Museum Studies Certificate Program
Museum Studies at Connecticut College is a broad interdisciplinary program, open to students of all majors, that explores the role of museums in shaping society's knowledge about art, culture, history and the natural world. The Museum Studies Certificate Program is designed to introduce students to careers in all types of museums, cultural arts centers, historical sites and houses, science centers, environmental education centers, exhibit design firms, auction houses, planetaria, aquaria, zoos and botanical gardens. Students who successfully complete the program will receive a certificate at graduation.
The program offers:
An introduction to the foundations of museology with a critical perspective on museum history and practice.
An opportunity to visit and analyze a diverse range of museums and exhibitions.
Study of community-museum relationships through on-site observations and interaction with museum professionals.
Training in museum skills and operation, including curation, exhibition design and implementation, collection management, conservation, administration, publication, fundraising and educational programming.
Special opportunities for internships, volunteer work and training at local museums.
The program consists of four components: a foundation course, three elective courses, a summer or semester internship at a museum, gallery, historical society or related organization, and a Senior Integrative Project.
Students apply to the Museum Studies Certificate Program in the first semester of sophomore year.
Certificate Components
Criteria for the Certificate:
One foundation course.
One course from Electives A.
Two courses from Electives A or B.
Museum-related internship.
Museum Studies Senior Project.
Foundation Course
One foundation course.
Foundation Course
Electives A
At least one course from Electives A
Electives A
Electives B
At least two course from Electives A or B
Electives B
Internship
A summer or semester internship at a museum, gallery, cultural arts center, historical site or house, science center, environmental education center, exhibit design firm, auction house, planetarium, aquarium, zoo, botanical garden, or related institution. Internships must be approved by the Director or Associate Director of Museum Studies.
Internship
Senior Integrative Project
An independent or collaborative project undertaken while enrolled in MSM 496: Museum Studies Senior Projects. The project is usually created with the guidance of a faculty member in one's major and with the Director of Museum Studies. The project might involve designing and implementing an exhibition, developing interactive computer software or a museum website, producing an educational outreach program, or writing a research essay on some aspect of museums or museology.
Senior Integrative Project
Steiner, C.
Gonzalez Rice, K