Semester Requirements
Tina Olsin Lent, Department Chairperson
(585) 475-2460, tnlgsh@rit.edu
Program overview
The bachelor of science degree in museum studies is an innovative, interdisciplinary, technically-based major that prepares students for careers in museums, archives, photo collections, and libraries.
Curriculum
The major includes a set of introductory and advanced core courses to familiarize students with the fundamentals of museum studies, including the history, theory, and practice of institutional collecting, conservation, and the technical investigation of art. To broaden and deepen their knowledge, students choose a professional track in art conservation, management, or public history.
Internship
The major requires students to complete a 200-hour internship in a cultural institution. This experience gives students the opportunity to apply what they've learned in the classroom to a professional setting and gain valuable work experience before they graduate.
Professional tracks
The professional tracks (art conservation, management, and public history) include course work that meets the criteria established by professionals in the field and reflects current opinion about necessary skill sets. Since 2000, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and the Committee on Museum Professional Training (COMPT) have called for revisions in the training of museum professionals that reflect evolving needs for management, leadership, information technology, fundraising, and grant writing skills—all of which are included in the management track. The art conservation track features the traditional criteria for entry into the field as well as course work in chemistry and studio arts, two areas that have been identified as deficient in other undergraduate programs. The public history track offers students core courses in learning how to think historically, make a sound historical argument, and present history effectively to a public audience.
Museum studies (art conservation track), BS degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| MUSE-220 | Introduction to Museums and Collecting | 3 |
| ARTH-135, 136 | Survey of Western Art and Architecture I, II | 6 |
| LAS Foundation 1: First Year Seminar† | 3 | |
| CHMG-141, 145 | LAS Perspective 5: General and Analytical Chemistry I w/ Lab | 4 |
| LAS Perspectives 1, 2 | 6 | |
| Studio Art Course (CCER, CGLS, CMTJ, CWFD) | 3 | |
| ENGL-150 | LAS Foundation 2: First Year Writing | 3 |
| CHMG-142, 146 | LAS Perspective 6: General and Analytical Chemistry II w/ Lab | 4 |
| Wellness Education* | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| MUSE-422 | Panel Painting | 3 |
| Studio Art Course (CCER, CGLS, CMTJ, CWFD) | 3 | |
| CHMO-231, 235 | Organic Chemistry I w/ Lab | 4 |
| LAS Perspective 3, 4, 7A, 7B | 12 | |
| MUSE-223 | Historic Photographic Processes | 3 |
| CHMO-232, 236 | Organic Chemistry II w/ Lab | 4 |
| LAS Immersion 1 | 3 | |
| Third Year | ||
| LAS Immersion 2, 3 | 6 | |
| FDTN-111, 112 | Drawing I, II | 6 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| FDTN-121 | 2D Design 1 | |
| FDTN-131 | 3D Design 1 | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| FDTN-122 | 2D Design 2 | |
| FDTN-132 | 3D Design 2 | |
| LAS Electives | 6 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| MUSE-438 | Conservation and Analysis | 3 |
| MUSE-490 | Senior Thesis | 3 |
| Studio Art Courses (CCER, CGLS, CMTJ, CWFD) | 8 | |
| LAS Electives | 6 | |
| MUSE-356 | Interactive Design for Museums | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 | |
Please see New General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information.
(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two Wellness courses.
† The First Year Seminar requirement is replaced by an LAS Elective for the 2013-14 academic year.
Museum studies (management track), BS degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| MUSE-220 | Introduction to Museums and Collecting | 3 |
| ARTH-135, 136 | Survey of Western Art and Architecture I, II | 6 |
| LAS Foundation 1: First Year Seminar† | 3 | |
| LAS Perspective 1, 2, 3, 4 | 12 | |
| MUSE-221 | Introduction to Public History | 3 |
| ENGL-150 | LAS Foundation 2: First Year Writing | 3 |
| Wellness Education* | 0 | |
| Second Year | ||
| MUSE-222 | Panel Painting | 3 |
| Studio Art Course (CCER, CGLS, CMTJ, or CWFD) | 3 | |
| Art History Elective | 3 | |
| LAS Perspective 5‡, 6, 7A, 7B | 12 | |
| MUSE-224 | History and Theory of Exhibitions | 3 |
| MUSE-223 | Historic Photographic Processes | 3 |
| IGME-110 | Introduction to Interactive Media |
3 |
| Third Year | ||
| MUSE 354 | Exhibition Design | 3 |
| MUSE 355 | Fundraising, Grant Writing and Marketing | 3 |
| IGME 101, 102 | Interactive Media Development I, II | 6 |
| LAS Immersion 1, 2, 3 | 9 | |
| MUSE-357 | Collections Management and Museum Administration | 3 |
| MGMT-320 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| LAS Elective | 3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| MUSE-438 | Conservation and Analysis | 3 |
| MUSE-490 | Senior Thesis | 3 |
| MGMT-415 | Digital Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| LAS Electives | 9 | |
| MUSE-356 | Interactive Design for Museums | 3 |
| MGMT-460 | Leadership in Organizations | 3 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 | |
Please see New General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information.
(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two Wellness courses.
† The First Year Seminar requirement is replaced by an LAS Elective for the 2013-14 academic year.
Museum studies (public history track), BS degree, typical course sequence (semesters), effective fall 2013
| Course | Sem. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| MUSE-220 | Introduction to Museums and Collecting | 3 |
| MUSE-221 | Introduction to Public History | 3 |
| LAS Foundation 1: First Year Seminar† | 3 | |
| LAS Perspective 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 | 18 | |
| LAS Foundation 2: First Year Writing | 3 | |
| Wellness Education* | ||
| Second Year | ||
| HIST-101 | Making History | 3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| ISTE-105 | Web Foundations | |
| IGME 110 | Introduction to Interactive Media | |
| LAS Perspective 5, 7 | 6 | |
| LAS Immersion 1, 2 | 6 | |
| MUSE-224 | History and Theory of Exhibitions | 3 |
| HIST-301 | Great Debates | 3 |
| Elective |
3 |
|
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| ISTE-205 | Digital Creation | |
| IGME 101 | Interactive Media Development I | |
| Third Year | ||
| MUSE-354 | Exhibition Design | 3 |
| MUSE-355 | Fundraising, Grant Writing and Marketing | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Elective | ||
| IGME-102 | Interactive Media Development II | |
| LAS Immersion 3 | 3 | |
| MUSE-357 | Collections Management and Museum Administration | 3 |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| ISTE-305 | Rapid Online Presence | |
| IGME-xxx | Web Design and Development | |
| LAS Electives | 6 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| MUSE-490 | Senior Thesis | 3 |
| IGME Elective | 3 | |
| LAS Electives | 15 | |
| Free Electives | 6 | |
| MUSE-356 | Interactive Design for Museums | 3 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 | |
Please see New General Education Curriculum–Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) for more information.
(WI) Refers to a writing intensive course within the major.
* Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing bachelor's degrees are required to complete two Wellness courses.
† The First Year Seminar requirement is replaced by an LAS Elective for the 2013-14 academic year.
Additional information
Career opportunities
Upon graduation students are prepared to work in institutions that collect cultural objects, such as museums, historical sites, historical societies, libraries, archives, and corporations. Students are also prepared to further their education in graduate programs in museum studies, art history, informatics, arts management, library and information studies, or an MBA.
Advisers
Every student is assigned a faculty adviser who provides academic advising and career counseling. All of the faculty members in museum studies hold the highest degrees in their field and all have been published within their areas of expertise.
![[arrow]](/global/images/collapsed.gif)
Click to view program requirements in the Quarter Calendar
Quarter Curriculum - For Reference Only
Effective fall 2013, RIT will convert its academic calendar from quarters to semesters. The following content has been made available as reference only. Currently matriculated students who began their academic programs in quarters should consult their academic adviser for guidance and course selection.
Program overview
The bachelor of science degree in museum studies is an innovative, interdisciplinary, technically-based program that prepares students for careers in museums, archives, photo collections, and libraries.
Curriculum
The program includes a set of introductory and advanced core courses to familiarize students with the fundamentals of museum studies, including the history, theory, and practice of institutional collecting, conservation, and the technical investigation of art. To broaden and deepen their knowledge, students will also choose to pursue one of two specialized professional tracks: museum and information studies or art conservation.
Internship
The program requires students to complete a 200-hour internship in a cultural institution. This experience gives students the opportunity to apply what they've learned in the classroom to a professional setting and gain valuable work experience before they graduate.
Professional tracks
Both professional tracks (museum and information studies or art conservation) include course work that meets the criteria established by professionals in the field and reflects current opinion about necessary skill sets. Since 2000, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and the Committee on Museum Professional Training (COMPT) have called for revisions in the training of museum professionals that reflect evolving needs for management, leadership, information technology, fundraising, and grant writing skills—all of which the cultural resource and information studies track includes. The art conservation track features the traditional criteria for entry into the field as well as course work in chemistry and studio arts, two areas that have been identified as deficient in other undergraduate programs.
Museum studies (museum and information studies track), BS degree, typical course sequence (quarters)
| Course | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| 0533-370 | Introduction to Museums and Collection | 4 |
| 2039-225, 226, 227 | Survey of Western Art and Architecture I, II, III | 9 |
| Freshman Studio | 2 | |
| 2067-264 | Introduction to Photography | 4 |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
| Mathematics and Science Requirements‡ | 13 | |
| 1105-051, 052 | First-Year Enrichment | 2 |
| Second Year | ||
| 0533-423 | Art Materials: Photography | 4 |
| 0533-422 | Art Materials: Panel Painting | 4 |
| Freshman Studio | 2 | |
| Liberal Arts* | 24 | |
| Mathematics and Science Requirements‡ | 8 | |
| General Education Electives | 8 | |
| Wellness Education† | 0 | |
| Third Year | ||
| 0533-425 | Display and Exhibition Design | 4 |
| 0533-426 | Collections Management and Museum Administration | 4 |
| 0533-427 | Fundraising, Grant Writing, and Marketing for Nonprofit Institutions | 4 |
| Business Core | 12 | |
| Management Information Systems | 12 | |
| Institute Free Elective | 12 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| 0533-438 | Conservation of Cultural Materials | 4 |
| 0533-424 | Legal and Ethical Issues for Collecting Institutions | 4 |
| 0533-437 | Forensic Investigation of Art and Research Methods | 4 |
| 0533-510 | Senior Thesis | 4 |
| Management Information Systems | 8 | |
| General Education Electives | 12 | |
| Institute Free Elective | 4 | |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 184 | |
* Please see Liberal Arts General Education Requirements for more information.
† Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information.
‡ Please see Mathematics and Science Requirements for more information.
Museum studies (art conservation track), BS degree, typical course sequence (quarters)
| Course | Qtr. Cr. Hrs. | |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| 0533-370 | Introduction to Museums and Collection | 4 |
| 2039-225, 226, 227 | Survey of Western Art and Architecture I, II, III | 9 |
| Freshman Studio | 2 | |
| 2067-264 | Introduction to Photography | 4 |
| Liberal Arts* | 12 | |
| Mathematics and Science Requirements‡ | 13 | |
| 1105-051, 052 | First-Year Enrichment | 2 |
| Second Year | ||
| 0533-423 | Art Materials: Photography | 4 |
| 0533-422 | Art Materials: Panel Painting | 4 |
| Freshman Studio | 2 | |
| 1013-231, 232, 233 | Organic Chemistry I, II, III | 12 |
| Liberal Arts* | 16 | |
| Mathematics and Science Requirements‡ | 4 | |
| General Education Electives | 8 | |
| Wellness Education† | 0 | |
| Third Year | ||
| 2013-211, 212, 213 | Drawing I, II, III | 9 |
| Liberal Arts | 8 | |
| General Education Electives | 8 | |
| Institute Free Elective | 17 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| 0533-438 | Conservation of Cultural Materials | 4 |
| 0533-424 | Legal and Ethical Issues for Collecting Institutions | 4 |
| 0533-437 | Forensic Investigation of Art and Research Methods | 4 |
| 0533-510 | Senior Thesis | 4 |
| Sophomore-Level Studio | 18 | |
| General Education Electives | 8 | |
| Institute Free Elective | 5 | |
| Total Quarter Credit Hours | 185 | |
* Please see Liberal Arts General Education Requirements for more information.
† Please see Wellness Education Requirement for more information.
‡ Please see Mathematics and Science Requirements for more information.
Additional information
Career opportunities
Upon graduation students will be prepared to work in public and private institutions that collect cultural objects, such as museums, historical sites, historical societies, libraries, archives, and corporations. Students are also prepared to further their education in graduate programs in museum studies, art history, informatics, or arts management; an MLS in library and information studies; or an MBA.
Advisers
Every student is assigned a faculty adviser who provides academic advising and career counseling. All of the fine arts department faculty members in museum studies hold the highest degrees in their field and all have been published within their areas of expertise.