Museum studies - A link between the arts and science
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Associate Professor Ruth Mawson. |
When thinking of museums, many people picture rooms full of long-forgotten artefacts or dusty collections of artworks - but today's contemporary museums, galleries and collections are a far cry from that.
The diversity of museums combined with the dynamic approach taken towards their curatorship means they have something that should interest and engage everyone. It also means that those who work in the field of museology need to acquire a broad range of skills. Today's museum curators must possess information management skills as well as an in-depth knowledge of their subject.
Museum studies at Macquarie
Macquarie University's two postgraduate options, a postgraduate Diploma of Museum Studies and a Master of Museum Studies, aim to provide students with a modern background to areas of study relevant to contemporary museums, galleries and collections.
Unlike other museum studies courses currently available, Macquarie's postgraduate programs take a multidisciplinary approach drawing people from many backgrounds, according to Associate Professor Ruth Mawson, the co-ordinator of museum studies at Macquarie.
"One of the unique things about our program is that we involve science as well as the arts while other places focus on cultural heritage. It gives the arts people an entree into science and vice versa," she says.
Museum studies postgraduate students are drawn from a wide range of disciplines including the earth sciences, education, biology, geology, history, cultural studies, creative arts, Indigenous studies, palaeontology, ancient history and cultural geography, Mawson says. Some may be looking for a career change or simply wanting to upgrade their skills.
The history of museum studies at Macquarie
The Masters and Diploma programs were introduced after the University began offering a Bachelor of Science with Bachelor of Arts in Natural and Cultural Heritage and Museums in 2002, Mawson explains.
"We began the undergraduate double degree and from there, as we came in closer contact with staff from an array of museums, galleries and collections, they began to make enquiries about postgraduate opportunities. As well, our own students started asking about programs at the postgraduate level," she says.
This interest led to the one-year postgraduate Diploma and the 1.5-year Masters degree. Mawson notes that the programs offer students good opportunities to gain practical experience and, at the completion of their studies, a range of employment opportunities, because of links the University has established with museums, collections, galleries, botanic gardens, national parks, cultural, corporate and scientific institutions. International placements have also been negotiated.
One of the post popular units undertaken by postgraduate students in both the Diploma and the Masters programs is Museum Field Studies where they are given the opportunity to visit a wide range of museums, galleries and collections founds in central NSW and north-east Victoria. Mawson says students are always surprised to discover how many hidden treasures there are to be found in museums in rural areas. The program also offers the opportunity for students to undertake a unit of study in Thailand.
More information about postgraduate programs in museum studies can be found at www.els.mq.edu.au/museumstudies or by emailing Associate Professor Ruth Mawson at ruth.mawson@mq.edu.au