Museum Studies is an interdisciplinary endeavor that addresses the theory, organization, and management of museums and museum collections. Museums themselves are complex organizations within which a diversity of knowledge specialists work together to acquire, conserve, research, communicate and exhibit tangible and intangible evidence of people and their environment. The Museum Studies minor crosses the disciplines of Anthropology, History, and the History of Art & Architecture. The purpose of the minor is to provide students from diverse majors with knowledge about the role and function of museums in our lives as global citizens.
Interest in museums is at an all-time high as students and faculty as concerned with: (a) the role of museums in global tourism, urban economic development, multiculturalism and the creation of identities; (b) the developing importance of museums as sites of both research and employment; and (c) the way in which museums act as intersections among a broad range of academic disciplines. Additionally, as museums become more complex organizations, individuals seeking to work with or in these environments are increasingly expected to have formalized training in Museum Studies with transcript recognition of this training.
Course Requirements
Six courses are required -- at least two of which must be from the Core and three-four from Electives (i.e., two Core + four Electives OR three Core + three Electives), with no more than two Electives from any one department:
Core
Course List | Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
| ANT 374 | ANTHROPOLOGY AND MUSEUMS | 4 |
| HAA 391 | THE EVOLVING MUSEUM: HISTORIES AND CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES | 4 |
| HST 269 | MUSEUMS, MATERIAL CULTURE AND MEMORY: INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HISTORY | 4 |
Electives
No more than two from:
Course List | Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
| MATERIAL CULTURE OF MODERN AMERICA | |
| MATERIAL CULTURE AND DOMESTIC LIFE | |
| MUSEUMS AND MATERIAL CULTURE | |
| MUSEUM EDUCATION | |
| INTERNSHIP IN ANTHROPOLOGY | |
| HERITAGE DISPLAYS AND MUSEUMS | |
No more than two from:
Course List | Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
| SPECIAL TOPICS ON THE ART INSTITUTE | |
| MUSEUM AND NON-PROFIT ARTS MANAGEMENT | |
| MUSEUM STUDIES INTERNSHIP | |
| INDEPENDENT STUDY | |
| HAA 393 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN MUSEUM STUDIES | |
No more than two from:
Course List | Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
| DOING DIGITAL HISTORY | |
| CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM EXPERIENCE | |
| TOPICS IN PUBLIC HISTORY | |
| DOING LOCAL AND COMMUNITY HISTORY | |
| PUBLIC HISTORY INTERNSHIP | |
| ORAL HISTORY: MEMORY, METHOD AND PRACTICE | |