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Course Descriptions

Currently accepting applications Apply now >> Next program starts: Autumn 2008 Program location: UW campus, Seattle Next information meeting: Wed., June 11 (see details >>) Sign up to receive e-mail updates >> Contact a program representative >>

Program Orientation for students on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Classes meet Saturdays at the Burke Museum, the Nordic Heritage Museum, other local museums, or in other classrooms on the UW campus, Seattle.

Interested in taking a single class? Some courses (designated by a below) may be open on a space-available basis to professionals who are not seeking the certificate. See Single-Course Enrollment for details.

Autumn Courses

Museum Basics

Schedule: Saturdays, 9 a.m. - noon; Oct. 4, Oct. 11, Oct. 25, Nov. 1, Nov. 22, Dec. 6, 2008; $459; 1.8 CEUs. Held at Burke Museum and other local museums.
Instructor: Ralph Bufano

This course provides an overview of the history, philosophy, structures and goals of the cultural institutions generically referred to as "museums." Basic issues relating to legal status and mandates are discussed in connection with the mechanisms by which museums are created and are evolving as cultural institutions. The goals and missions of typical museums are discussed, along with types of personnel and decision-making structures.

Educational Programming in a Museum

Schedule: Saturdays, 1 - 4 p.m., Oct. 4, Oct. 11, Oct. 25, Nov. 1, Nov. 22, Dec. 6, 2008; $459; 1.8 CEUs. Held at Burke Museum and other local museums.
Instructor: Seth Margolis

This course explores the history, types, and dichotomy of education in the museum world. Topics include:

• Working with teachers, children’s programming
• Motivations of adult learners, styles and learning theories
• Docent training and instruction
• Interpretation and interactivity in art museums
• Ensuring community involvement and support, attracting funders
• Creating powerful curricula
• Program evaluation and assessment
• Current trends and growth in museum education industry

How to sign up for individual enrollment in this course

Winter Courses Collection Management II: Caring for Collections

Schedule: (At Nordic Heritage Museum) Saturdays, 9 a.m. - noon, Jan. 10, Jan. 24, Feb. 7, Feb. 21, Feb. 28, Mar. 14, 2009; $459; 1.8 CEUs
Instructor: Lisa Hill-Festa

This course is held at the Nordic Heritage Museum in Ballard and utilizes the Museum's collection to examine methods used to physically and intellectually manage various types of objects for their long-term preservation. The focus is on the types of work typically done by collection managers and registrars. Topics include:

• Collection management policies and procedures
• Preventive conservation care of collections in storage and on exhibit
• Marking collection objects
• Registration, cataloging, collection-based records management
• Special collections, including photographs and documents
• Introduction to computer database systems for collection registration
• Documentation of collection objects

How to sign up for individual enrollment in this course

Principles of Collection Management

Schedule: (At Nordic Heritage Museum, and other local area museums) Saturdays, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. (note unique class meeting time), Jan. 10, Jan. 24, Feb. 7, Feb. 21, Feb. 28, Mar. 14, 2009; $459; 1.8 CEUs
Instructor: Joanna Sikes

This course examines basic principles involved in acquiring and working with collections, including access, usage, and de-accessioning. The focus is on the types of work typically done by curators, conservators, directors and board members. Topics include:

• Basic philosophy of use of museum resources
• Preventative conservation, focus on planning exhibits in terms of light, temperature and humidity
• Publishing catalogs, writing labels, research and scholarship
• Ethical, legal and security issues, including copyright and artists’ rights
• Ability to relate to collectors, donors, and supporters

How to sign up for individual enrollment in this course

Spring Courses

Exhibit Design and Planning

Schedule: Saturdays, 9 a.m. - noon, Apr. 4, Apr. 18, May 2, May 16, May 30, Jun. 6, 2009; $459; 1.8 CEUs. (Burke Museum)
Instructor: Tim Detweiler

This course examines exhibit design principles and goals in relation to museum missions, including project management and the basics of planning, budgeting, and designing exhibits. Topics include:

• Planning and assessment of resources
• Budgeting
• Installation design
• Exhibition cases and wall-mounted furniture
• Safe mounting practices
• Portable panel-based exhibits
• Integrating media technologies in exhibitions
• Monitoring works on display

How to sign up for individual enrollment in this course

Schedule: Individual arrangements are made with individual museums. One class session, June 6, 2009; 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. (Burke Museum).
Completion deadline: Saturday, 1:00 - 4 p.m., June 6, 2009; $399; 2 CEUs.
Practicum Coordinator: Rina Luzius

This Practicum is an individual museum project in which students apply what they are learning. It provides an affiliation with a museum for those who have not had one, or a deeper involvement with a known museum. The program instructor is available to assist in establishing the placements, which are under the supervision of a museum staff member or the program instructor.

The student is responsible for completing the project and documenting by journal, written or photographic report. Previous projects have included:

• Implementing a collection registration system
• Designing a collection storage system
• Researching a collection
• Preparing an exhibit or educational program

IMPORTANT NOTE: Practicum projects may require activity during the normal work week, i.e. Monday through Friday, depending on the arrangement set-up chosen by the individual student.