vanderstel, The Polis Center, National Council on Public History

Academic Advising: Cavanaugh Hall 419, (317) 274-1406

Museum Studies Web site

Museum Studies provides an integration of museum history and theory with hands-on instruction in a variety of museum techniques and practices. It encompasses the scholarly exploration of museums, their history, operations, and role in society from an interdisciplinary perspective while also training students in the technical aspects of museum work such as collections care and management, administration, education, exhibit planning and design, and technology.

As an urban university, IUPUI is part of a community with a rich heritage of museums and cultural arts. The Museum Studies Program has developed collaborative relationships with area museums and developed an extensive network of adjunct faculty and guest lecturers who bring state-of-the-art museum practice to the curriculum. The program also offers extensive opportunities for learning through the resources of the museum community with experiences such as internships; collaboration on exhibit development and design; exhibition and collections focused courses; access to library, archival, study, and educational collections; collaboration with faculty on museum research projects; and participation in museum-sponsored seminars, lecturers, and professional meetings. The integral role of Indianapolis museums in the Museum Studies curriculum fosters a critical, reflective, and scholarly discourse on museums that is applied to current practices and issues in the field.

The program offers both an undergraduate and a graduate certificate. Students who are not pursuing the certificate are welcome in the classes.

Undergraduate Certificate in Museum Studies

The Museum Studies Program offers an 18 credit hour undergraduate certificate in Museum Studies designed to complement a baccalaureate degree and to prepare students for a career in museums or for further graduate study. Many of the courses take advantage of the excellent museum community in Indianapolis with behind-the-scenes tours of museums and guest lectures by experts in the field. The Museum Studies Program is interdisciplinary and draws students from the arts, humanities, and social sciences, as well as from the hard sciences.

The undergraduate core courses provide a firm introduction to the theory, methodology, and practice of museum work. A practicum in a museum provides the opportunity to apply skills, gain experience, and develop professional relationships. A range of electives are recommended to allow exploration of areas of interest, or to develop competency in a more specialized aspect of museum work.

The Undergraduate Museum Studies Certificate consists of a core of four courses (12 cr.) and a choice of two additional courses (6 cr.) from a list of Museum Studies courses. All of these courses must be passed with a grade of C or above in order to count for the certificate. Electives must be approved by the museum studies director prior to registration. Before enrolling in the Undergraduate Museum Studies Certificate program, IUPUI students must have completed 55 credit hours of university study with a minimum GPA of 2.0 and must have declared a major field of study.

A student's particular program is selected in consultation with the museum studies director. The following 18 credit hours of course work are designed to provide a firm introduction to the theory, methodology, and practice of museum work:

Museum theory
(6 cr.) A403, H217

Museum methods
(9 cr.) A405 and two of the following: A410, A412, A414, A416, A418 or an approved elective

Practical museum work
(3 cr.) 3 credits required in a museum practicum (A408 or ANTH A494 as a museum-related project)

Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies (18 cr.)

The Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies provides students with interdisciplinary training in museum practice and a knowledge of contemporary issues in the museum field. It trains students in specialized aspects of museum practice such as education, exhibit planning and design, collections care, philanthropy, and non-profit management by combining Museum Studies course work with curriculum in other IU schools. Students are given an introduction to the history and philosophy of museums and an opportunity to focus on particular aspects of museum practice.

The graduate certificate may be taken as a freestanding credential or paired with graduate work in another related discipline. Because it offers an opportunity to specialize and does not require an internship, the graduate certificate is also a suitable credential for current museum professionals who wish to enhance their professional training or develop new specialties.

Undergraduate Museum Studies Core (12 cr.)

HIST H217 The Nature of History (3 cr.) An introductory examination of (1) what history is, (2) types of historical interpretation, (3) common problems in history, and (4) the uses of history.

MSTD A403 Introduction to Museum Studies(3 cr.) This survey of museology introduces students to the history of museums and to debates on the philosophical nature of museums and their roles in society. The course covers the types and definitions of museums, traces the history of museums, discusses contemporary museum practice, and examines current issues in the museum profession.

MSTD A405 Museum Methods (3 cr.) This survey of museum practice introduces students to methods, skills, and resources in three areas of museum work: artifacts, interpretation, and organizational administration, as well as to the ethical ramifications of these methods.

MSTD A408 Museum Internship (1-6 cr.) Authorization of the instructor required. An arranged learning experience in museum work appropriate to individual career goals focusing on an aspect of museum practice and working with a museum mentor. May be repeated. Prerequisites: A403 and A405, or consent of instructor. [Anthropology majors may register for ANTH A494 in lieu of this requirement.]

Museum Studies Undergraduate Courses (6 cr.)

Choose two of the following courses or from a list of approved electives. See program director for a current list of approved electives. MSTD A410 Museum Education (3 cr.) This survey of museum education introduces students to a variety of professional skills through exercises, projects, museum visitor observation, and in-museum classes. It covers education theory most central to museum practice, the duties of museum educators, and current issues in museum education.

MSTD A412 Exhibit Planning and Design (3 cr.) This course offers a survey of museum exhibit planning and design through an integration of theory and practice. The class introduces students to exhibit development, including exhibit administration, design, and evaluation, and to a variety of professional skills through hands-on exercises, exhibit critiques, museum observations, and in-museum classes.

MSTD A414 Museums and Technology (3 cr.) This course surveys the growing use of technology in museums. It examines applications for information management in collections, conservation science, and archives. It examines critically the use of technology in the service of education both in exhibit contexts and in the variety of educational programs and web-based dissemination of knowledge.

MSTD A416 Collections Care and Management (3 cr.) A survey of techniques for the management and care of collections in museums. It covers documentation, management of collections, processes, administrative functions, risk management, and ethical and legal issues. The course also covers the physical care and conservation of objects.

Graduate Core Curriculum (3 cr.)

MSTD A503 Introduction to Museum Studies (3 cr.) This survey of museology introduces students to the history of museums and to debates on the philosophical nature of museums and their roles in society. The course covers the types and definitions of museums, traces the history of museums, discusses contemporary museum practice, and examines current issues in the museum profession.

Museum Studies Graduate Courses (15 cr.)

Choose five of the following courses or from a list of approved electives. See program director for a current list of approved electives. MSTD A505 Museum Methods (3 cr.) P: A503 or consent of instructor. This survey of museum practice introduces students to methods, skills, and resources in three areas of museum work: artifacts, interpretation, and organizational administration, as well as to the ethical ramifications of these methods.

MSTD A508 Museum Internship (1-6 cr.) P: A503 and two other Museum Studies graduate courses or consent of the instructor. Authorization of the instructor required. An arranged learning experience in museum work appropriate to individual career goals focusing on an aspect of museum practice and working with a museum mentor. May be repeated for a total of 6 credit hours.

MSTD A510 Museum Education (3 cr.) P: A503 or consent of the instructor. This survey of museum education introduces students to a variety of professional skills through exercises, projects, museum visitor observation, and in-museum classes. It covers education theory most central to museum practice, the duties of museum educators, and current issues in museum education.

MSTD A512 Exhibit planning and Design (3 cr.) P: A503 or consent of the instructor. This course offers a survey of museum exhibit planning and design through an integration of theory and practice. The class introduces students to exhibit development, including exhibit administration, design, and evaluation, and to a variety of professional skills through hands-on exercises, exhibit critiques, museum observations, and in-museum classes.

MSTD A514 Museums and Technology (3 cr.) This course surveys the growing use of technology in museums. It examines applications for information management in collections, conservation science, and archives. It examines critically the use of technology in the service of education both in exhibit contexts and in the variety of educational programs and web-based dissemination of knowledge.

AADM Y525 Museum Management (3 cr.) P: consent of instructor. Management of art and historical museums; the museum: its legal status, the building, management and staff, goals and objectives, fundraising and budgeting, collections and exhibition, education, and community outreach.