The Museum:Theory & Practice

This course is designed to introduce students to the work of museums through an internship at a Schenectady Museum and accompanying seminar. Articles from anthropology and history (including art history) expose you to the range of practical (e.g., exhibit design, collections policy, planning educational programs) and theoretical issues scholars study (e.g., intellectual property, commodifying culture, whose voice and history should be heard). The internship at a Schenectady Museum gives hands-on experience with museum work and the day-to-day issues museum staff confront. Several fieldtrips introduce different types of museums.