The undergraduate minor in Museum Studies provides UNM students with an academic foundation and practical training in the fundamentals of museology. The minor is designed to complement majors in the fields of anthropology, biology and environmental sciences, history, art and art history, and education. It is a good fit for any student interested in the role museums play in society or a potential museum career. The program emphasizes mentoring and applied learning through a combination of academic instruction, supervised internships, and participation in professional work settings. Additional emphasis is placed on collection care, management, and preservation.
The minor consists of a minimum of 18 credit hours in Museum Studies (MSST) courses, including 12 upper-division (400-level) undergraduate credit hours of required course work and 6 upper-division credit hours of the student's choosing within the Museum Studies program.
This certificate program is designed to give UNM undergraduate students, working professionals, and non-traditional students academic and practical training in the fundamentals of museology. Courses are offered on the UNM campus and through UNM Extended Learning. Upon successful completion of the requirements, students are awarded a certificate in Museum Studies.
Minimum 15 credit hours required as follows:
Courses
MSST 407 / 507.
Museum Practices.
(3)
(Also offered as ARTH 407 / 507)
History, philosophy and purposes of museums. Techniques and problems of museum administration, education, collection, exhibition, conservation and public relations.
{Offered every academic year}
MSST 429 / 529.
Topics in Museum Studies.
(1-3, no limit Δ)
An in-depth analysis of a specific topic in Museum Studies. May be repeated as subject matter changes.
Prerequisite: 407 or ARTH 407.
MSST 439 / 539.
Collections in Context.
(3, no limit Δ)
Through lecture, discussion, hands-on exercises, and on-site fieldwork students will engage with collections found within museums, historic sites or homes, parks, research centers, or archives in order to better understand collections management and documentation.
Pre-requisite: ARTH 407/507 or MSST 407/507.
MSST 444 / 544.
Interdisciplinary Museum Science.
(3, may be repeated once Δ)
(Also offered as ANTH 444/544, BIOL 444/544, EPS 444/544, GEOG 444/544, MSST 544.) Interdisciplinary overview of how science museum resources are used to study change in human communities, natural, and physical systems over space and time. Course activities emphasize materials science, data science, and team science.
Restriction: instructor permission.
MSST 475 / 575.
Museum Interpretation.
(3)
Public education within museum contexts, including exhibit research, planning, development, production; traveling trunks, booklets, outreach, public programming, evaluation, and digital and virtual applications.
Prerequisite: 407 or ARTH 407.
{Every academic year}
MSST 476 / 576.
Museum Collection Management.
(3)
Method, theory, and practice of collection management, including acquisitions, law, ethics, organization, storage and retrieval, environmental controls, security, stabilization, risk management, and data management.
Prerequisite: 407 or ARTH 407.
{Every academic year}
MSST 485 / 585.
Seminar in Museum Methods.
(3, no limit Δ)
(Also offered as ANTH, ARTH 485 / 585)
Theoretical and practical work in specific museum problems. May be repeated as subject matter changes.
Prerequisite: 407 or ARTH 407.
{Offered upon demand}
MSST 486 / 586.
Practicum: Museum Methods.
(1-3, no limit Δ)
(Also offered as ANTH, ARTH 486 / 586)
Practicum in museum methods and management.
Prerequisite: 407 or ARTH 407.
Restriction: permission of instructor.
{Offered upon demand}
MSST 497 / 597.
Independent Study.
(1-6, no limit Δ)
An independent study course on museum related problems or issues. The study allows for a student to complete a self-directed learning experience with faculty oversight and guidance.
Restriction: permission of instructor.
MSST 507 / 407.
Museum Practices.
(3)
(Also offered as ARTH 507 / 407)
History, philosophy and purposes of museums. Techniques and problems of museum administration, education, collection, exhibition, conservation and public relations.
{Offered every academic year}
MSST 529 / 429.
Topics in Museum Studies.
(1-3, no limit Δ)
An in-depth analysis of a specific topic in Museum Studies. May be repeated as subject matter changes.
Prerequisite: 507 or ARTH 507.
MSST 539 / 439.
Collections in Context.
(3, no limit Δ)
Through lecture, discussion, hands-on exercises, and on-site fieldwork students will engage with collections found within museums, historic sites or homes, parks, research centers, or archives in order to better understand collections management and documentation.
Pre-requisite: ARTH 507/407 or MSST 507/407.
MSST 544 / 444.
Interdisciplinary Museum Science.
(3, may be repeated once Δ)
(Also offered as ANTH 444/544 BIOL 444/544, EPS 444/544, GEOG 444/544, MSST 444.) Interdisciplinary overview of how science museum resources are used to study change in human communities, natural, and physical systems over space and time. Course activities emphasize materials science, data science, and team science.
Restriction: instructor permission.
MSST 575 / 475.
Museum Interpretation.
(3)
Public education within museum contexts, including exhibit research, planning, development, production; traveling trunks, booklets, outreach, public programming, evaluation, and digital and virtual applications.
Prerequisite: 507 or ARTH 507.
{Every academic year}
MSST 576 / 476.
Museum Collection Management.
(3)
Method, theory, and practice of collection management, including acquisitions, law, ethics, organization, storage and retrieval, environmental controls, security, stabilization, risk management, and data management.
Prerequisite: 507 or ARTH 507.
{Every academic year}
MSST 585 / 485.
Seminar in Museum Methods.
(3, no limit Δ)
(Also offered as ANTH, ARTH 585 / 485)
Theoretical and practical work in specific museum problems. May be repeated as subject matter changes.
Prerequisite: 507 or ARTH 507.
{Offered upon demand}
MSST 586 / 486.
Practicum: Museum Methods.
(1-3, no limit Δ)
(Also offered as ANTH, ARTH 586 / 486)
Practicum in museum methods and management.
Prerequisite: 507 or ARTH 507.
Restriction: permission of instructor.
{Offered upon demand}
MSST 597 / 497.
Independent Study.
(1-6, no limit Δ)
An independent study course on museum related problems or issues. The study allows for a student to complete a self-directed learning experience with faculty oversight and guidance.
Restriction: permission of instructor.
MSST 598.
Graduate Project.
(1-6 to a maximum of 15 Δ)
Projects must be museum-based: exhibits, films, educational programs, collection curation, field collection and analysis, or other museum endeavors. Must be original contributions to museums or the profession, and demonstrate contemporary knowledge of museum methods, theory and practice.
Offered on a CR/NC basis only.
Restriction: admitted to M.A. Museum Studies or M.S. Museum Studies, and advisor approval.
MSST 599.
Master's Thesis.
(1-6, no limit Δ)
Faculty-supervised investigative study that results in the development and writing of a master’s thesis.
Offered on a CR/NC basis only.
Restriction: admitted to M.A. Museum Studies or M.S. Museum Studies.
