Museum Studies - University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Museum Studies is a broad field that encompasses curating exhibitions, managing cultural sites, caring for collections, and more. The Museum Studies minor prepares students for careers as museum technicians and curators. As home to the Museum of Natural History, Nelis R. Kampenga University Archives and Area Research Center, and Carlsten Art Gallery, UW-Stevens Point provides students with hands-on experiences that will prepare them for today’s workforce.

Museum Studies students come from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines. The minor includes courses from 12 different departments ranging from history and biology to business and arts management. Students choose tracks in public history, natural history, or the visual arts, with opportunities to take courses outside of their direct fields. This multidisciplinary approach exposes students to the wide array of potential careers within museums and related institutions. Students from all colleges and majors are welcome to take part in the minor.

The culmination of the minor is a practicum where students apply their skills in a museum setting. Students participate in opportunities such as curating an exhibition, managing collections, producing a documentary, or creating educational programming. By working alongside museum professionals, students learn best practices while cultivating their own interests for future careers.

A background in museum studies complements areas such as cultural resources, biology, arts management, history, education, geology, natural resources, business or nonprofit management, grant writing, visual arts, and interior architecture, among many others. Students taking the minor will gain both theoretical knowledge of the current issues facing museums as well as practical skills for working in museum settings.

Requirements:

Students complete introductory coursework in museum studies before taking classes specific to public history, natural history, or the visual arts.

Consists of a minimum of 21 credits:

Introduction to Museum Studies. Take two of the following courses (6 credits): ARTM 195; HIST 207; HIST 296
Advanced coursework in public history, natural history, and the visual arts. Take a minimum of 6 credits from the following courses: ARTM 395; ASTR 205, 206, 305 or HIST 305; BIOL 311,325, 342, 362, 367, 374, 376, 377, 378; GEOL 104, 300, 308 or GEOG 308, GEOL 310, 312; HIST 390, 391, 393, 397; IA 150 or 160, IA 326 (note- many of these courses have prerequisites)
Coursework complementary to museum management. Take a minimum of 3 credits from the following courses: ACCT 210; ARTM 300; BUS 320, 330, 340; CIS 373; CNMT 100; ENGL 347
Practicum. Take 6 credits from the following courses:

a. History: HIST 399; HIST 480

b. Natural Science: BIOL 322; BIOL 399; BIOL 499; GEOL 395; GEOL 399; GEOL 485

c. Arts: ART 418; ARTM 280; ARTM 380; IA 394

Or, take the following not for credit and take an additional 6 credits from category #2 above

d. Experiential Learning Activity: Consult with advisor on appropriate volunteer/ internship opportunity (not for credit)

College of Letters and Science Museum Studies Minor

Requirements:

School of Humanities and Global Studies