Museum and Heritage Studies

Coursework

The Master of Museum and Heritage Studies draws together museum studies and heritage studies.

It examines how objects and heritage are managed and conserved both in the past and today, through the exploration of collections, cultural processes and the strategies that societies use to conserve, communicate, engage with heritage, both in place and in museums. It explores public engagement with museums and heritage, including sites of trauma, commemoration and memorialisation, exhibitions, public programs and museums and heritage as components of economic and urban development strategies in many cities and regions around the world. Professional placements are a vital part of the master’s degree and graduate diploma. They offer sector-based experience working under a supervisor in a host organisation on a specific project.

Completion of the Masters of Museum and Heritage Studies would normally qualify a student for a career in the cultural sector, with opportunities in museum and heritage institutions as well as allied fields of policy, management, administration and consultancy. Completion of the Masters of Museum and Heritage Studies with an overall average mark of 80 percent or above and an average mark of 80 percent or above for the dissertation would normally qualify a graduate to apply for entry to an M.Phil or PhD in the Australian system and for consideration for a postgraduate scholarship.

Awards and Requirements

Graduate Certificate in Museum and Heritage Studies
Candidates for the Graduate Certificate in Museum and Heritage Studies must complete 24 credit points including

• a minimum of 6 credit points of core units of study
• a minimum of 6 credit points of core elective units of study
• a maximum of 12 credit points of elective units of study

Graduate Diploma in Museum and Heritage Studies
Candidates for the Graduate Diploma in Museum and Heritage Studies must complete 48 credit points including

• a minimum of 12 credit points of core units of study
• a minimum of 18 credit points of core elective units of study
• a maximum of 18 credit points of elective units of study

Master of Museum and Heritage Studies
Candidates for the Master of Museum and Heritage Studies must complete 72 credit points including

• a minimum of 24 credit points of core units of study
• a minimum of 18 credit points of core elective units of study
• a maximum of 24 credit points of elective units of study
• a minimum of 6 credit points of capstone units of study

Candidates for the Masters program who have completed previous study in a relevant discipline may be eligible for a reduction in the requirements in accordance with the table below.

Research

The research programs involve independent research work and the preparation of a thesis under the supervision of the Director of the program, and other academic staff in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Museum and Heritage Studies currently attracts students from disciplines including History, Anthropology, Archaeology, Education and Art History and Theory. Research in Museum and Heritage Studies is, however, rarely confined to any one of these disciplines.

Requirements

Please refer to the degree resolutions in this Handbook and to the ‘Faculty Admissions Policy and Procedure for: Doctor of Philosophy: Pathways to admission’, for information on the specific admission requirements for different research award courses.

Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Arts and Doctor of Social Sciences
Master of Philosophy
Master of Arts (Research)

Contact

Program website: http://sydney.edu.au/arts/museum_heritage_studies/
School website: http://sydney.edu.au/arts/slam/

Dr Chiara O’Reilly
Phone: +61 2 9351 4256
Email: