Wisconsin

The goal of the program is to provide, in a museum environment, the basic scholarship and functional training to equip the student with the skills necessary to assume professional entry-level museum positions in museums, galleries, archives, historical societies, and related institutions. Coursework is structured to develop a high degree of professionalism and responsibility, skills in problem solving, critical thinking and evaluation, writing, oral presentation, decision-making, and teamwork.

The program is listed and administered through the Anthropology Department at UW-Milwaukee and taught off-campus at the Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM) by museum professionals. The program is designed to supplement a student's graduate degree requirements and it is anticipated that each student will have a firm footing in his/her academic field to support the course of museum study. The Museum Studies Program provides an overview of museum work, including philosophical and contemporary issues, museum history and methodology, collections care and management, curation, interpretation, preventive conservation, and exhibition.

Students may complete a minor in museum studies to supplement any major. Class work is combined with experience in the Beloit College museums (Logan Museum of Anthropology and Wright Museum of Art) and off-campus museums. Museum studies students use this background to build the basis for a variety of possible museum careers or graduate programs.

The staff of the Beloit College museums teach the core courses of the minor and, in conjunction with other academic departments, work with students to create a program stressing (1) understanding of the contexts and uses of cultural and natural objects and collections, (2) awareness of the legal, moral, social, and other roles and responsibilities of museums as educational institutions, and (3) practical experience in on- and off-campus museums.