Southeastern Louisiana University
History 467/567
Introduction to Museum Practice
Fall 2005
Professor: Dr. Benac
Office: 347E Fayard Hall
Telephone: 549-5723
Email:
Office Hours: M: 10:00-12:00, 1:00-4:00; TH: 10:00-12:00, 1:00-5:00
Course Description
Hist 467/567 Introduction to Museum Practice. Credit three hours. Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of the instructor. A detailed study of the concerns and issues unique to working in museums. Students will learn the basics of research and interpretation involved in the design and preparation of exhibits. Offered every two years in the fall semester.
Classroom Decorum
Free discussion, inquiry, and expression is encouraged in this class. Classroom behavior that interferes with either (a) the instructor's ability to conduct the class or (b) the ability of students to benefit from the instruction is not acceptable. Examples may include routinely entering class late or departing early; use of beepers, cellular telephones, or other electronic devices; repeatedly talking in class without being recognized; talking while others are speaking; or arguing in a way that is perceived as "crossing the civility line." In the event of a situation where a student legitimately needs to carry a beeper/cellular telephone to class, prior notice and approval of the instructor is required. Turn off all cell phones and pagers before class begins.
E-Mail Communication
University e-mail policy reads (in part) as follows, "[Faculty] Uses of non-Southeastern e-mail addresses for communication with students regarding University business or educational matters are not acceptable...." In compliance with this policy, please use only your SLU e-mail address when contacting me about the course. I will not respond to non-SLU e-mail addresses. Recall, that your SLU e-mail accounts are accessible through the Internet via "Web-Mail" which can be reached from the SLU homepage: http://www.selu.edu." Sending an e-mail does not absolve you of your responsibility to attend class or complete assignments. You must receive recognition of your e-mail before it is considered communication.
Office hours and availability
I will be in my office during the scheduled hours to provide any assistance that could lead to your success in the course. Feel free to call me at my office number listed on the syllabus. If you are unable to reach me leave a message clearly stating your name, number, and when you will be there and I will try to return your call one time, I will not “play phone-tag”.
NOTE: It is the policy of the University that the classroom is not a place for children, and that students are not to bring their family members for day care or baby sitting.
NOTE: If you are a qualified student with a disability seeking accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you are required to self-identify with the Office of Disability Services, Room 203, Student Union. You must bring me documentation from the Office of Disability Services at least two weeks prior to any assignment to which it applies.
Last Day to withdraw is October 21
Academic Honesty
No form of cheating will be tolerated. Academic dishonesty, in any form, will result in immediate punishment to the full extent outlined by university policy. For examples regarding citations and what constitutes plagiarism see Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations.
Students agree by taking this course all required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. Use of the of turnitin.com service is subject to the Terms and Conditions of Use posted on the Turnitin.com website.
Course Objectives
The primary objective of this course is to make students conversant with the theories and practices of museum research, interpretation, and communication. In addition to readings students will design and build an exhibit and create interpretive public programming.
Requirements
Make-up work will only be accepted when you provide a suitable written excuse from a doctor or proper university official. All assignments are already scheduled, if you have a pre-existing conflict you must notify me within the first week of courses. There will be no alternate test times for excuses not recognized in the university handbook.
Participation 10% Of final grade
Artifact Analysis 10%
Exhibit Review 20%
Exhibit Proposal 20%
Completed Exhibit/Programs 40%
Artifact Analysis: (week 4) Each student will analyze the cultural and social significance of an artifact provided by the professor. You will be responsible for identifying, describing, and evaluating the conservation needs of the item. You should also make a recommendation as to whether or not it is worthy of inclusion in a collection.
Exhibit Review: (week 5) Select and review an exhibit. Be sure to consider the institution’s mission, goals, and audience. Consider the use of technology, artifacts, texts, colors, and security issues.
Exhibit Proposal: (week 6) Students will form groups to design and create an exhibit at the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Maritime Museum in Madisonville. The initial ideas will be discussed with the professor in order to meet the needs of the museum.
Completed Exhibit: During weeks eight through fifteen students will devote their time to the creation of their exhibits. Exhibits will be evaluated based on their educational value, efficient use of available resources and artifacts, and cooperative work.
Participation: This grade will consist of a combination of attendance, commentary on reading assignments, and general contributions to the success of all students in the course.
Grading Scale
A=90%
B=80-89%
C=70-79%
D=60-69%
F=anything below 59%
Attendance
Attendance is required and it is expected that each student will contribute to the class. Each student will be allowed three absences (excused or otherwise). For every absence after three you will lose one letter grade. For example: If you have 85% in the class but miss four meetings your grade will fall from a B to a C. If you were to miss five meetings your grade would fall to a D. So make sure to come to class. Two tardies count as one absence.
Field Trips
During the course of the semester we will visit one to two museums at times that are generally agreed upon. Students will be responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from the locations.
Course Outline
This class will consist of three main units: 1) Literature review 2) artifact review and 3) exhibit construction.
In part one of the course students will review the theory and historiography of museology and exhibit design. This portion of the course is designed to provide students with the necessary framework for understanding how and why exhibits and museums are created.
Part two of the course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to analyze a series of artifacts. Students will use their knowledge from part one of the course to determine the artifacts’ significance and potential as items for use in exhibits.
The third portion of the course will be devoted to the production of a museum exhibit to be displayed. Students will work in groups and draw on their experiences and knowledge gained in the previous two portions of the course to design and build an exhibit and to prepare interpretive programs to supplement the exhibit.
Texts (additional journals readings will be assigned in class)
Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for the Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations [either the fifth or sixth edition] (The University of Chicago Press). Recomended
John H. Falk, Learning from Museums: Visitor Experiences and the Making of Meaning (American Association of State and Local Museums). Required
Stephen Weil, Making Museums Matter (Smithsonian Books). Required