Museum Studies Program
Museum Studies Graduate Program
Since 1981 the graduate program in Museum Studies at the University of Kansas (KU) has offered nationally acclaimed training for professional careers in museums, historical agencies, and related institutions. The program (1) prepares graduates for professional careers in museums and related institutions; (2) promotes innovative multidisciplinary research and practice in museum studies; and (3) seeks opportunities for engagement by students and faculty to enhance museums in the state and the region.
The graduate curriculum in Museum Studies provides a comprehensive overview of the discipline, opportunities for mastering core components of museum practice, avenues for exploring the interdisciplinary nature of museums, solid grounding in current issues facing museums, and possibilities for research to develop new and innovative approaches in the field. The Museum Studies Program’s core courses provide a foundation in the theories, history, techniques, and problems common to museums, historical agencies, and related institutions as well as the specialized operations of such institutions. Students also receive classroom and field training in methods and subject matter in a variety of professional specialties, including leadership and management, exhibits, collections, curation, and education and community connections. The Museum Studies Program also has well-established connections with academic disciplines such as African and African American Studies, American Studies, Anthropology, Geology, Art History, History, and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, and students have many opportunities to take courses in those (and other) fields. Additionally, students take advantage of the superb facilities at KU, including the Dole Institute of Politics, Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum, Spencer Museum of Art, Spencer Research Library, and Wilcox Classical Museum, as well as nearby museums, archives, historical agencies, and specialized libraries.
Our flexible, interdisciplinary M.A. degree provides foundational knowledge plus hands-on skills and experience in specific areas of museum work. We also offer a dual master's program with African & African-American Studies that awards two master's degrees in three years, as well as a graduate certificate program for students pursuing graduate degrees in other academic disciplines. Museum Studies graduates are well-equipped to undertake professional and leadership responsibilities in museums, historical agencies, and related institutions.
Courses
A limited-enrollment, seminar course for first-time freshmen, addressing current issues in Museum Studies . Course is designed to meet the Global Culture goal of the KU Core 34. First-Year Seminar topics are coordinated and approved by the Undergraduate Education Office within Academic Affairs. Prerequisite: Open to Freshmen only (less than 30 hours).
MUSE 301. Museums and Society: Past, Present, Future. 3 Credits.
An introduction to museums and the field of museum studies. Using short lectures, discussion, laboratory exercises, field trips, and guest speakers, students will explore the history, role, and function of museums including types, dimensions, creation and management of collections, exhibition development, administration, and visitor experiences. Includes instruction and practice in writing for a variety of museum contexts and audiences. Designed for students interested in museums and curious about museum careers. (Same as HIST 409.)
MUSE 302. Museum Objects: How Museums Work. 3 Credits.
This course provides an introduction to how objects and audiences move through museums. Materials and discussions will illuminate museum processes for cataloguing and caring for objects, as well as professional best practices for making objects accessible to audiences. Course sessions will utilize professional standards and hands-on activities to familiarize students with how museums ensure quality operations through various structures and staff roles. Students will consider how these operations contribute to museums’ role to advance learning and foster engagement among the communities that they serve.
MUSE 380. Introduction to Public History. 3 Credits.
This course will introduce students to the methodological and theoretical practice of public history. The course aims to guide students to think about history beyond the book and acquaint them with examples of public histories such as museums, memorials, monuments, power of the archive, preservation through oral histories, and democratizing history through digital tools. Through class lectures and assignments, students will develop an understanding of how being a steward of historical knowledge can have a more significant effect once it reaches the broader public. The class will wrestle with topics such as: memory and historical preservation; democratizing history through digital tools; exhibits and monuments; power of archival collection; and funding institutions of public history. This course will guide students to build a deeper understanding of historical practice but also to communicate effectively with the public. (Same as HIST 380.)
MUSE 480. Special Topics in Museum Studies: _____. 1-3 Credits.
Courses on special topics in museum studies, given as need arises. Lectures, discussions of readings, and guest speakers. Topic for semester to be announced. Instructor permission usually required. Prerequisite: Varies by section and instructor.
MUSE 511. Field School in Indigenous Archaeology Collections Curation & Management. 6 Credits.
This field school offers an immersive, hands-on experience in archaeological collections curation and management, blending theoretical learning with practical application. Students will engage with contemporary issues in archaeology collections management, including the ethical stewardship of cultural heritage, Indigenous perspectives on curation, and legal regulations such as NAGPRA. Lectures will cover best practices in collection care, preservation, digitization, and emerging trends in the field. Students get direct experience in curating archaeological collections, including artifact handling, rehousing, and cataloging. They will learn to navigate collections management systems (CMS) and contribute to database entry. This course prepares students for museum curation, heritage management, and archaeology careers. This course is offered at the 500 and 700 level with additional assignments at the 700 level. Not open to students with credit in MUSE 711/ISP 711. (Same as ISP 511.) Prerequisite: ANTH 397 or by consent of the instructor.
MUSE 580. Special Topics in Museum Studies: _____. 1-3 Credits.
Courses on special topics in museum studies, given as need arises. Lectures, discussions of readings, and guest speakers. Topic for semester to be announced. Instructor permission may be required. Prerequisite: Successful completion of a History, Art History, Anthropology or Museum Studies course numbered below 500, or permission of instructor.
MUSE 581. Laboratory in Museum Studies: _____. 3 Credits.
This course is a varied program of laboratory and fieldwork designed to introduce students to investigative approaches in the study of the basic concepts of biological science, anthropology, archaeology, and related disciplines. Course is repeatable for credit if topic varies. Students may enroll in more than one section if topic differs. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
MUSE 696. Study Abroad Experience. 3-6 Credits.
Study abroad experience with significant hands-on museological content. Coursework must be arranged through Office of KU Study Abroad and preapproved by the Museum Studies minor advisor. Students must complete critical reflection assignments or provide examples of reflective coursework in consultation with the minor advisor to receive credit. Prerequisite: MUSE 301 or MUSE 302, or instructor permission.
MUSE 697. Museum Internship. 3-6 Credits.
Provides directed, practical experience in museum operations in areas that may include collections, conservation, curation, education, exhibits, and/or management and operations. Internships may be conducted on- or off-campus and must be preapproved by the Museum Studies minor advisor. Students must complete critical reflection assignments in consultation with the minor advisor and receive positive evaluations from their internship supervisor to receive credit. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: MUSE 301 or MUSE 302, or Instructor Permission.
A hands-on, project-based seminar course that works closely with campus and local museums and their staff on rotating topics/projects. Outcomes may include exhibitions, conservation or digitization initiatives, or educational programming. When topic differs, may be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: MUSE 301 or MUSE 302, or instructor permission.
MUSE 699. Anthropology in Museums. 3 Credits.
The course reviews the history of archeological, ethnographic, physical anthropological and other types of collections. It also considers current issues facing anthropologists, such as: contested rights to collections and the stories that accompany them; representation and interpretation of cultures; art and artifact; conceptualization, design and building of exhibitions; and anthropological research and education in the museum. (Same as ANTH 699.) Prerequisite: ANTH 150 or ANTH 108 or consent of instructor.
MUSE 701. Managing Museums. 3 Credits.
This course studies the management and administration of museums and archives as organizations. Topics to be discussed include strategic planning; budgeting and financial management; grant writing and fundraising; staffing and personnel management; governance and boards of directors; audience assessment and development; communications and public relations; and partnerships and collaboration. (Same as AMS 731, BIOL 785, GEOL 783, and HIST 728.) Prerequisite: Museum Studies student or consent of instructor.
MUSE 703. Introduction to Museum Exhibits. 3 Credits.
Presentation of principles and practices of exhibit management, design, and production. Topics will include developing a master plan for museum exhibits; concept development; design, installation, and maintenance of exhibits; design theory; design process; label writing and editing; selection of materials architectural requirements and building codes; cost estimating; publicity; security; and exhibit evaluation. Consideration will be given to exhibition problems in public and private museums in the areas of anthropology, art, history, natural history, and technology. (Same as AMS 700, BIOL 787, GEOL 781, and HIST 723.) Prerequisite: Museum Studies student or consent of instructor.
MUSE 704. Introduction to Collections Management and Utilization. 3 Credits.
This course examines the roles collections play in fulfilling a museum's mission; the obligations ownership/preservation of collections materials create for a museum; and the policies, practices, and professional standards that museums are required to put in place. The course will cover utilization of collections for research, education, and public engagement; address how that utilization informs the need for and structure of collections policies, and introduce the basic practices of professional collections management. (Same as ANTH 798, AMS 730, ANTH 798, BIOL 798, GEOL 785, and HIST 725.) Prerequisite: Museum Studies student or consent of instructor.
MUSE 705. Museum Education and Public Engagement. 3 Credits.
This course explores how museums serve as vital spaces for their communities. It focuses on strategies for public engagement across the museum with attention to collaborating with public partners and developing relevant programs. Emphasis will be given to applying community-engaged methodologies, designing programs that build on existing structures, and facilitating feedback to create transformative museum experiences. (Same as AMS 797, BIOL 784, GEOL 784, and HIST 721.)
MUSE 706. Preventive Conservation in Museums. 3 Credits.
This course will prepare future museum professionals to care for all types of museum objects. Students will learn best practices for ethical object condition reporting, identification of the agents of change in objects composed of organic and inorganic materials, collection storage strategies, disaster preparedness and response techniques, and preservation planning. (Same as AMS 714, BIOL 700, GEOL 780, and HIST 722.) Prerequisite: Museum Studies student or consent of instructor.
MUSE 707. Archival Theory and Practice. 3 Credits.
Study of the theories and practices applicable to the preservation, care, and administration of archives and material culture. Hands-on experience will be an integral part of this course. (Same as HIST 727.)
MUSE 708. Digital Methods. 3 Credits.
This course introduces students to digital methods for reading, writing, research, publication, and curation. We will explore the development of digital tools, resources, platforms, and cultures and analyze their possible uses and limitations by discussing questions around access, funding, and labor. In addition to experimenting with platforms for content management, audio, mapping, data visualizations, and text analysis, we will focus our inquiry of processes and purposes around the ethics of digital practices to explore the benefits and challenges of digital preservation, archives, and curation. How can digital tools and resources make cultural objects more accessible, engaging, and relevant to the personal and professional lives of various publics? What audiences do we seek to engage through digital practices? This course provides students with opportunities to experiment with digital methods and tools and design digital projects that can further their own research and praxis.
MUSE 710. Natural History Curation and Collections Management. 3 Credits.
This course explores collection best practices and standards employed in natural history collections through the lens of the KU Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum. It addresses aspects of managing, documenting, collecting, cataloguing, preserving, storing, and digitally archiving the many different types of natural history collections along with the legal and ethical implications encountered. The course format consists of lectures, readings, co-curricular experiences, preparation technique demonstrations, and guided tours of the museum's paleontological, biological (flora and fauna) and archaeological division collections by BI collection managers and curators to highlight how these techniques are put into practice. Required 35-hour student internship projects entail work in one of the museum's collections with the opportunity for hands-on experience as well as a final class presentation. (Same as BIOL 706.) Prerequisite: Museum Studies student or consent of instructor.
MUSE 711. Field School in Indigenous Archaeology Collections Curation & Management. 6 Credits.
This field school offers an immersive, hands-on experience in archaeological collections curation and management, blending theoretical learning with practical application. Students will engage with contemporary issues in archaeology collections management, including the ethical stewardship of cultural heritage, Indigenous perspectives on curation, and legal regulations such as NAGPRA. Lectures will cover best practices in collection care, preservation, digitization, and emerging trends in the field. Students get direct experience in curating archaeological collections, including artifact handling, rehousing, and cataloging. They will learn to navigate collections management systems (CMS) and contribute to database entry. This course prepares students for museum curation, heritage management, and archaeology careers. This course is offered at the 500 and 700 level with additional assignments at the 700 level. Not open to students with credit in MUSE 511/ISP 511. (Same as ISP 711.) Prerequisite: MUSE 704 or by consent of the instructor.
MUSE 780. Special Topics: _____. 1-3 Credits.
Advanced courses on special topics in museum studies, given as need arises. Lectures, discussions of readings, and guest speakers. Topic for semester to be announced. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Museum Studies Program or permission of instructor.
MUSE 790. Advanced Study. 1-3 Credits.
Individual research in a specialized topic not ordinarily treated in a Museum Studies core course for which there is a member of the graduate faculty competent and willing to direct a research project. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
MUSE 792. Directed Readings. 1-3 Credits.
Directed reading in an area of Museum Studies in which there is no particular course in the Museum Studies program or in cooperating departments but in which there is a member of the graduate faculty competent and willing to direct a program study. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
MUSE 798. Capstone. 3 Credits.
Research, writing, and defense of the MUSE capstone for certificate students. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies and consent of Museum Studies Director.
MUSE 799. Museum Internship. 1-6 Credits.
MUSE 801. The Modern Museum: Institutions, Knowledge and Audiences. 3 Credits.
This course provides students with an overview of the historical development of museums as institutions, bodies of knowledge, and communicators with a public audience. Students will become familiar with museological theory and methods through reading and discussion of canonical and contemporary texts. Course readings and discussions will examine the purpose and functions of museums in diverse historical, geographical, cultural, and disciplinary contexts, allowing students to identify shared and distinct practices across varied museums. Site visits will familiarize students with museum practices in realms including administration, collections, curation, education, exhibits, and research. (Same as HIST 720.) Prerequisite: Museum Studies student or consent of instructor.
MUSE 802. The Museum Profession: Ethics, Standards and Cultural Awareness. 3 Credits.
This course builds upon the foundational theoretical and disciplinary knowledge developed in MUSE 801 to interrogate the ethics and standards that govern museums as institutions, affect their operations and functions, and underlie relationships with various audiences. Students will continue their engagement with museological theory and methods to deepen their understanding of the politics and epistemologies that shape museum practice and produce ideas of authenticity and authority. Students will consider the role of museums in creating perceptions of scientific and historical truth, identity, and belonging. These considerations develop the critical faculties that will allow students to recognize opportunities to reframe museum practice along more ethical, equitable, and inclusive lines. Prerequisite: MUSE 801 or approval of instructor.
MUSE 803. The Contemporary Museum in Practice: Debates and Research Methodologies. 3 Credits.
This course synthesizes and builds upon the institutional, ethical, and professional knowledge developed in MUSE 801 and MUSE 802 to engage with contemporary challenges, debates, and issues confronting museums, their staff, and their audiences. Engagement with current issues will allow students to situate their own professional and disciplinary interests in the context of the wider field of museum studies as they begin to formulate their final product topics and methodologies. Students will hone research skills, identify sources, construct bibliographies, and begin literature review for their capstone project, culminating in a complete capstone project proposal to be submitted to the instructor and the student’s committee. Prerequisite: MUSE 801 and MUSE 802.