The Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Certificate Program in Museum Studies provides a broad overview of the history of museums as well as knowledge of museum theory, methodology, and practice consistent with contemporary national and international standards. The program gives particular attention to issues of museum history, ethics, multiculturalism, the relationships of museums to communities and diverse audiences, educational programs, and an examination of diverse types of collections and interpretations.
The educational goal of the certificate is to prepare students for a variety of careers in museums and museum-related fields through offering a range of courses in many disciplines. a) To foster in students the critical thinking, analytical, and interpretive skills necessary for innovative inquiry and design in museums and museum-related fields through experiential learning opportunities. b) To investigate museology through discipline-based knowledge, museum theory, and hands-on experiences. c) To cultivate in students an understanding and appreciation of the value of museums and cultural institutions within the United States and internationally. d) To provide students with an opportunity to augment their studies through existing resources on campus due to the interdisciplinary nature of museology.
Akela Reason Associate Professor 239 LeConte Hall 706-542-2053 areason@uga.edu
16 hours
The program is open to all undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students at the University of Georgia. To be eligible to participate in the program, an applicant must be either a currently enrolled student in good standing in an undergraduate degree-seeking program or a post-baccalaureate student in good standing at the university. All applicants must submit a formal application to the program, which may be obtained from the program coordinator.
FCID 5010/7010
| MUSE 5015/7015 * | Museum Internship | 3 |
| MUSE 5020/7020 | Museum Studies Certificate Capstone | 1 |
* Students may complete an equivalent internship in a museum setting offered by the College of Environment and Design, Department of History, Lamar Dodd School of Art, Department of Anthropology, or Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors in lieu of this course.
Choose 9 credit hour(s) from the following:
| ANTH 3225 | Archaeological Curation and Collections Management | 3 |
| ANTH 3230 | Material Culture: Analysis of Artifacts | 3 |
| ANTH 4250/6250 | Cultural Resource Management | 3 |
| ARED 4010/6010 | Art Criticism and Aesthetic Understanding | 3 |
| ARED 5500/7500 | Introduction to Museum Education | 3 |
| ARED 5510/7510 | Engaging Art Museum Audiences as Student Docents | 3 |
| ARED 5540/7540 | Topics in Art Museum Education | 3 |
| ARHI 4050/6050 | Icons in Byzantium: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| ARHI 4400/6400 | The Natural History of Art | 3 |
| ARHI 4580/6580 | Postmodern Visual Culture | 3 |
| ARHI 4750/6750 | Topics in Museum Objects, Collections, Exhibitions | 3 |
| ARHI 4910/6910 | Topics in Early Modern Art | 3 |
| ARHI 4970/6970 | Art History Field Study | 3 |
| CLAS 4305/6305 | Selected Topics in Ancient Civilization: Studies Abroad | 3 |
| CLAS 4400/6400 | The Art of Rome | 3 |
| EDES 4610/6610 | Vernacular Architecture | 3 |
| EDES 4630/6630 | The History and Theory of Twentieth-Century Architecture | 3 |
| ENGL 3892S | Literature in the Library | 3 |
| ENGL 4892/6892 | Literature in the Archives | 3 |
| HIPR 4000/6000 | Introduction to Historic Preservation | 3 |
| HIPR 4030/6030 | Principles and Practices of Historic Preservation | 3 |
| HIPR 4072/6072 | Issues in International Heritage Conservation | 3 |
| HIPR 4100/6100 | Cultural Resource Assessment | 3 |
| HIPR 4120/6120 | Historic Site Interpretation | 3 |
| HIPR(HIST) 4160/6160 | Public History and Technology | 3 |
| HIPR 4250/6250 | Art and Cultural Heritage Law | 3 |
| HIST 4022/6022 | Picturing America | 3 |
| HIST 4023/6023 | Museum Studies in Atlanta | 3 |
| HIST 4025/6025 | American Material Culture, 1650-1950 | 3 |
| HIST(MUSE) 4026/6026 | Museum Studies in Washington, D.C. | 3 |
| HIST 4027/6027 | American Museums, Parks, and Monuments | 3 |
| HIST(AFAM) 4032/6032 | Black Skin, White Walls: African Americans and the Museum | 3 |
| HIST 4033/6033 | Historic House Museums | 3 |
| HIST(DIGI) 4760/6760 | Hands-on Public History | 3 |
| LAND 4620/6620 | American Architecture to 1900 | 3 |
| MNML 5237/7237 | Theory and Management of Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| MNML 5320/7320 | Managing Volunteers | 3 |
| MNML 5445 | Nonprofit Financial Management | 3 |
| MNML 5957/7957 | Grant Proposal Writing for Nonprofit Organizations | 3 |
| MUSE 4024/6024 | Topics in Museum Studies | 3 |
| MUSE 4765/6765 | Museum Registration Methods | 3 |
| NAMS 4000/6000 | NAGPRA and the U.S. | 3 |
| ROML 4092/6092 | Archival and Special Collections Studies | 3 |
| SPAN 4092/6092 | Archival and Special Collections Studies in Spanish | 3 |
| TXMI 5850/7850 | Museum Introduction in Clothing and Textiles | 3 |
Special topics, directed readings, and thesis courses that focus on an aspect of museum studies may also be included, subject to the approval of the director of the Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Certificate program in Museum Studies. Some courses are open only to majors in the department.
To enroll, students must complete the program application form and send it to the program director, with whom they should consult on their proposed program of study. Students must also add the certificate in Athena. Students must complete all certificate courses with a grade of "C" or better. The undergraduate certificate will be awarded to students meeting the certificate requirements upon completion of their University of Georgia undergraduate degree.
Museums employ more than 700,000 Americans and directly contribute $50 billion to the U.S. economy annually. Professionals with museum training may also work in galleries, with corporate collections, in community centers and other arts organizations, and with other public and private collections. The Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Certificate in Museum Studies program of study offers a structured, sequential series of courses and experiences that gives students the necessary preparation for competitive employment in this field. Students who do not wish to become museum professionals can also have a better understanding of how to utilize museums in their future careers. For instance, educators can collaborate with museums for object-based learning opportunities, and scholars can make use of the resources of museums in their research.