Museum and Heritage Studies at the University of Sydney will equip you with a contextual understanding of core historical and theoretical developments in museum and heritage studies. You will learn the frameworks for managing collections and sites and develop a practical understanding of the modes of interpretation used in the museum and heritage sector. This degree offers a Capstone and Elective options in Industry Internships in partnership with leading institutions and consultancies across Sydney and beyond. See the degree site today.
Internship at the Chau Chak Wing Museum
SEMESTER 1
MHST6901 Museums and Heritage History and Theory CORE UNIT
Photo © Nicholas Watt for Sydney Living Museums
The historical, cultural and social roles of museums, heritage places and collections are the focus of contemporary debate. This unit examines the relationships between the production of cultural material, its management and display, and audience to understand museum and heritage sites as places of knowledge, politics and power. Current critical and theoretical perspectives incorporate ideas about the production, consumption, contestation and conservation of intangible values, identities, memories, cultural practices and different knowledge systems.
MHST6903 Managing Collection and Heritage Sites CORE UNIT
The Australian Museum Photo: Daniel Boud
How museum collections and heritage places are managed and listed is a core function of cultural institutions. From global contexts, such as World Heritage, to national, regional and local museum collections and heritage lists, understanding how objects and places are documented, assessed, and registered is important for both museum and heritage practice. This unit introduces students to the theories and practices of collection and heritage management through current issues in the development, policy and maintenance of cultural collections and places.
MUSM7030 Exhibition Development SELECTIVE UNIT
National Museum of Australia
Understanding display practices in museums is central to the functions of these cultural institutions. This unit of study examines the way in which exhibitions may function by exploring current issues and debates associated with the practice of exhibiting. We will consider how different spaces inform the interpretation of the cultural material and information displayed. In particular, we will examine the issue of representation as it relates to the museum context. This unit of study will provide students with an overview of the intellectual discourses and practical knowledge used to analyse, conceptualise, propose and develop exhibitions.
MUSM7035 Ethics of Cultural Property SELECTIVE UNIT
The Pacific Collection at the Australian Museum. Photo Abram Powell
This unit tracks the ethical and political disputes surrounding the ownership, control and care of cultural property. It begins by establishing historical attitudes towards cultural property which are then compared to current attempts to protect cultural heritage and regulate its movement. In doing so it considers how, more recently, museums have entered into dialogues with source communities about restitution and repatriation, new methods of display and ongoing relationships. The unit analyses numerous Australian and international case studies in order to define current models of best practice.
MHST6913 Indigenous Museum and Heritage SELECTIVE UNIT
Globally, Indigenous peoples have challenged museums, heritage agencies and professional practitioners over issues of ownership, control, management, display and interpretation of Indigenous culture, history and cultural property. We will examine how Indigenous communities, scholars and practitioners are decolonising museum and heritage practices and spaces.
SEMESTERS 1 AND 2
MHST6905 Capstone Art Curating Placement (Capstone unit) and MHST6906 MHST Professional Placement (Selective Unit)
The professional placements offer an opportunity to gain hands on experience in one of the University of Sydney’s many institutional partners across the arts and heritage sectors. Students undertake a 20-day internship, focused on a specific aspect of professional practice. Internships invite critical reflection on practice, foster skill acquisition, and enhance employment prospects. Projects encourage reflection on the relationship between theory and practice which is synthesized within a major essay. Partner organisations could include major museums, galleries, libraries, and archives as well as heritage consultancies, local councils, peak body organisations and auction houses.
MHST6907 Dissertation Part 1 MHST6908 Dissertation Part 2 (Capstone units) Dr Chiara O’Reilly
Research and writing towards a dissertation of 12000 words on an approved topic, under the supervision of an academic member of staff. Department permission required. Approval is subject to the availability of appropriate supervision and the department's discretion. Prior to enrolling in Part 1 of the dissertation students should contact the unit coordinator to discuss their research topic and the development of a research proposal.
SEMESTER 2
MHST6902 Museums and Heritage: Engaging Audiences CORE UNIT
The Australian Museum: Photo James Horan
Presenting collections, objects and places to the public is a major focus for museums, galleries and heritage organisations. The development of interpretation strategies and public programs to engage, educate and entertain audiences are regarded as key to the long-term viability of cultural institutions. This unit examines the theories and practices of museum education, heritage interpretation, audience research, communication and learning. The development and delivery of education, interpretation and visitor programs are examined in case studies and through practical work.
MHST6904 Museums and Heritage: Objects and Places CORE UNIT
Nemrut Dag, Turkiye
Objects and heritage places (such as indigenous sites, historical buildings, parks, gardens, ruins, archaeological sites, memorials, cultural landscapes) can be studied from a range of multi-disciplinary approaches. In this unit students are introduced to different theoretical and methodological frameworks used in object and place analysis. Changing ideas about the roles and meanings of objects and places from historical, contemporary and cross-cultural perspectives will be introduced. Practical work and case studies will used to examine these issues.
MUSM7030 Museum and Gallery Administration SELECTIVE UNIT
Tweed Regional Gallery
Good management is critical to the long-term survival of museums as vibrant cultural institutions. This unit of study explores the characteristics of a well managed facility providing students with the skills necessary to evaluate the operational context of museums, in terms of budget, human resource management and general cultural stewardship. The unit balances practical skill acquisition - in key management areas like strategic planning and project management - with a broader analysis of how the cultural sector is positioned in relation to government and other stakeholders.
MUSM7036 Museums and the Digital SELECTIVE UNIT
EPIC Irish Emigration Museum
This unit investigates the current use and adoption of digital media across the museum and gallery sectors internationally. It considers how museums use digital technologies to augment the visitor experience spatially, intellectually and socially by developing digitally interactive exhibitions, online engagement tools and a social media presence. Combining field trips, workshops, seminars and guest speakers, this course is an opportunity to build critical understanding of diverse applications of technology in the museum context and practical skills in the development of digital engagement programs.
MHST6914 Heritage Studies in Practice SELECTIVE UNIT
Chau Chak Wing Museum
In this class students will focus on developing practical skills in researching, interpreting, and communicating cultural heritage. Work in this class emphasises primary research that will contribute to interpretation of a place or a collection. It will involve working directly on cultural heritage in a collection or place-based fieldwork. Students will carry out original research that will contribute to interpretation of real world cultural heritage.
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