Curriculum

The curriculum of this multidisciplinary certificate program is designed to supply students with a balance of the practical and theoretical information needed to work in the museum world. It consists of three (3) required seminar courses, one (1) elective seminar, and one (1) internship totaling 20 credits. It is designed to be completed over a one year period, but may be extended beyond that depending upon the individual and the courses selected. The certificate program may be pursued as a stand-alone program or may be earned in conjunction with existing graduate degree programs. Most classes are offered one night per week from 5:30 to 8:20 PM to accommodate work schedules. One required course is currently held on Fridays 12:00 - 2:50 PM. Some electives may also be daytime courses. One to two seminars are offered per quarter; the internship can be done during any quarter.

Required Courses

Critical History of Museums and Curating 23-FAA-804 (4 gr. cr.)
First, the course considers the changes in museums and collecting practices from early times through the International biennials of today. The second part addresses the growth in the last 30 years of artists' curating practices and their impact on exhibition content and design.

Graduate Museum Internship 23-ARTH-875 (4 gr. cr.)
A 120-hour internship at a museum or gallery in which students gain practical experience in the day-to-day operations of a museum. Internships will be geared toward career goals of individual students. Placement may be arranged through certificate program director, or on their own with director's approval and supervision. Evaluations made by student, museum supervisor, and certificate program director. May be taken any quarter.

Two of the Following Courses are Required

Collection Management: Registration and Conservation 23-ARTH-804 (4 gr. cr.)
In-depth examination of principles and practices of managing collections in museums, including: accessioning, cataloguing, documentation, storage methods, loans, insurance, packing and crating, shipping, art handling, climate control, condition reports, de-accessioning, record keeping, and computerization. Includes section on the study of the treatment methods and materials used by conservators to protect and restore museum objects, including: paintings, works on paper, sculpture, furniture, ceramics, stone, etc.

Dissolving the White Cube 23ARTH-807 (4 gr. cr.)
A course on the evolution of contemporary curating following the transformation of the gallery from a "white cube," stemming from the debates in the 1960, into the forms of current post-studio practices.

Exhibition Planning and Design 23-ARTH-808 (4 gr. cr.)
Study of the exhibition planning and design processes, including label writing, design and display methods, lighting, publications, public programming, and outreach. Special consideration will be given to the challenges museums face in presenting material from other cultures, as well as other ethical issues facing curators and other museum personnel. The course will also explore the challenges of funding and grant-writing in order to stage exhibitions.

One of the Following Electives

Curating New Media 23-FAA-805 (4 gr. cr.)
This course reviews the challenges faced by museums and galleries when exhibiting new media such as video and digital art, as well as the application of technology in museum display.

Colonialism, Postcolonialism, Globalism, and Exhibition 23-ARTH-805
A seminar dealing with contemporary postcolonial theory and criticism in relation to the history of exhibitions of the 19th and 20th centuries, spanning the spectacular display of so-called primitive arts and peoples to contemporary state-sponsored biennials, which continue to proliferate, and which have created a crisis, according to which artists and critics are required to trace and mime the tourism and globalization criticized by so much contemporary art.

Museum Education 23-ARTH-809 (4 gr. cr.)
A comprehensive study of developments in museum educational initiatives of the last 30 years with a particular emphasis on recent attempts by museums to expand their reach into more diverse ethnic and economic communities. The course will evaluate the effectiveness of technology applied in museum education, and consider the role of museums in the education of the local community.

Art of Collecting 23-ARTH-898 (4 gr. cr.)
This course examines the history of collecting art, and other cultural material, by individuals and institutions. We will study patterns of intention and behavior among the great art and object collectors/philanthropists in the West. We'll analyze international, national, and local collections of acclaim.

Graduate Installation Art 23-FAA-806 (with approval of director)
Students from all disciplines develop and mount installation art works. Projects are often site-specific, collaborative, temporal, or multi-disciplinary. In addition to studio work, students view and discuss works by established artists and materials relevant to the subject.

To enroll or peruse offerings, visit UC Learning Opportunities.
Instructions: Choose the desired quarter of enrollment; choose the College: 23 College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning; most courses will then be under Discipline: Art History (ARTH), but others are under Fine Arts-Art (FAA). Though the courses are listed under Art History and Fine Arts, most are designed to be multidisciplinary.