At the center of the graduate certificate program in museum management is the University's McKissick Museum. Established in 1976, the Museum serves as a repository to many valuable campus collections. The certificate program, founded in 1982, utilizes McKissick's holdings and facilities in teaching best practices. Our students receive specialized museum training to complement their firm grounding in their academic subject areas. McKissick adheres to the professional standards established by the American Association of Museums, while also providing a source of knowledgeable, trained personnel for the many rapidly growing regional institutions.

Course of Study

The course of study is designed to be completed concurrently with a graduate degree in an academic field, or to supplement a degree already in hand. Degree-seeking students in many departments in the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as the College of Mass Communications and Information Studies and other professional programs, integrate museum courses within their programs of study. The certificate program courses are also open to museum professionals who have already attained a graduate degree and would like to extend their knowledge in the museum field.

Course work is focused on three main areas of museum work: management, collections, and exhibitions and related programming. In each of these areas instructors seek to impart current information, encourage independent thinking, and enhance leadership skills. In all courses, students work on team projects in museums throughout South Carolina. For internships, "real world" experience is stressed and expected, as students work on individualized projects from which they and their institutions benefit.

Core Courses

• MUSM 700 Administration and Management of Museums
• MUSM 701 Exhibition Development and Interpretation
• MUSM 702 Museum Internship
• MUSM 703 Museum Management Independent Study
• MUSM 704 Collecting, Collections Management, and Curatorial Practice

Transferable Courses

• ANTH 545 Historical Archaeology
• ANTH 550 Archaeological Artifact Analysis
• ANTH 576 African-American Folklife and Archaeology
• ARTH 543 History of American Antiques and Decorative Arts
• ARTH 550 Trends in Art History
• ARTH 562 Art Conservation
• HIST 786 Comparative Applied History, U.S. and U.K.
• HIST 787 Material Culture Studies
• HIST 789 Historic Site Interpretation
• J 797 Special Topics: Digital Imaging
• MART 797 Practicum in Media Production

All students must complete 18 credit hours divided among courses and an internship. The core curriculum consisting of two courses (6 credit hours) requires students to take the Administration and Management of Museums (MUSM 700, 3 credit hours) and either Museum Collecting, Collections Management and Curatorial Practice (MUSM 704, 3 credit hours) or Museum Exhibition Development and Interpretation (MUSM 701, 3 credit hours). The other six hours of course work can come from other museum courses, including an independent study option (MUSM 703, 3 credit hours). As an alternative, students may transfer in six hours of approved courses in a field relevant to their museum career goals. The remaining six credit hours needed for the certificate are an internship (MUSM 702, 6 credit hours) at an approved museum.

Internships are arranged through consultation with students and staff at appropriate museums throughout the nation. This experience allows students to select an institution that supports their career goals, as well as assume professional level responsibilities and receive training and guidance from museum professionals. Emphasis is placed on understanding the overall operation of the museum, its mission, and its relationship to the community it serves. Students already employed in a museum will have the opportunity to work on a specific project or problem within that institution.

Apply

Application must be made through the University of South Carolina Graduate School.

Contact

Dr. Lana A. Burgess, Faculty Curator and Program Director, 803-777-5486