Museum and Field Studies

MUSM 5011 (4) Introduction to Museum Studies

Provides background in history and literature of museums, their objectives and methods, laboratory exercises in curatorship, exhibition theory, and administration.

Additional Information: Departmental Category: Museum Studies

MUSM 5021 (2-4) Selected Museum Topics

Provides framework for student projects on varied museum topics (e.g., ethics of collecting, data management, the museum's role in the community). Student projects include case study analysis, interviewing, and original presentations. Topics vary each semester. Department consent required.

Repeatable: Repeatable for up to 8.00 total credit hours.
Additional Information: Departmental Category: Museum Studies

MUSM 5030 (3) Museum Education

Survey of the theory and practice of education in museums and informal learning centers. Topics include current trends in the field, learning theories, teaching methodologies, program development, museum/school relationships, the role of education in exhibit development, and being a critically reflective practitioner.

Additional Information: Departmental Category: Museum Studies

MUSM 5031 (3) Museums and the Public: Exhibit Development

Covers elements of exhibition development and design, up to production and evaluation of exhibit prototypes. The team approach is emphasized. Department enforced prerequisite: restricted to graduate students.

Additional Information: Departmental Category: Museum Studies

MUSM 5041 (3) Museum Administration

Covers theory of organizations and how it applies to museums. Application of small business management and nonprofit organizations. Review museum organizational charts and staffing. Evolution of marketing and development in a museum context are reviewed. Budget process and annual financial reporting are discussed, and there is an emphasis on evaluating financial statements. Department enforced prerequisite: restricted to graduate students.

Additional Information: Departmental Category: Museum Studies

MUSM 5045 (3) Introduction to Museum Anthropology

Traces the development of Anthropology and museums in America from late 19th century to present day. Students are encouraged to: explore museum theory and practice; think critically about the history of relations among Native Americans, Anthropology, and museums; consider the legacy of collecting and challenges of representing others; and, examine the interplay of Anthropology, material culture, and colonialism.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: ANTH 4045 and ANTH 5045
Requisites: Restricted to graduate students only.
Additional Information: Departmental Category: Anthropology

MUSM 5051 (3) Museum Collections Management

Deals specifically with curation and data management. Topics include acquisition practices and problems; organization, management, use and preventive conservation of collections; computer data management of collections.

Additional Information: Departmental Category: Museum Studies

MUSM 5061 (3) Introduction to Scientific Illustration

Intended for students with little to no art background. Focus is on the accurate rendering of scientific subjects for publication and for public display. Course begins with basic drawing skills and sharpening of visual perception. Students progress to be able to produce realistic renderings of subjects. Students are exposed to a variety of black and white and color techniques and the standards for presenting illustrations for a variety of audiences. Course concludes with computer illustration tools and techniques.

Additional Information: Departmental Category: Museum Studies

MUSM 5474 (4) Vertebrate Paleontology

Discusses the history and evolution of the vertebrates, including the phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary patterns of the major groups. Lab focuses on comparative vertebrate osteology and fossil representation of major groups.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: GEOL 4474 and GEOL 5474
Additional Information: Departmental Category: Geology

MUSM 5484 (3) Museum Field Methods in Geology

Paleontological and paleoecological field techniques including collecting; recording of geographic, stratigraphic and quarry information; preservation; interpretation, including applicable readings. Designed for individuals who have some background in geology but little or no prior field experience. Offered summer only.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: MUSM 4484
Requisites: Restricted to graduate students only.
Additional Information: Departmental Category: Geology

MUSM 5520 (4) Flowering Plant Diversity

Emphasizes the morphology, evolution, classification, phylogeny, natural history, identification, and economic importance of plants, with a focus on flowering plants (angiosperms). Because flowering plants are dominant and keystone features of both our natural and developed world, capacity to understand them from an evolutionary and ecological perspective is an important skill for anyone interested in field biology, ecology, evolution, environmental resource management, or simply in being a good steward to the land and to your society.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: EBIO 4520 and EBIO 5520
Requisites: Restricted to graduate students only.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade

MUSM 5760 (4) Mammalogy

Lect., lab, and field studies. Discusses origin, evolution and adaptation, geographic distribution, ecology and taxonomy of mammals; field and laboratory study of Coloradan species. Uses animals and/or animal tissues.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: EBIO 4760 and EBIO 5760
Additional Information: Departmental Category: Zoology

MUSM 5795 (3) Field Methods in Zoology and Botany

Class covers research and field methods for biological disciplines associated with natural history museums: vertebrates, invertebrates and plants. Emphasis is on field research techniques: observations, sampling, collection and preservation methods and comparisons among elevation zones. Includes 5 field labs, 2 weekend trips, 5 lab practica, experience with several taxonomic experts and individual research projects.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: MUSM 4795 and ENVS 4795
Requisites: Restricted to graduate students only.
Additional Information: Departmental Category: Zoology

MUSM 5900 (1-6) Independent Study

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: MUSM 4900
Repeatable: Repeatable for up to 6.00 total credit hours. Allows multiple enrollment in term.
Additional Information: Departmental Category: Independent Study

MUSM 5912 (3) Collections Research Practicum in Cultural Anthropology

Designed as a practicum, introduces students to research and practice in museum anthropology, utilizing the extensive anthropology collections at CU-Boulder Museum. Students will gain skills in primary and secondary research, collections and object research and narrative story development for the exhibition of anthropological material culture.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: MUSM 4912 and ANTH 4470 and ANTH 5470
Repeatable: Repeatable for up to 6.00 total credit hours.
Grading Basis: Letter Grade
Additional Information: Departmental Category: Anthropology

MUSM 5913 (3) Museum Practicum in Botany

Students take part in curatorial procedures of the botany section of the museum: specimen preparation, labeling, identification, cataloguing, conservation and collection management. Enrollment is limited therefore students should make arrangements during the previous semester.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: MUSM 4913
Recommended: Prerequisite MUSM 5011.
Additional Information: Departmental Category: Botany

MUSM 5914 (3) Museum Practicum in Geology

Students take part in curatorial procedures of the geology section of the museum: field collection, specimen preparation, cataloguing, collection management and a survey of current laws as they apply to specimens. Enrollment is limited therefore students should make arrangements during the previous semester.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: MUSM 4914
Recommended: Prerequisite MUSM 5011.
Additional Information: Departmental Category: Geology

MUSM 5915 (1-3) Museum Practicum in Zoology

Students take part in basic curatorial procedures of the zoology section of the museum: relaxing, fixing, positioning, preserving, cataloguing, storing and shipping. Also introduces students to the animal kingdom.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: MUSM 4915
Additional Information: Departmental Category: Zoology

MUSM 5916 (1-3) Museum Practicum in Entomology

Students take part in curatorial procedures of the entomology section of the museum: field collection, specimen preparation, labeling, identification, rearing techniques and exhibit preparation. Enrollment is limited, students should make arrangements during previous semester.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: MUSM 4916
Recommended: Prerequisite MUSM 5011.
Additional Information: Departmental Category: Entomology

MUSM 5917 (1-3) Museum Practicum in Techniques

Students participate in museum public education functions that may include researching, planning, developing, and producing exhibits, traveling trunks, booklets, and other materials. May involve writing labels, molding and casting, conservation, and restoration.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: MUSM 4917
Repeatable: Repeatable for up to 6.00 total credit hours. Allows multiple enrollment in term.
Additional Information: Departmental Category: Museology

MUSM 5918 (3) Museum Practicum in Advanced Collections Management

Provides a hands-on environment for exploring issues in museum collections management. Through lecture, resource procurement, in-class activities and out-of-class projects, students will gain practical and professional experience in areas of policy, procedure, best practices, museum storage planning and legal issues.

Recommended: Prerequisite MUSM 5051.
Additional Information: Departmental Category: Museum Studies

MUSM 5919 (3) Collections Research Practicum: Archaeology

Focuses on Museum collections management from archaeological sites mainly in the American Southwest and Mongolia. The course involves readings, discussion, and collections analysis and archival documentation. Extra time outside of class is required for the practicum aspect of this course. Each student will need to schedule with the professor an additional 3 hours each week when they will focus on an aspect of their project, to be discussed below under grading criteria. Formerly offered as a special topics course.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: ANTH 4919 and ANTH 5919
Repeatable: Repeatable for up to 9.00 total credit hours. Allows multiple enrollment in term.

MUSM 6110 (1-3) Advanced Seminar in Museum Issues

Offers a weekly seminar for museum and field study students that addresses one new topic each semester relevant to museum operations such as archival administration, museums, multiculturalism, repatriation and others. Department enforced prerequisite: MUSM 5011.

Repeatable: Repeatable for up to 9.00 total credit hours. Allows multiple enrollment in term.
Requisites: Restricted to graduate students only.
Additional Information: Departmental Category: Museum Studies

MUSM 6150 (3) Critical and Theoretical Issues in Museums

Investigates key problems facing museum institutions and studies the staging and representation of historical knowledge, the ethics of collecting and display, the changing nature and uses of historical evidence and relations between curatorial practice, collecting and field work. Critically examines different approaches to museums and museology in various disciplines, both past and present. Department enforced prerequisite: MUSM 5011.

Equivalent - Duplicate Degree Credit Not Granted: ARTH 6150 and HIST 6150 and ANTH 6150
Additional Information: Departmental Category: Museum Studies

MUSM 6930 (2-4) Museum Internship

Provides experience in museums of different sizes, audiences, and subjects, including history, natural history, art, and children's museums. Each student is supervised individually by a faculty member as well as the appropriate person in the cooperating museum.

Additional Information: Departmental Category: Museum Studies

MUSM 6940 (1-4) Master's Candidate for Degree

Registration intended for students preparing for a thesis defense, final examination, culminating activity, or completion of degree.

Additional Information: Departmental Category: Museum Studies

MUSM 6950 (1-6) Master's Thesis

A thesis, which may be of a research, expository, critical or creative type, is required of every master's degree candidate under the thesis option. Department enforced prerequisites: MUSM 5011 and MUSM 5051 and one of the following: MUSM 5030 or MUSM 5031 or MUSM 5041.

Additional Information: Departmental Category: Museum Studies

MUSM 6960 (1-4) Master's Project or Paper

A project or paper in the student's discipline and related to some aspect of museum studies is required of every master's degree candidate under the non-thesis-option plan. Department enforced prerequisites: MUSM 5011 and MUSM 5051. Students in collections/field track also need MUSM 5030 or MUSM 5031 or MUSM 5041.

Additional Information: Departmental Category: Museum Studies