Museum Studies (M S)

M S 201 Introduction to the History and Development of Museums (Units: 3)

Introduction to basic theory and organization of museums including the history of museum development, the role of museums in society, museums as places of preservation and education, and the relationship between museums and the communities they serve. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

M S 202 Introduction to Museum Exhibits (Units: 3)

Examination of basics of museum exhibits, including key elements of how exhibits are planned and developed, their purpose, how they are connected to public programming, and the role of visitors. Contains an exhibit viewing component. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

Course Attributes:

• C1: Arts

M S 310 Introduction to Museum Education Methods and Community Engagement (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Restricted to students with upper-division standing; M S 201 and M S 202 with grades of C or better.

Introduction to the important role museums play in society including preservation and education. Main content themes include: the history of the paradigm shift from collecting institutions to public educational institutions; public programs serving diverse audiences; object-based learning; museum-school services; community outreach; visitor studies; and assessment. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

M S 681 Museum Studies Lab (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Upper division standing; declared minor in Museum Studies; M S 201 and M S 202, with grades of C or better.

Lab course with lecture and practicum activities in selected museum functions in SF State's Global Museum, using the museum's interdisciplinary teaching and research collections. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

M S 682 Capstone Practicum (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; Museum Studies minors; M S 681* with a grade of C or better.

Practicum at a pre-approved, off-campus museum site in museum collections management and registration, exhibition design, interpretation, gallery preparation and installation, education and public programming, and gallery management or administration under the supervision of a professional museum employee and SF State instructor. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

M S 700 History and Organization of Museums (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate students in Museum Studies and/or consent of the instructor.

Major museology facets, including analysis of diverse museums, career options, ethics, laws, funding, and literature. Museum operation and community-museum relationships through on-site observations, interviews, and research.

M S 701 Museum Theory and Practice (Units: 2)

Prerequisites: Upper-division or graduate standing; M S 700; or consent of the instructor.

Exploration of recent theory in museum studies, focusing on the theoretical approaches supplying insight into developing useful strategies in museum practice. Analysis of the museum's function, management, and place in society, including research on practice, history, and outlook.

M S 702 Writing for the Museum Profession (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate students in Museum Studies or consent of the instructor.

Examination of three major areas of writing for the museum profession: communication with visitors; technical writing for interpretation, outreach, programming, and documentation; and writing in an academic context. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

M S 705 San Francisco Bay Area Museums: Behind the Scenes (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate students in Museum Studies, declared minors in Museum Studies with upper-division standing, or consent of the instructor.

Study of San Francisco Bay Area museums: their history, organization, collections stewardship, exhibits, public programs, and mission. Includes structured "behind-the-scenes" tours of local museums.

M S 707 Perspectives on Museums: A Professional Forum (Unit: 1)

Prerequisites: Upper-division undergraduate or graduate standing; Museum Studies majors; or consent of the instructor.

Guest speakers from the museum community to provide graduate students with perspectives and discussion on current practices and trends in the museum workplace. May be repeated for a total of 3 units.

M S 708 Museums: Global Operations (Unit: 1)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor.

Examination of museum efforts to incorporate global perspectives into their activities. Topics include analyses of international partnerships and globally-focused museum activities, the challenges of such work, and basic resources on international museum efforts.

M S 710 Museum Education and Public Outreach (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the instructor.

Overview and evaluation of educational services in museums including the planning and implementation of educational programs and establishing a liaison with public schools. Designed for graduate students, museum professionals, and public school teachers. (Plus-minus letter grade only) [CSL may be available]

M S 715 Interpretation in Museums and Heritage Organizations (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Graduate standing and consent of the instructor.

Analysis of the methods and styles of interpretation of museum collections and heritage facilities (e.g., historic sites, historic houses, landmarks, open-air facilities). Development and improvement of interpretive programs.

M S 720 Museum Curatorship and Collecting (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate students in Museum Studies.

Analysis of the duties of museum curators, including academic research, collections documentation, collections development, donor cultivation, ethical collection practices, exhibition concept development, and the curator's position within the institution and community. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

M S 730 Museum Exhibition Development (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

Theory and practical experience in the development and installation of exhibitions in museums and related exhibition spaces in libraries or similar institutions, including collaborations between such entities. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

M S 740 Museum Conservation and Restoration (Unit: 1)

Prerequisite: Classified graduate standing in M S.

Theory and practice in museum conservation and restoration, using the Sutro Egyptian and permanent collections. Analysis of museum artifacts.

M S 760 Preservation of Natural History and Cultural Collections (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or senior standing with consent of the instructor.

Analysis of major types of natural history specimens, their properties, potential hazards facing them, and appropriate conservation techniques.

M S 780 Cultural Heritage Preservation (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division or graduate standing.

Archaeological and architectural conservation: history of U.S. legislation and implementation, international organizations, major national and international projects, philosophy of preservation strategies, conservation ethic.

M S 790 Archives Management and Preservation (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or senior standing with consent of the instructor.

History, principles, methodologies, and practical administration of non-electronic archives (original documents, maps, photographic materials, manuscripts, diaries, albums, government records); practical, hands-on experience with preservation methods. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

M S 791 Integrated Pest Management in Heritage Facilities (Unit: 1)

Prerequisite: Graduate Museum Studies students or consent of the instructor.

Development of plans to prevent pest infestations in museums and related heritage facilities. Overview of current methods of chemical and non-chemical methods of control, legacy of past chemical practices in museums, and OSHA regulations for employee safety.

M S 792 Museum Security Systems (Unit: 1)

Prerequisite: Graduate Museum Studies students or current museum employee.

Analysis and implementation of institutional procedures and new technology for theft prevention and mitigation in museums.

M S 793 Museum Facilities Management (Unit: 1)

Prerequisite: Museum Studies majors or consent of the instructor.

Analysis of building and grounds issues; risk management; emergency/disaster preparedness; fire suppression technology; HVAC systems; new construction materials.

M S 794 Museum Collections Management and Registration (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Museum Studies.

Tasks performed by museum registrars: documentation of collections, loan procedures, collections storage, museum security, disaster preparedness, traveling exhibitions and customs, insurance, and development of collections management policies.

M S 795 NAGPRA for Museum Registrars and Curators (Units: 2)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the instructor.

For museum registrars and curators, analysis of legal compliance and practical implementation of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

M S 800 Museum Management, Law, and Ethics (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate students in Museum Studies or consent of the instructor.

Legal issues of concern to museum professionals and artists; laws governing acquisition of art objects, authentication, taxes, liability, censorship, artists' rights, copyright, museum organization, and labor relations. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

M S 810 Museums in the Digital Age (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of the instructor.

Use and role of digital media and information technology in museums. Development of practical and theoretical skill set for the management of digital assets for exhibit development, education, public relations and marketing, collections preservation, and digitally-mediated outreach.

M S 811 Digital Preservation for Museums and Cultural Heritage Institutions (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate students in Museum Studies or consent of the instructor.

Survey and applied practicum of digital technologies used in museums and cultural heritage institutions. Exploration of the relationship between computation and the humanities; and issues facing cultural institutions in the 21st century, such as open source programs, the organization and preservation of existing collections, and real-world examples in the field of digital cultural management. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

M S 823 Curation and Cinema (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to students in M.A. or M.F.A. Cinema program or Museum Studies M.A. program.

Examination of curatorial practice and the role of curators in contemporary culture; the relation between moving images and contemporary art practices; projection, display and exhibition of time-based media in and beyond film events and art institutions. (Plus-minus letter grading only)
(This course is offered as CINE 823 and M S 823. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

M S 830 Museum Governance (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of the instructor.

Analysis of governance in museums, including: trusteeship, board issues, roles of director and senior management, governance conflicts, mission statements, use of advisory committees and support groups, collections issues, planning, and recent controversies. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

M S 840 Museums and Cultural Property (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of the instructor.

Examination of legal and ethical issues concerning cultural property in museums: museum acquisition policies; international art/antiquities trade; auction houses; WWII-era looting; repatriation; ownership dispute resolution; relationships with descendant communities. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

M S 845 Art Law (Units: 2)

Prerequisite: Graduate Museum Studies students or consent of the instructor.

Artists' expressive, economic, and moral rights; intellectual property issues; title and theft; art merchants and authenticity; museum acquisitions; IRS regulations pertaining to museums contracts and documentation in museums.

M S 850 Museum Volunteer Management and Membership (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of the instructor.

Development and management of volunteer and membership programs for museums and heritage organizations. Volunteer recruitment/retention, sound practices for producing and managing membership programs, and training and daily volunteer operations in the museum and heritage environment.

M S 860 Fundraising in Museums (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate students in Museum Studies or consent of the instructor.

Examination of fundraising in museums, budget building, budget cycle, legal and tax issues of fundraising, as well as specific fundraising methods (gifts, planned giving, bequests, endowments, e-commerce, grants, contracts). (Plus-minus letter grade only)

M S 865 Museums beyond ADA: Universal Access & Museopathy (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the instructor.

Strategies for successful incorporation of universal access and universal design principles to museum operations. Latest research on new uses for museum collections to improve health and social engagement (museopathy), for visitors and confined populations with Alzheimer's, autism, cancer, sensory loss.

M S 870 Museum Audiences, Visitors, and Communities (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the instructor.

Analysis of museum visitors (visitor studies) and non-visitors (audience research) in the context of museum communities. Methodology and applications of visitor/audience research to improve museum operations and exhibitions.

M S 875 Public Relations and Marketing for Museums (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the instructor.

Development of and best practices in strategic marketing, earned income operations, and public relations for museums and heritage organizations.

M S 880 Museum Internship (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: M S 700 and graduate standing in Museum Studies.

Practicum in collections management, exhibition design, fundraising management, publishing, curation, educational programming, conservation under the supervision of a professional museum employee and SF State instructor. May be repeated for a total of 6 units.

M S 885 Professional Conferences and Workshops (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.

Attendance, participation, and evaluation at professional conferences, workshops, or short courses offered by museums, professional associations, or other recognized institutions. Prior approval by Museum Studies Program is mandatory. May be repeated for a total of 3 units. (CR/NC grading only)

M S 888 Project Management for Museums (Units: 1-2)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students in Museum Studies; M S 720, M S 850; or consent of the instructor.

Under faculty guidance, development, logistics, budgeting, and time management for museum exhibits, catalogue publishing, conferences/sessions for museum professionals, or special events for schools/general public. May be repeated for a total of 3 units for the degree credit.

M S 894 Creative Work Project (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Consent of the instructor and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies.

Original creative work project which must be developed with the approval of the Museum Studies program. ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration. (CR/NC; RP grading only)

M S 896 Preparation for Written Comprehensive Examination (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Consent of the instructor; approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies; and recommendation of major adviser. Concurrently enrollment in M S 896EXM.

Preparation for Written Comprehensive Examination in Museum Studies for graduate students who have been advanced to candidacy for the M.A. degree in Museum Studies. (CR/NC, RP)

M S 896EXM Written Comprehensive Examination (Unit: 0)

Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate Museum Studies students; consent of the instructor; recommendation of major adviser; approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies. Concurrent enrollment in M S 896.

Written Comprehensive Examination in Museum Studies for graduate students who have been advanced to candidacy for the M.A. degree in Museum Studies. May be repeated a total of 3 times. (CR/NR, RP)

M S 897 Directed Thesis Advising and Support (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

Directed advising and support for students writing theses or creative works. May be taken before enrollment in M S 894 or M S 898. Once students have taken M S 894 or M S 898 they must take M S 897 every Spring semester until they finish the degree. (CR/NC grading only)

M S 898 Master's Thesis (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Consent of the instructor; approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies; and recommendation of major adviser. ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration.

(CR/NC grading only)

M S 899 Independent Study (Units: 2-3)

Prerequisite: Museum studies students; consent of the museum studies program director.

Professional-level, independent study of a particular aspect of museum work under the guidance of a faculty member in the Museum Studies Program. May be repeated for a total of 6 units. (Plus-minus letter grade only) [CSL may be available]