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Museum Studies


Museum Studies Certificate:

Certificate Description:

The Museum Studies Certificate is designed to introduce students to the history, departments, tasks, and current methods of a working museum; reinforce knowledge of the museum field through practical and hands-on experience within the museum environment and through the study of cultural objects; and require students to show mastery of the material through research and critique. 

Curriculum and Course Descriptions (21 hours):

3 hours: Choose on of the following:

ANTH 2233 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology 

  • Introduction to the concept of culture

ANTH 3203 - Introduction to Archaeology

  • Methods, theory, history, and techniques of archaeology as a branch of anthropology and a world survey of the prehistoric development of culture.

6 hours: Choose two courses in area of interest

  • Art History
  • Literature
  • Folklore Studies
  • Etc. 

12 hours of required coursework:

ARTM 4023 - Museum Fundamentals I: Collections Management and Museum Law

  • Instruction and hands-on practice in managing historical and anthropological collections including object-handling, accessioning, deaccessioning cataloguing, loans, valuating collections, conservation environments, registration transactions and forms, museum law and policies.

                              Taught by Dr. Marti Allen, ASU Museum Director

ARTM 4033 - Museum Fundamentals II: Exhibition Seminar

  • Hands-on practice in exhibit development and production including topic and object selection, curatorial research, mocking-up, label writing, and basic program evaluation.

                              Taught by Dr. Marti Allen, ASU Museum Director

ARTH 4013 - History of the Museum and Collecting

  • Examines the history of collecting and the institution of the museum, from private collections in the Dutch Republic to contemporary exhibition practices.

                              Taught by Dr. Temma Balducci

ARTM 401V - Museum Internship (with one of the following)

  • Arkansas State University Museum
  • Historic Dress Colony - Johnny Cash Boyhood Home
  • Hemingway - Pfeiffer Home
  • Southern Tenant Farmers' Museum
  • Memphis Brooks Museum of Art
  • Bradbury Art Museum
  • The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas (Pine Bluff)
  • International Center for Photography, New York City (competitive application process)
Museum Studies