Open to all majors, the Museums and Society minor provides a critical understanding of museums as collections-based institutions. It is especially appropriate for students planning a professional career in education, libraries, anthropology, art and architecture history, history and associated fields. Students in the minor gain hands-on experience of current methods and approaches in the museum field through competent and creative research on objects, collections and collecting institutions.

Miami students completing the minor will…

• Know and use the vocabulary, descriptive terminology and basic methods of the museum
• Assess and defend the value and meaning of collections and objects.
• Assess and defend the value and purpose of the collecting institution or individual.
• Explain the dynamic network of contemporary museums and related institutions, including virtual collections.
• Conduct competent and creative research on objects, collections and institutions.
• Recognize the requirements for permission to use or publish images and objects.
• Identify and differentiate media through a careful examination of the original object.
• Obtain foundational knowledge in contemporary practices of museum operations.
• Explore collections management policies and practices.
• Examine and identify methods of conservation, preservation, access and storage.
• Develop skills in interpretation and exhibitions development.
• Understand the role of education and outreach to serve diverse audiences.
• Examine the future of museums in relation to the visitor experience.
• Understand and have basic knowledge of digital tools associated with the museum field.

Admission:

No prior coursework required.

Program Requirements:

18 credit hours total

Core courses (required):

CCA 222 Museums and Collections: Beyond the Curio Cabinet (3)
CCA 232 Museums Today: Content, Practices and Audiences (3)
IMS 203 Scholarship in the Digital Age (3)

Six additional semester hours, with approval by advisor, selected from the following clusters:

Material Culture (3,3)
Visual Culture (3,3)
Art History (3,3)
Heritage Management/Public History/Historic Preservation/Archives/Oral History (3,3)
Natural History (3,3)
Technology and Design (3,3)
Communications (3,3)
Non-Profit Management (3,3)
Museum Education (3,3)
Conservation (3,3)

Three semester hours of experiential learning, approved by advisor.

Examples include AMS 435 Public History Practicum (3), ART 392 Field Study in Art and Architecture History, and
ART 498/598 Capstone: Seminar in History and Methods in Art and Architectural History (3).

A minimum 2.00 GPA is required for all courses in this minor. Courses must be taken for a grade (not credit/no-credit).
Students planning to take this minor should consult with the chief program adviser.