Course Catalog
Graduate Courses
MUSE 699 - Anthropology in Museums
Explore the history of anthropological collections and tackle pressing issues in representation, interpretation, and exhibition design.
Highlights:
-Learn about archeological, ethnographic, and physical anthropology collections
-Discuss contested rights, cultural interpretation, and ethics
-Gain insight into exhibition design and museum-based research"
MUSE 701 - Museum Management
Learn how museums operate behind the scenes—from budgeting and personnel management to organizational strategy—through interactive lectures and case studies.
Highlights:
-Explore accounting, budget cycles, and staffing in museums
-Apply concepts using a simulated museum organization model
-Gain practical skills for leadership in cultural institutions
MUSE 703 - Introduction to Museum Exhibits
Learn the principles and practices of exhibit planning, design, and production for museums of all types. From concept to installation, gain the skills to create impactful visitor experiences.
Highlights:
-Master exhibit design theory and process
-Practice label writing, material selection, and cost estimating
-Explore security, publicity, and evaluation for successful exhibitions
MUSE 704 - Introduction to Collections Management and Utilization
Learn how collections shape a museum’s mission and explore the policies, practices, and standards that ensure their care and use for research, education, and public engagement.
Highlights:
-Examine ownership, preservation, and ethical obligations
-Discover professional standards for collections management
-Explore how collections support research and visitor experiences
MUSE 705 - Introduction to Museum Public Education
Learn how to design and deliver engaging public education initiatives that connect museums with diverse audiences. Gain hands-on experience through workshops and demonstrations.
Highlights:
-Develop programs and strategies to grow audiences
-Explore funding and sustainability for educational services
-Practice creating model programs for real-world application
MUSE 706 - Conservation Principles and Practices
Gain essential skills in conserving museum collections, from ethical approaches to practical techniques for preventing deterioration in organic and inorganic materials.
Highlights:
-Explore philosophical and ethical issues in conservation
-Learn to identify and remedy causes of deterioration
-Understand best practices for storage and care of objects
MUSE 707 - Practical Archival Principles
Learn the principles and practices of caring for and managing archives and manuscripts, with hands-on experience built into the course.
Highlights:
-Explore archival preservation and administration
-Gain practical skills through workshops and demonstrations
-Understand professional standards for managing historical records
MUSE 708 - Digital Methods
This course introduces students to digital methods by exploring a wide range of tools, platforms, and digital cultures. Through hands‑on experimentation and ethical inquiry, students will learn how digital practices can enhance accessibility, engagement, and research impact.
Highlights:
- Work with a variety of tools such as content management, audio, mapping, data visualization and text analysis
- Examine ethical considerations and questions of digital preservation and curation
- Design digital projects to support student research and practice
MUSE 710 - Natural Sciences Curation and Collections Management
Explore how collections are curated, preserved, and digitally archived through hands-on projects and guided tours of KU’s natural science and ethnographic collections.
Highlights:
-Learn cataloging, storage, and management of collections
-Experience workshops and tours with expert curators
-Work directly with museum collections on real projects"
MUSE 511/711
This field school provides hands‑on training in archaeological collections care alongside the study of ethical and collaborative stewardship. Students work directly with artifacts and collections systems while examining key issues in cultural heritage management.
Students in this course will:
- Hands‑on artifact handling, rehousing, and cataloging
- Ethics, Indigenous perspectives, and NAGPRA
- Use of professional collections management systems (CMS)
MUSE 801 - Museum Internship
Understand the basics of museums as institutions and the varied roles professionals within them through site visits and hands-on projects.
Highlights:
- Learn how museums came to be and how they function today.
- Familiarize yourself with staff roles and professions within museums.
- Explore the rich institutions and world-class collections on campus at KU.
MUSE 802 - The Museum Profession: Ethics, Standards & Cultural Awareness
This course builds on MUSE 801 with a deeper focus on ethics and standards that govern museums as institutions and how that impacts operations, functions, and the relationships with various audiences.
Highlights:
- Examine the role of museums in creating perceptions of scientific and historical truth
- Engage with museological theory and methods to deepen understanding of museum practice
- Recognize opportunities to reframe museum practices to make museums more ethical, equitable, and inclusive.
MUSE 803 - The Contemporary Museum in Practice: Debates & Research Methodologies
This required course for M.A. students builds upon the knowledge developed in MUSE 801 & MUSE 802 while highlighting current challenges and issues confronting museums. Additionally, students will formulate their capstone projects and research plans.
Highlights:
- Refine their professional and disciplinary interests
- Develop capstone topics and methodologies
- Enhance research skills and begin literature review for their capstone
Undergraduate Courses
MUSE 177- First Year Seminar
Start your college journey with a dynamic seminar exploring current issues in Museum Studies. Perfect for first-time freshmen looking to dive into cultural and academic conversations.
Highlights:
-Engaging topics approved by the Office of First-Year Experience
-Build a strong foundation for future Museum Studies courses
MUSE 301- Museums and Society: Past, Present, Future
Dive into the fascinating field of Museum Studies with hands-on experiences, field trips, and expert insights. Perfect for anyone curious about museum careers and cultural heritage.
Highlights:
-Learn museum history, roles, and functions
-Practice writing for diverse museum audiences
-Engage with guest speakers and real-world projects
MUSE 380 - Introduction to Public History
Discover how history moves beyond books into museums, monuments, archives, and digital spaces. Learn to communicate historical knowledge to the public in meaningful ways.
Highlights:
-Explore public history through museums, memorials, and oral histories
-Understand digital tools for democratizing history
-Develop skills to engage audiences and preserve memory
