Open Forum

I am a curator at a university museum, who is recommending a Museology
course and eventually possibly a degree program to my Director. I
developed a course about twenty years ago, and it was well received, but
eventually gave it up as other needs pressed, and gave away my library on
the subject. Can anyone recommend a good entry-level textbook or two to
give my director a better idea of what a modern museology course would
entail? Can anyone share a syllabus?
Thanks for any help and additional ideas from your experience, for
example, if you started from scratch at a university and succeeded in
developing a successful program.

Original Message------

I am a curator at a university museum, who is recommending a Museology
course and eventually possibly a degree program to my Director. I
developed a course about twenty years ago, and it was well received, but
eventually gave it up as other needs pressed, and gave away my library on
the subject. Can anyone recommend a good entry-level textbook or two to
give my director a better idea of what a modern museology course would
entail? Can anyone share a syllabus?
Thanks for any help and additional ideas from your experience, for
example, if you started from scratch at a university and succeeded in
developing a successful program.

Hi Judith -

I did a Masters program in Museum studies a few years ago and while I don't think I have any course syllabi still, one of the best books I used - which I still have and reference - is called Reinventing the Museum edited by Gail Anderson. It's a collection of essays and scholarly writings that explore most, if not all, facets of museums, where they've come from, current challenges, and where they could be headed. Lots of different perspectives as well.

A used copy will run you $20 from Amazon: 

http://www.amazon.com/Reinventing-Museum-Historical-Contemporary-Perspectives/dp/0759101701/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1444585987&sr=8-2&keywords=reinventing+the+museum

I would also recommend perusing Elaine Heumann Gurian's website. She's a well known thinker, writer and scholar on museums and she has recently made a good chunk of her work available for free on her website. Here's a link to the Museums/Museology section:

Museum Studies/Museology | Elaine Heumann Gurian

Best,

Jackie

------------------------------
Jacquelyne Peterson
New York NY
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-10-2015 10:53 AM
From: Judith Schiebout
Subject: Museology course

I am a curator at a university museum, who is recommending a Museology
course and eventually possibly a degree program to my Director. I
developed a course about twenty years ago, and it was well received, but
eventually gave it up as other needs pressed, and gave away my library on
the subject. Can anyone recommend a good entry-level textbook or two to
give my director a better idea of what a modern museology course would
entail? Can anyone share a syllabus?
Thanks for any help and additional ideas from your experience, for
example, if you started from scratch at a university and succeeded in
developing a successful program.

Hi Judith,

I am currently teaching an Introduction to Museum Studies at UT-El Paso. I am using John and Kiersten's new book, Foundation of Museum Studies. It is a quick read and comes from a Library Science approach that examines museums as systems. It has been eye opening for me and accessible to my students. I also supplement with articles, such as excerpts from Reinventing the Museum and others. Email me directly if you are interested in my syllabus. djcareywhalen@utep.edu

All the best,

Daniel

------------------------------
Daniel Carey-Whalen
University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso TX
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-10-2015 10:53 AM
From: Judith Schiebout
Subject: Museology course

I am a curator at a university museum, who is recommending a Museology
course and eventually possibly a degree program to my Director. I
developed a course about twenty years ago, and it was well received, but
eventually gave it up as other needs pressed, and gave away my library on
the subject. Can anyone recommend a good entry-level textbook or two to
give my director a better idea of what a modern museology course would
entail? Can anyone share a syllabus?
Thanks for any help and additional ideas from your experience, for
example, if you started from scratch at a university and succeeded in
developing a successful program.

Judith:

Will this be graduate or undergraduate level?

Dan

------------------------------
Daniel Bartlett
Curator of Exhibits and Education
Logan Museum of Anthropology - Beloit College
Beloit WI
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-10-2015 10:53 AM
From: Judith Schiebout
Subject: Museology course

I am a curator at a university museum, who is recommending a Museology
course and eventually possibly a degree program to my Director. I
developed a course about twenty years ago, and it was well received, but
eventually gave it up as other needs pressed, and gave away my library on
the subject. Can anyone recommend a good entry-level textbook or two to
give my director a better idea of what a modern museology course would
entail? Can anyone share a syllabus?
Thanks for any help and additional ideas from your experience, for
example, if you started from scratch at a university and succeeded in
developing a successful program.

Judith:  I teach Museum Studies:  History and Philosophy, an interdiciplinary graduate level course, and use Museums in Motion (2nd ed) and John and Kristen's books, supplemented with articles (several by Stephen Weil), class activities, and field trips. Please let me know if you would like a copy of the syllabus.

------------------------------
Lin Nelson-Mayson
Director
Goldstein Museum of Design - University of Minnesota
Saint Paul MN
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-14-2015 10:29 AM
From: Daniel Bartlett
Subject: Museology course

Judith:

Will this be graduate or undergraduate level?

Dan

------------------------------
Daniel Bartlett
Curator of Exhibits and Education
Logan Museum of Anthropology - Beloit College
Beloit WI
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 10-10-2015 10:53 AM
From: Judith Schiebout
Subject: Museology course

I am a curator at a university museum, who is recommending a Museology
course and eventually possibly a degree program to my Director. I
developed a course about twenty years ago, and it was well received, but
eventually gave it up as other needs pressed, and gave away my library on
the subject. Can anyone recommend a good entry-level textbook or two to
give my director a better idea of what a modern museology course would
entail? Can anyone share a syllabus?
Thanks for any help and additional ideas from your experience, for
example, if you started from scratch at a university and succeeded in
developing a successful program.