Courses

Investigates the museum as an institution in society; history of museums and changing roles and methods in society; administrative structure; museum profession; methodology of museum collections, exhibitions, and education. Designed for students interested in museums or museum careers.

Archaeological field techniques including excavation, mapping, recording, photography, interpretation, and field laboratory. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Same as MUSM 5462.

Emphasizes field techniques for observation, analysis, and identification of vascular plants, collection, preservation, and date recording for museum specimens. Prereq., instructor consent.

Paleontological and paleoecological field techniques including collecting; recording of geographic, stratigraphic, and quarry information; preservation; and interpretation, including applicable readings.Designed for individuals who have some backgroundin geology but little or no prior field experience.Same as Musm 5484. Summer only.

Students are exposed to a wide variety of field methods in disciplines specific to natural history museums, with field exercises in zoology, archaeology, paleontology, geology, botany, and entomology. Emphasizes the collection and analysis of spatial and geographic data. Prereq., instructor consent. Same as MUSM 5494.

Class covers research and field methods for biological disciplines associated with natural history museums: vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants. Emphasis is on field research techniques: observations, sampling, collection and preservation methods, and comparisons among elevation zones. Includes 5 field labs, 2 weekend trips, 5 lab practica, experience with several taxonomic experts, and individual research projects. Same as MUSM 5795, ENVS 4795, and EBIO 4795.

May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Same as MUSM 5900.

Students take part in curatorial procedures of the anthropology section of the museum: conservation, cataloguing, collection management, and administration. Prereq., MUSM 5011 or equivalent. Enrollment is limited; students should make arrangements during previous semester. Same as MUSM 5912.

Students take part in curatorial procedures of the botany section of the museum: specimen preparation, labeling, identification, cataloguing, conservation, and collection management. Prereq., MUSM 5011 or equivalent. Enrollment is limited; students should make arrangements during previous semester. Same as MUSM 5913.

Students take part in curatorial procedures of the geology section of the museum: field collection, specimen preparation, cataloguing, collection management, and a survey of current laws as they apply to specimens. Prereq., MUSM 5011 or equivalent. Enrollment is limited; students should make arrangements during previous semester. Same as Musm 5914.

Students take part in basic curatorial procedures of the zoology section of the museum: relaxing, fixing, positioning, preserving, cataloguing, storing, and shipping. Also introduces students to the animal kingdom. Prereq., instructor consent. Same as MUSM 5915.

Students take part in curatorial procedures of the entomology section of the museum: field collection, specimen preparation, labeling, identification, rearing techniques, and exhibit preparation. Prereq., 5011, or equivalent. Enrollment is limited; students should make arrangements during previous semester. Same as MUSM 5916.

Students participate in museum public education functions that may include researching, planning, developing, and producing exhibits, traveling trunks, booklets, and other materials. May involve writing labels, molding and casting, conservation, and restoration. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Same as MUSM 5917.

Provides background in history and literature of museums, their objectives and methods, laboratory exercises in curatorship, exhibition theory, and administration. Prereq., instructor consent.

Surveys and discusses the educational role of museums and informal learning centers. Issues include current trends, learning theories and styles, learning from objects, education programs, diverse audiences, museum/school partnerships, and the role of education in exhibit development.

Covers elements of exhibition development and design,up to production and evaluation of exhibit prototypes. The team approach is emphasized. Prereqs., graduate standing and instructor consent.

Covers theory of organizations and how it applies to museums, application of small business management and nonprofit organizations to museums, marketing and development, and grant writing and funding strategies. Prereq., graduate standing or instructor consent.

This courses traces the development of Anthropology and museums in America from late 19th century to present day. Students are encouraged to: explore museum theory and practice; think critically about the history of relations among Native Americans, Anthropology, and museums; consider the legacy of collecting and challenges of representing others; and, examine the interplay of Anthropology, material culture, and colonialism. ANTH 4045, ANTH 5045, and MUSM 5045 are the same course. Prerequisites: Restricted to Graduate Students only.

Deals specifically with curation and data management.Topics include acquisition practices and problems; organization, management, use and preventive conservation of collections; and computer data management of collections. Prereq., instructor consent.

Intended for students with little to no art background. Focus is on the accurate rendering of scientific subjects for publication and for public display. Course begins with basic drawing skills and sharpening of visual perception. Students progress to be able to produce realistic renderings of subjects. Students are exposed to a variety of black and white and color techniques and the standards for presenting illustrations for a variety of audiences. Course concludes with computer illustration tools and techniques.

Discusses the history and evolution of the vertebrates, including the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary patterns of the major groups. Lab focuses on comparative vertebrate osteology and fossil representation of major groups. Same as GEOL 5474.

Same as Musm 4484. Prerequisites: Restricted to Graduate Students only.

Same as MUSM 4494.

Same as MUSM 4795 and EBIO 5795. Prerequisites: Restricted to Graduate Students only.