Museum Studies Major
Museum Studies Major | Department Involvement
The Museum Studies Concentration introduces students to the theories and practices of the museum while offering an additional lens through which they may understand their study of art history. The concentration explores the museum as a site for the construction, interpretation, and dissemination of knowledge and as a site for the examination of issues that museums face in today's society. Coursework is supplemented by visitors from a broad range of museum backgrounds and opportunities to engage with the Fine Arts Center at Colorado College Museum.
Art Major: Museum Studies Concentration
Majors in the Museum Studies track are required to declare their major by the end of their sophomore year. In conjunction with their advisors, they should articulate a clear question, idea, theme, issue, or line of inquiry in the major and choose courses that relate meaningfully to each other and to their overall program.
The Museum Studies Concentration requires five art history units, three art studio units, two units of museum studies, two electives appropriate to the student’s course of study, and a two-unit senior capstone project.
The two electives from outside the Art Department may be chosen according to student interests, as appropriate to each student’s plan of study in relevant areas of study such as museum administration, conservation, design, education, ethics, community engagement, or history. Courses must be approved by the advisor in advance.
- Five units of Art History
- Two units of Museum Studies:
- GS247 Introduction to Museum Studies
- One other Museum Studies course in General Studies (GS222; GS250, or other); a course from another department with a significant museum studies component may be chosen with approval from the student’s advisor.
- Three units of Art Studio
- Two electives in relevant disciplines chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor. The advisor must approve courses in advance.
- Capstone: A two-block capstone comprising the one-block Senior Seminar course (AH412) and a Senior Thesis course (AH 415 or AH416). The capstone project may take the form of a thesis, exhibition, collections- or education-oriented project, or other project developed in consultation with the student’s advisor.
For students double-majoring, please be aware of the all-college policy that in no case may more than three courses within the majors overlap.
Department Involvement
We encourage majors to involve themselves in Art Department activities: lectures, field trips, workshops, and teas.