Museum Studies Courses
GRADUATE LEVEL COURSES
M S 700 History and Organization of Museums
Units: 3
Faculty: Ellis
Schedule: Every Fall
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status and/or consent of instructor
Overview of the historical development of all types of museums and related institutions, the structure and organization of museums, the museum professions, job qualifications, and current ethical issues.
M S 705 SF Bay Area Museums: Behind the Scenes
Units: 3
Faculty: Luby
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status and consent of instructor
Schedule: Every other Spring
Last Taught: Spring 2011
Study of SF Bay area museums: their history, organization, collections stewardship, exhibits, public programs, and mission. Includes structured 'behind-the-scenes' tours of local museums. Paired with M S 605. Students who have taken M S 605 may not take M S 705 for credit. **Non-Museum Studies majors should enroll in M S 605.
M S 707 Perspectives on Museums: A Professional Forum
Units: 1
Faculty: Luby
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status and consent of instructor
Schedule: Fall or Spring
Guest speakers from the museum community to provide graduate students with perspectives on current practices and trends in the museum work place.
M S 708 Museums: Global Operations
Units: 1
Faculty: Luby
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status and consent of instructor
Schedule: Fall or Spring
Last Taught: Spring 2010
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 & Schools Outreach
Units: 3
Faculty: Fogarty or Ellis
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status and consent of instructor
Schedule: Rotating, Fall or Spring
Last Taught: Fall 2011
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.
M S 715 Interpretation in Museums and Heritage Organizations
Units: 3
Faculty: Staff
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status and consent of instructor
Schedule: Rotating, Fall or Spring
Last Taught: Spring 2012
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 & Collecting
Units: 3
Faculty: Ellis
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status and consent of instructor
Schedule: Rotating, Fall or Spring
Last Taught: Spring 2011
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.
M S 740 Museum Conservation & Restoration
Units: 1
Faculty: Ellis
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status or consent of instructor
Schedule: Rotating, Fall or Spring
Last Taught: Fall 2011
Theory and practice in general museum collections conservation, using the Sutro Egyptian Collection. Analysis of museum artifacts.
M S 780 Cultural Heritage Preservation
Units: 3
Faculty: Luby
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status or consent of instructor
Schedule: Rotating, Fall or Spring
Last Taught: Fall 2011
Archaeological and architectural conservation: history of US legislation and implementation, international organizations, major national and international projects, philosophy of preservation techniques, conservation ethic. Paired with M S 680. **Non-Museum Studies majors should enroll in M S 680. Students who have completed M S 680 may not take M S 780 for credit.
M S 790 Archives Management and Preservation
Units: 2
Faculty: Ellis
Schedule: Rotating, Fall or Spring
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status and/or consent of instructor
Last Taught: Fall 2011
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
Units: 1
Faculty: Ellis
Prerequisite: Classified status in Museum Studies or consent of instructor
Schedule: Rotating, Fall or Spring
Last Taught: Spring 2010
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
Units: 1
Faculty: Ellis
Prerequisite: Classified status in Museum Studies or consent of instructor
Schedule: Rotating, Fall or Spring
Last Taught: Fall 2010
Analysis and implementation of institutional procedures and new technology for theft prevention and mitigation in museums.
M S 793 Museum Facilities Management
Units: 1
Faculty: Ellis
Prerequisite: Classified status in Museum Studies or consent of instructor
Schedule: Rotating, Fall or Spring
Last Taught: Spring 2009
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 & Registration
Units: 3
Faculty: DeMouthe or Ellis
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status in Museum Studies
Schedule: Rotating, Fall or Spring
Last Taught: Spring 2012
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. Includes a 60-hour practicum, to be assigned.
M S 795 NAGPRA for Museum Registrars & Curators
Units: 2
Faculty: Luby
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status and consent of instructor
Schedule: Rotating, Fall or Spring
Last Taught: Spring 2010
For museum registrars and curators; analysis of legal compliance and practical implementation of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
M S 800 Museum Management, Law & Ethics
Units: 3
Faculty: Luby
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status in Museum Studies
Schedule: Every other Spring
Last Taught: Spring 2011
Legal issues of concern to museum professionals and artists: laws governing acquisition of art/cultural objects, authentication, taxes, liability, censorship, artists' rights, copyright, museum management, and labor relations.
M S 810 Museums in the Digital Age (formerly titled 'Information Technology in Museums')
Units: 3
Faculty: Staff
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status or consent of instructor
Schedule: Rotating, Fall or Spring
Last Taught: Spring 2012
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. Maximum enrollment: 15.
M S 830 Museum Governance
Units: 3
Faculty: Luby
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status or consent of instructor
Schedule: Every other Spring
Last Taught: Spring 2012
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.
M S 840 Museums & Cultural Property
Units: 3
Faculty: Luby
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status or consent of instructor
Schedule: Every other Fall
Last Taught: Fall 2008
Examination of legal and ethical issues concerning cultural property in museums: museum acquisitions policies; international art/antiquities trade; auction houses; WWII-era looting; repatriation; ownership dispute resolution; relationships with descendant communities.
M S 845 Art Law
Units: 2
Faculty: Ellis
Prerequisite: Classified status in Museum Studies or consent of instructor
Schedule: Rotating, Fall or Spring
Last Taught: Spring 2010
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 Volunteer Management & Membership Development
Units: 3
Faculty: Fogarty
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status or consent of instructor
Schedule: Rotating, Fall or Spring
Last Taught: Spring 2010
Development and management of volunteer and membership programs for museums and heritage organizations. Topics include volunteer recruitment and retention, sound practices for producing and managing membership programs, and training and day-to-day volunteer operations in the museum and heritage environment.
M S 860 Fundraising in Museums
Units: 3
Faculty: Luby
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status or consent of instructor
Schedule: Every Fall
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).
M S 870 Museum Audiences, Visitors and Communities (formerly titled 'Visitor Studies')
Units: 3
Faculty: Staff
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status or consent of instructor
Schedule: Rotating, Fall or Spring
Last Taught: Spring 2012
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 & Marketing for Museums
Units: 3
Faculty: Staff
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status or consent of instructor
Schedule: Rotating, Fall or Spring
Last Taught: Spring 2008
Development of and best practices in strategic marketing, earned income operations, and public relations for museums and heritage organizations. Topics include strategic marketing planning, heritage tourism, branding, product development, and consumer behavior relevant to museums and heritage presentation.
M S 880 Museum Internship
Units: 3
Supervisor: Ellis or Luby
Prerequisite: M S 700 and classfied graduate status in Museum Studies
Schedule: Fall and Spring
Practicum in collections management, exhibition design, fundraising, management, publishing, curation, educational programming, conservation, at a recognized museum under the supervision of a professional museum employee and SFSU instructor. May be repeated for a total of 6 units.
M S 885 Professional Conferences & Workshops
Units: 1-3
Faculty: Ellis or Luby
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status in Museum Studies and consent of instructor
Schedule: Fall and Spring
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. CR/NC grading only.
M S 894 Creative Work Project
Units: 3
Faculty: Ellis
Prerequisite: Advancement to candidacy for the Master of Arts degree
Schedule: Fall and Spring
Original creative work project which must be developed with the approval of the M S program. Graduate Approved Program (GAP) and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by Graduate Studies prior to enrollment. CR/NC grading only.
M S 897 Directed Thesis Advising and Support
Units: 3
Faculty: Luby
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status in Museum Studies
Schedule: Fall and Spring
Directed thesis 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 enrolled in M S 894 or M S 898, they must enroll thereafter in M S 897 once each academic year until they finish the degree. CR/NC grading only.
M S 898 Master's Thesis
Units: 3
Faculty: Ellis and Luby
Prerequisite: Advancement to candidacy for the Master of Arts degree and recommendation of major adviser
Schedule: Fall and Spring
Graduate Approved Program (GAP) and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by Graduate Studies before registration. CR/NC grading only.
GRADUATE LEVEL ELECTIVES IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS
ART 719 Exhibition Design
Units: 3
Faculty: Johnson
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status
Schedule: Fall and Spring
Development of art exhibitions in the Art Department Gallery. Theory and production of exhibitions, including planning, collecting, preparation, annotation, and criticism. Paired with Art 619. **Museum Studies majors and other graduate-level students should enroll in Art 719.
Public Administration (PA) 745 Public Administration of Non-Profit Organizations
Units: 3
Prerequisite: Classified graduate status or consent of instructor
Overview of fundamentals of administration of non-profit organizations with special emphases on social policy roles, economic and political dimensions, and administrative issues involving regulation, governance, and organizational management.
RECOMMENDED UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL COURSES AND ELECTIVES IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS
ART 450 Art for Children
Units: 3
Faculty: Marshall or Hassiba
Schedule: Fall and Spring
Creative experiments with varied media to explore art in child development. Laboratory. Extra fee required.
ART 619 Exhibition Design
Units: 3
Faculty: Johnson
Prerequisite: junior or senior standing and art major
Schedule: Fall and Spring
For course description, see ART 719 above. Paired with ART 719. **Museum Studies majors and other graduate-level students should enroll in ART 719.
M S 600 Dangerous Exhibitions - Culture Wars & Censorship in Museums
Units: 3
Faculty: Ellis
Prerequisite: ENG 214 or equivalent
Schedule: Rotating, Fall or Spring
Last taught: Spring 2007
Analysis of escalating censorship of museum exhibitions which confront difficult issues in art, history, and science. Examination of legal, political, social, and religious issues from the 'culture wars' that began in the 1990s.
M S 605 SF Bay Area Museums: Behind the Scenes
Units: 3
Faculty: Luby
Prerequisite: ENG 214 and consent of instructor
Schedule: Every other Spring
Last taught: Spring 2011
For course description, see M S 705 above. Students who have taken M S 705 may not take M S 605 for credit. Paired with M S 705. Students who have taken M S 705 may not take M S 605 for credit. **Museum Studies majors and other graduate-level students should enroll in M S 705.
M S 680 Cultural Heritage Preservation
Units: 3
Faculty: Luby
Prerequisite: ENG 214 or equivalent
Schedule: Rotating, Fall or Spring
Last Taught: Fall 2011
For course description, see M S 780. Paired with M S 780. Students who have completed M S 780 may not take M S 680 for credit. **Museum Studies majors and other graduate-level students should enroll in M S 780.
TPW 490 Grantwriting
Units: 3
Faculty: TPW Faculty
Prerequisite: ENG 214 or equivalent with grade of C or better; TPW student or consent of instructor
Schedule: Fall or Spring
Practice in grant proposal writing and research. Requests from private non-profit organizations to various funding agencies.
